Chapter 3 - SHIFTING TIDES IN THE MANSION
By six o'clock the next morning, news of the incident in the conservatory had spread through the Rossi estate like wildfire.
The domestic staff gathered in the large basement kitchen, whispers fluttering among the cook, the butler, and the younger maids.
"Did you hear?" whispered Maria, one of the senior housekeepers who had often given Skylar the heaviest cleaning duties. "Bianca Moretti was thrown out last night! Forced out by security in her evening gown!"
"Because of Penny?" sneered Chloe, a young maid who had taken particular joy in hiding Skylar's cleaning supplies. "That's ridiculous. Dominic wouldn't toss away a political alliance with the Moretti family over a clumsy fat girl."
"It wasn't over a maid, you fool," the head butler, Mr. Vance, said as he walked into the kitchen, his posture stiff and expression grim. "It was because Miss Moretti struck the Don's mother. And Skylar took the blow."
"Where is Skylar anyway?" Chloe asked, crossing her arms. "She's twenty minutes late for her floor shift. I'm not covering her section."
"Skylar won't be doing floor shifts anymore," a deep voice boomed from the kitchen doorway.
The entire kitchen went dead silent.
Dominic Rossi stood at the top of the stairs, clad in an immaculate charcoal suit. Beside him stood Matteo, his chief of security.
The staff bowed their heads nervously. "Good morning, Don Rossi," Mr. Vance said respectfully.
Dominic descended the steps slowly, his heavy dress shoes clicking against the stone tiles. He looked around at the gathered staff, his eyes cold and assessing.
"As of today," Dominic announced, his voice echoing off the vaulted kitchen ceiling, "Skylar Gallagher is no longer a member of the domestic service staff. She has been appointed as my mother's chief personal companion."
Gasps rippled through the room. Chloe’s mouth hung open in shock.
"She will be residing in the east wing suites," Dominic continued, his voice dropping into a terrifyingly quiet register. "Her authority regarding my mother's daily routine, medical care, and personal schedule is absolute. If she asks for something, you will fulfill it immediately. If I hear one more derogatory remark, one more joke, or one more mention of the name 'Penny,' the person responsible will be dismissed and blacklisted from working in this state."
Dominic's eyes locked onto Chloe, who turned pale as marble and quickly bowed her head, shivering.
"Is that understood?" Dominic demanded.
"Yes, Don Rossi," the staff chorused in unison.
Satisfied, Dominic turned and walked back up the stairs.
Upstairs in the east wing, Skylar stood in the center of a suite that was larger than her entire family apartment in Albany.
The room featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate's sprawling gardens, a king-sized bed covered in silk linens, and a private marble bathroom. On the bed lay four large garment boxes from an elite boutique downtown, filled with tailored dresses, soft cashmere sweaters, and comfortable leather shoes—all ordered by Dominic's personal assistant early that morning.
Skylar ran her hand over the soft silk of a dark blue dress, feeling completely surreal.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Skylar said softly.
The door opened, and Carmela walked in, dressed in a warm yellow cardigan, holding two mugs of steaming tea. She smiled brightly, looking far more relaxed and lucid than she had in weeks.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Carmela said, setting the tea on a small table by the window. "How is your cheek?"
Skylar touched the small bandage on her face. "It aches a bit, Mrs. Rossi, but Dr. Vance gave me some cream. I... I still can't believe Mr. Rossi did all this."
Carmela sat down, gesturing for Skylar to join her. "Dominic may seem cold to the outside world, Skylar. He had to grow up fast after his father died. He took over a dangerous world when he was only twenty-two. But he loves his family fiercely. And last night, you proved you are worth more than a hundred Biancas."
"I was just trying to protect you," Skylar murmured, sitting opposite her.
"And in doing so, you protected him," Carmela said gently. "Bianca was a snake. She only wanted the Rossi name and money. She hated me because she saw my memory loss as an embarrassment. If you hadn't stepped in, I don't know what would have happened."
Carmela took Skylar's hand, squeezing it affectionately. "Now, no more talking about the past. Today, you and I are going to the gardens. I want to show you my hydrangeas."
May you like
For the first time in eleven months, Skylar felt a warm sense of safety wash over her. But as she looked out the window at the front gate, she saw a line of black SUVs parked outside.
The Moretti family was not going to take Bianca's humiliation lightly.
