Valentina’s POV
We stood in silence for about a minute or two. Angela didn't speak. Her eyes skittered from streak of shadow to streak of shadow, across every inch of the vacant hallway, her breathing coming and going in tiny, irregular spasms. I didn’t understand what she was doing, and to be honest, I didn’t want to be involved.
“ What the fuck are you ….” Angela covered my mouth into a hush.
“ Be quiet and stay still,” she snapped
Without a warning, she just grabbed my wrist again and tugged me along with her. We slipped through a narrow door tucked behind a linen closet.
“ Shit” I grunted
“ Over here,” she dragged me up a narrow firescape, “ Be careful.”
Valentina’s POVWe stood in silence for about a minute or two. Angela didn't speak. Her eyes skittered from streak of shadow to streak of shadow, across every inch of the vacant hallway, her breathing coming and going in tiny, irregular spasms. I didn’t understand what she was doing, and to be honest, I didn’t want to be involved.“ What the fuck are you ….” Angela covered my mouth into a hush.“ Be quiet and stay still,” she snappedWithout a warning, she just grabbed my wrist again and tugged me along with her. We slipped through a narrow door tucked behind a linen closet.“ Shit” I grunted“ Over here,” she dragged me up a narrow firescape, “ Be careful.”
Valentina’s POVThe next day, I felt like I was dragging my body through water. Yesterday’s scenes kept flooding through my mind in a haze as I struggled to keep up with my work. And it showed…..“ The Seven Laws,” Christopher dictated, and I typed.It’s been a while since I began working as Christopher’s “assistant” of sorts. Due to his disability, he wasn’t capable of filing the work himself, and that’s where my 10th-grade computer skills came in handy. After all, he was still not comfortable with more strangers or familiar faces walking in and out of the west wing. Hence, I have sat on the corner desk at least 5 feet away from him, struggling to keep up with his endless chatter.The pages blurred, and the cursor blinked multiple times. I fumbled through file after file, and to
Valentina’s POVI skimmed through the first few lines. The page was filled with rumors and evidence from a reliable “source”. The whole page was filled with tabloids on Davina and doubts regarding Christopher. My eyes widened.This was horrifying. I looked up at Christopher, my voice softer. “It’s… not kind.”“I didn’t expect it to be,” he replied flatly.Xavier started pacing, cursing under his breath, but Christopher said nothing else as I read the first line.“ Lady Davina, wife of the Hawthorne tycoon Christopher Hawthorne, is an elegant and sophisticated young woman, and I believe the tortured maids under her care will say the same….”I paused.There was a limit on what I could and could not say in this manner, and this was one of them.“And” Xavier persisted I returned the tablet to Xavier, “ I apologize, sir, but I cannot say the rest.”Christopher remained composed, then, quietly, spoke, “You’re dismissed for the day.”“ Thank you, sir.”I didn’t argue; there was no reason
Valentina’s POV“Mama, look!” Aidan beamed as he poked at the limestones with a stick. I reached over and smoothed a knot of hair from his forehead and did my best to remain calm.Across from us, Laura was pacing with her phone pressed to her ear, nodding and muttering low thank yous.“Come on,” I whispered to myself. “Say it’s good news.”She hung up and turned, eyes gleaming. “Jasmine got it.”I stood excited. “Seriously?”“She’s on her way.”I barely had time to reply before Jasmine appeared, walking across the lawn, a file tucked under her arm. She didn’t bother with small talk, just shoved the folder at me.“These are Angela’s logs,” she said. “Straight from Helen’s drawer. I had to wait until she stepped out to get this.”“ Awww, my hero Jazz’ Laura teased playfully.I opened the file. It was neat, as expected for the Head maid. The pages were filled with all of the private maids' task records, including mine. “Valentina Whitlock, repeated hours,” I read, it was neatly underlin
Valentina’s PovThe study was quiet, except for the sound of Christopher’s voice. He was mid-conversation with some colleague I can barely remember. Their talk, via the clean audio of his laptop, was full of business crap and legalese. I didn't have the energy to keep up with it.“…No, Finlay, I said draft the clause with the exemption noted on page six. Not page seven. And make sure it’s sent to legal by Finlay, are you still…? Good.”I stood on the far side of the room, rearranging the books I’d already arranged the week before. It didn’t matter. I had to do something with my hands, something that would distract me.It didn’t work. My mind kept racing back to Davina’s threat. “ 48 hours. If it’s not found… She goes” Forty-eight hours. Well, more like thirty-eight now. And still no ring. No leads. Just a couple of made-up accusations and false leads. I know I should have been focused on my job, but I couldn’t, not like this. Laura promised to help me come up with any proof to def
Valentina’s Pov"Valentina," Davina smiled evilly, "Where is my wedding ring?""I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am," I explained.What ring?Her eyes never left me. “Oh? That’s interesting.” She turned, addressing the room like she was narrating a scene. “Because a little birdie told me, they saw YOU and your brat snooping around the North Wing yesterday… the exact time the ring went missing.”The hall echoed with gasps and whispers.The North Wing?I hadn't gone near the North Wing.Helen’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Is that true, Valentina?”“No, ma’am,” I replied quickly, forcing my shoulders to stay square. “I wasn’t snooping anywhere. I went outside. Just to get some fresh air. That’s all.”Davina gave a short, humorless laugh. “Outside, is it?” she said. “How convenient. Alone and unaccounted for.”I looked at Helen, hoping she'd vouch. But her expression was unreadable.What did I expect? She can’t upset Davina.And