CHAPTER 2: The Call That Cost Her Apron

Elena had not meant to defy anyone.
She had worked in the Moretti house for fourteen months, long enough to understand its rules. Never ask why a door was locked. Never repeat what men said in the library. Never stand between Sebastian Moretti and his fiancee unless the child was involved.
Tonight, the child had been involved from the first broken sob.
Vivienne had ordered Lily to stand for photographs beside the staircase. Lily had refused because the pearls on Vivienne's wrist reminded her of the day her mother died, when every adult wore white and told her to be brave.
Vivienne called it drama.
Then she took Lily's teddy bear and placed it on the highest console table, out of reach, smiling as the little girl begged for it back.
Elena climbed the short step, retrieved the bear, and called Sebastian from the service pantry.
He answered on the second ring.
All Elena managed to say was, 'Sir, Lily needs you,' before Vivienne appeared behind her.
Now the phone lay on the marble, dark and silent, and Elena's apron had already been untied from her waist.
Vivienne had fired her in front of everyone because humiliation looked cleaner when witnesses were rich.