Chapter 17
The following morning, the Whitmore estate awoke to a radically altered reality. The news of Camille’s disappearance and the violent takeover of the southern territories had already sent shockwaves through the national underworld. But inside the mansion, the changes were far more personal.
Nora stood in her small, sparsely furnished maid's quarters, packing her few belongings into a duffel bag. She expected to be reassigned, or perhaps quietly paid off and sent away, despite Damian's gratitude. The rules of the syndicate were rigid.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Marcus, the lead capo, stood in the doorway.
"Mr. Whitmore requested your presence in his study, Nora," Marcus said respectfully, his demeanor entirely different from how he usually addressed the household staff.
Nora nodded, following the imposing capo up the grand staircase to the master wing. She was ushered into Damian's private study, a room bathed in the same bright, neutral cinematic light as the rest of the estate.
Damian sat behind his massive mahogany desk, reviewing encrypted tablets. He wore a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing the refined, sharp tattoos on his forearms. He looked up as she entered, offering a slight, devastatingly handsome smile.
"Sit down, Nora," Damian invited, gesturing to a plush leather chair opposite his desk.
Nora sat down, smoothing her black maid dress. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
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"I have a new assignment for you," Damian stated smoothly. He slid a thick, leather-bound folder across the desk toward her. "You are no longer a maid in this house. You are promoted to Head of Household and primary guardian to Oliver. Your salary is quadrupled, and you answer to no one but me."
Nora stared at the folder, her breath catching in her throat. The promotion bypassed every established hierarchy in the estate. "Mr. Whitmore, I... I don't know what to say. This is an immense responsibility."
