Chapter 4
Alessandro sent Lily inside with Clara.
Vivienne watched the child leave.
Then laughed.
“Finally.”
She looked toward the closed doors.
“Maybe now the adults can stop arranging their breathing around a toddler.”
Alessandro turned.
Vivienne met his eyes.
No apology.
No retreat.
“What?”
She raised one eyebrow.
“You know I'm right.”
Gerald stepped beside her.
“The estate has become ridiculous.”
He glanced toward Nora.
“Staff question family.”
“Bodyguards babysit.”
“Capos wait because Lily wants Daddy.”
His mouth curved.
“Your house used to feel like a Mafia estate.”
“Now it feels like a nursery with armed chauffeurs.”
A few guests looked uncomfortable.
Alessandro remained still.
Gerald took his silence as permission.
Mistake.
Vivienne smiled.
“This is exactly why I started changing things.”
There.
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“You started?”
“Someone had to.”
Her tone was contemptuous.
“You haven't noticed half the people here stopped fearing the rules years ago.”
Nora looked at her.
Vivienne saw it.
“You especially.”
She pointed toward the maid.
“I tell you no.”
“You decide a thirsty child matters more.”
Nora’s breathing hardened.
“Yes.”
Vivienne’s smile disappeared.
“At least now you admit you're insubordinate.”
Alessandro spoke.
“To you.”
Vivienne turned.
He continued.
“She is not employed by you.”
Vivienne laughed.
“Not yet.”
That sentence changed the garden.
She knew it.
Enjoyed it.
Alessandro looked toward his security captain, Marco.
“Has Vivienne given orders to staff?”
Marco hesitated.
Too long.
Alessandro noticed.
Vivienne smiled.
“Answer him.”
Marco looked toward her.
Then Alessandro.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Several months.”
Alessandro’s expression did not change.
“What orders?”
Marco swallowed.
“Household schedules.”
“Garden access.”
“Which servants could enter the council wing.”
“Which guards worked near Lily.”
Nora stared.
Alessandro’s gaze hardened.
Vivienne folded her arms.
“You're welcome.”
His eyes moved toward her.
“For what?”
“For doing what you neglected.”
She walked slowly toward him.
“You sit in council rooms solving everybody else’s problems while this house turns soft.”
Her voice lowered.
“I fixed it.”
“Without asking.”
“I wasn't applying for a housekeeping position, Alessandro.”
Her ring flashed as she lifted her hand.
“You asked me to become the woman beside you.”
Then she smiled.
“That comes with authority.”
Alessandro looked toward Marco.
“Did she ever use my name?”
Marco’s expression changed.
Vivienne’s smile weakened.
“When?”
Alessandro asked.
Marco swallowed.
“She said some orders came from you.”
Alessandro turned toward her.
She did not deny it.
Instead:
“They should have.”
That arrogance silenced even Gerald.
Vivienne continued.
“You would have given them eventually.”
“So I saved time.”
Alessandro’s voice dropped.
“Which guards around Lily?”
Marco looked away.
Vivienne answered for him.
“The weak ones.”
Nora’s face hardened.
Vivienne smiled.
“The ones who let a child turn every instruction into a negotiation.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“What did you do with them?”
“Moved them.”
“To where?”
“Places where sentiment is less dangerous.”
Then Marco spoke.
“Boss…”
Alessandro turned.
“One guard refused.”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
Alessandro knew him.
Young.
Quiet.
One of Lily’s favorites because he always carried sunflower seeds for the garden birds.
“Where is he?”
Marco’s eyes dropped.
“I don't know.”
Vivienne laughed softly.
Alessandro looked at her.
She smiled.
“I do.”
The garden went still.
“He was told to leave the estate yesterday.”
“By who?”
May you like
Vivienne tilted her head.
“Guess.”
