Chapter 7
Nora offered to resign.
Again.
Lorenzo stared at the letter in his office.
“Why does everyone solve my problems by leaving?”
Nora almost smiled.
“Because sometimes your problems are standing between the door and us.”
Fair.
She remained standing.
“If Camille’s lawyers are building a story that I’m emotionally attached to Mia and exploiting my position, staying here makes the story easier.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“That may be true.”
“It is.”
“Truth and appearances are different things.”
He hated that she was right.
Nora continued.
“Mia needs less drama, not another adult fighting to remain near her.”
“You think disappearing helps her?”
“No.”
Nora’s voice softened.
“I think giving her a choice helps her.”
Lorenzo looked toward the garden.
Mia was outside with her tutor.
“What does she want?”
“You should ask her.”
So he did.
Not:
“Do you want Nora to stay?”
That would make the child feel responsible for an adult’s employment.
Instead:
“Would you feel safe if Nora still worked here?”
Mia looked confused.
“Yes.”
“Would you feel safe if she didn’t?”
The little girl immediately shook her head.
That was enough.
Nora stayed temporarily while outside professionals reviewed the household structure.
But Lorenzo changed reporting lines.
Nora would no longer approve vendor invoices connected to the Arden family.
An independent administrator would.
That protected both Nora and the investigation.
Camille’s financial advantage disappeared immediately.
Arden Hospitality sent a demand letter claiming Bellini Estate Services had withheld valid payments.
The disputed total:
$94,000.
Lorenzo did not refuse automatically.
He paid legitimate invoices after verification.
He contested the rest.
Camille called his decision retaliation.
Lorenzo let lawyers answer.
Then his sister, Francesca, visited.
“You know what people are saying?”
“I rarely care.”
“They’re saying you threw away a wedding because Nora got jealous.”
Lorenzo laughed once.
“Who started that?”
“Camille’s mother.”
Of course.
Francesca sat down.
“She’s telling people Nora trained Mia to serve guests.”
“Did you ever see Nora do that?”
“I saw Mia carrying napkins.”
“Did you see who put the apron on her?”
“No.”
“Did you see who told her to do it?”
“No.”
Francesca became quiet.
Lorenzo leaned forward.
“That’s the problem.”
People had seen fragments.
Camille supplied the interpretation.
Francesca frowned.
“Why would she do all this over invoices?”
“I don’t know yet.”
But Lorenzo was beginning to suspect the invoices were only one part.
Camille wanted Nora removed very quickly after the wedding.
Not simply ignored.
Removed.
The date mattered.
Four days after marriage.
Why four?
Rachel found the answer the next morning.
A new household-services contract was scheduled to begin five days after the wedding.
Provider:
May you like
Arden Residential Management.
A second company controlled by Camille’s brother.
