Confused looks ripple through the crowd. This isn’t the speech they expected.
“But when you take my money, when you eat at my table, when you sleep under my roof, you belong to me. And when you betray that trust, there are consequences.”
I nod to Benedetto. He opens a thick file folder filled with photographs and documents.
“Maria Santos, head housekeeper. Married to Roberto Santos, mother to Elena Santos, grandmother to little Miguel.” He holds up a photo of a smiling family. “They live at 412 Oak Street in a house with blue shutters and a white picket fence.”
Maria’s face goes pale.
“We have complete files on everyone who works here,” Benedetto continues. “Parents. Spouses. Children. Siblings. Even distant cousins who live in other states.”
The fear in the room grows thicker.
“The woman who helped kidnap Miss Vale yesterday? Her real name was Anya Petrov. She had a sister in Brighton Beach named Katya. A nephew in Queens named Alexei. A mother named Svetlana still living in Volgograd.” I pause, letting the words sink in. “Had. Past tense.”
A woman in the back row starts crying quietly.
“I don’t make empty threats,” I continue, my voice deadly calm. “You betray my family, and I’ll find every person you’ve ever loved. Your parents, your children, your spouse, your siblings. I’ll make them pay for your choices. Your betrayal doesn’t just cost you. It costs everyone you care about.”
Dead silence. Even the crying stops.
“But loyalty pays better than betrayal ever could. Work hard, keep my secrets, protect what’s mine, and you’ll find no better employer anywhere. Your families stay safe. Your children get good educations and real opportunities. You’ll always have a place here.”
I gesture toward the door. “Anyone who wants to leave can do so right now. I’ll provide generous severance and a clean reference. No hard feelings. But anyone who stays knows exactly what I expect from them.”
I wait. Count to thirty. Nobody moves toward the door.
“Good. Back to work.”
They file out in complete silence. The room empties until only Benedetto and I remain among the expensive furniture and family portraits.
“Think they understood the message?” he asks.
“The smart ones will stay loyal out of genuine respect. The stupid ones will stay loyal out of terror.” I straighten my tie. “Either way works for me.”
He heads for the door to coordinate the cleanup of last night’s mess. I return to the medical wing to resume my watch.
Kasimira sleeps through the rest of that day and most of the next. The swelling around her eye goes down. The bruises on her arms fade from black to purple to yellow. She drinks water when the nurses wake her. Eats soup. Takes the pain medication without complaint.
But she doesn’t ask to see me.
On the second afternoon, Maria appears in my office doorway. Her face glows like she’s bringing news of a miracle. “She wants to see you, sir.”
I look up from the contracts on my desk. “What exactly did she say?”
“Just that she’d like to speak with you privately. But sir…” Maria’s smile grows wider. “I think she might be ready to accept the arrangement.”
Ready. We both know what that means.
“Tell her I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Maria practically skips out of the room. I stand and pace behind my desk, trying to process what this could mean.
Marriage.
To a twenty-two-year-old woman who has spent every waking moment since arriving here trying to escape.
I’ve never been married. Never wanted to be. The disaster with Dante’s mother taught me everything I needed to know about giving someone that kind of power over my life. About how love can be weaponized against you.
