“Good morning,” she’d said with that smile. The one that used to work on me.
She moved to lock the door so we could mess around like we normally did, but things were different. My fiancée was coming home, and I couldn’t be involved with anyone else.
“Mia, things are different now.”
“Different how?” She stepped closer, her hand reaching for me.
I caught her wrist. “A woman is coming. My fiancée. What we had is over.”
“Sally, you don’t mean that.”
“Don’t call me that. And yes, I do. You should be happy, I’m sure your boyfriend will be pleased when you come home without having another man to answer to.”
She started calling me Sally for some fucking reason. Every once in a while, she says it like it’s some term of endearment. I hate it.
She pouted. “But what about—”
“Nothing. There’s nothing to talk about. It’s done.”
Looking back now, I can see how weak that was. I should have fired her on the spot. Should have made sure she understood there was no coming back from this.
But I didn’t.
I have to admit, though, it was bold of her to leave a lipstick kiss in my fucking bathroom like that. Women.
I know I should have been firmer, but some part of me wanted to keep my options open. Just in case Valentina didn’t work out. Just in case what I was feeling wasn’t real.
And now I’m paying for that mistake.
The door opens, and Valentina walks in. She’s changed out of those sweatpants into jeans and a simple black sweater. Her hair is pulled back, her face carefully blank. She won’t look at me.
She takes a position near the back of the room, arms crossed, and I force myself to focus on the task at hand.
“Most of you do excellent work,” I begin, my voice carrying through the space. “You’re discreet, efficient, and professional. That’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re well compensated.”
I let my gaze sweep across each face, landing briefly on Valentina before continuing.
“But some of you have forgotten your place in this household.”
Mia shifts her weight near the front. That smug expression from earlier is gone, replaced with something more cautious.
“Let me be very clear about something. Valentina is going to be my wife. Not some temporary arrangement, my wife. Which means she is the lady of this house.”
I pause, making sure every single person is listening.
“When she gives you an instruction, you follow it. When she asks you to leave, you leave. When she tells you something is unacceptable, you fix it… immediately. Is that understood?”
A chorus of “Yes, sir” ripples through the group.
“Good. Because if I hear about anyone disrespecting her, dismissing her, or treating her like she doesn’t have authority here, you’ll be gone before you can pack your things. No severance. No references. Just gone.”
I let that sink in, watching comprehension dawn on several faces.
Rosa steps forward. “Mia, Claire, Amiya—you ladies, please come with me. Everyone else, back to work.”
The other staff members scatter quickly. I catch Valentina’s eye as she turns to leave. She gives me one long look, then walks out.
I head to my office alone. Once inside, I pull out my phone and text Matteo.
