Chapter 4 - The Blackmail
The retaliation was swift and merciless.
When Elena arrived for her shift the next morning, the head butler, Mr. Carson, pulled her into the kitchen.
"Elena, there's been an issue with your payroll," Carson said, looking deeply uncomfortable. "Mrs. Sterling has ordered an audit of your hours. Your pay is frozen pending an investigation into missing property."
"Missing property? I haven't stolen a thing!" Elena argued, panic rising in her throat.
"I know that," Carson sighed. "But she is the lady of the house. Furthermore, she contacted the agency that provides your mother’s subsidized healthcare. She made a 'charitable inquiry'—which flagged your income for review. Your mother’s benefits are suspended until the review is complete."
Elena felt the floor drop out from under her. Her mother needed that medication to survive. Victoria wasn't just threatening her job anymore; she was threatening her family.
Victoria strolled into the kitchen, sipping a matcha latte. She smiled a razor-sharp, terrifying smile at Elena.
"Is there a problem, Elena?" Victoria asked innocently.
Elena swallowed the bile rising in her throat. She wanted to scream. She wanted to lunge across the marble island. But she thought of Leo, trapped upstairs, entirely at this monster's mercy. If Elena was fired, Leo was dead.
"No problem, Mrs. Sterling," Elena forced the words out, bowing her head. "I'll get right to work."
Victoria’s smile widened in triumph. "Good girl. Start with the basement. And stay out of the east wing."
Elena spent the morning scrubbing floors, but her mind was racing. She couldn't fight Victoria with money or power. She had to use stealth.
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During her lunch break, Elena pawned her grandmother’s gold necklace—her only piece of valuable jewelry. She used the cash to buy a high-definition, motion-activated spy camera disguised as an air freshener plug-in.
She was going to catch the devil in the act.
