Chapter 7: The Weight of Duty
By eight o'clock in the morning, Arthur sat at the desk in his private office, arranging the evidence into neat, labelled folders. Sunlight poured through the large double windows, illuminating the fine layer of dust resting on the legal documents. Across the desk, Elena poured coffee into a simple porcelain mug, placing it carefully near his hand before stepping back respectfully.
"You don't have to serve me today, Elena," Arthur said, taking a small sip of coffee and looking up at her with genuine appreciation. "After everything you endured yesterday, you should take the rest of the week off with full pay."
Elena shook her head gently, her light brown hair bun held neatly in place. "Work gives me purpose, Mr. Vance. My brother Mateo depends on my salary for his high school textbook fees and meals. Sitting idle at home in an empty apartment would only make me worry more."
Arthur paused, resting his pen on the mahogany desk. "Mateo is sixteen now, isn't he? I remember your mother showing my father his middle school report card years ago."
"He turns seventeen in November," Elena replied, a warm, genuine smile softening her pale features. "He wants to study civil engineering at the state university. When the foundation's scholarship program was suddenly suspended six months ago, we thought he would have to delay his education to work full-time."
Arthur felt a cold wave of guilt mix with his rising anger. Victoria’s selfish greed had directly altered the life trajectory of bright young people like Mateo, replacing opportunity with hardship. "The suspension was artificial," Arthur explained softly. "Victoria claimed the trust had suffered market devaluations, but she was transferring those exact scholarship allocations into her offshore accounts."
May you like
"I knew something was wrong," Elena murmured softly. "My mother always told me that true wealth isn't measured by expensive jewelry or marble halls, but by how many lives you lift up when you have the power to do so."
Arthur looked down at the navy ledger resting open beside his father’s old brass pocket watch. "Your mother was wiser than many people who sit on corporate boards, Elena. When the directors arrive this morning, I am going to propose a permanent restructuring of the foundation board, and I want you to represent the estate staff."
