Chapter 5 - The Mother's Terror
The heavy steel door swung open, revealing the cramped, unventilated closet.
Lying on the cold concrete floor, propped up against a mop bucket, was Maya. She was a young woman in her late twenties, wearing an oversized, faded blue cleaning uniform. Her face was dangerously pale, her lips chapped, and dark circles bruised the skin under her eyes.
As the light from the hallway hit her face, Maya gasped, startled awake.
Her tired eyes instantly locked onto the tall, imposing figure standing in the doorway. She recognized the tailored navy suit. She had seen his face in Forbes magazines and corporate memos. It was Ethan, the untouchable CEO.
Pure, unadulterated terror washed over Maya’s face. She immediately scrambled to her feet, her knees buckling violently, forcing her to lean against the wall for support.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Mr. Davis!" Maya panicked, her breathing erratic as she frantically smoothed down her dirty uniform. "I just needed to sit down for one minute! I swear I was going back up! Please don't fire me, I'll work a double shift for free!"
"Mommy!" Nora cried softly, letting go of Ethan’s hand and running to wrap her arms around her mother’s waist. Baby Lucy shifted in the wrap, finally letting out a soft, sleepy whimper.
Maya hugged her daughter fiercely, burying her face in Nora's hair, trembling with fear. She fully expected security to drag her out of the building and throw them onto the street.
Instead, Ethan stepped into the room, took off his expensive suit jacket, and gently wrapped it around Maya’s shivering shoulders.
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"You aren't fired, Maya," Ethan said softly. "But you need to tell me exactly what Valerie has been doing to you."
👉 What massive financial secret is Valerie hiding that forces her to torture the staff?
