Chapter 6 - From Housekeeper to Guardian
One week later, Whitmore House had returned to a new kind of normal.
The press circus outside the estate gates had finally cleared after Richard Sterling agreed to a plea deal that stripped him of his legal license and imposed a heavy prison sentence. Vanessa had fled to Europe, her social standing completely obliterated.
Inside the estate, Naomi stood in her small bedroom in the staff wing. On her bed lay her old gray housekeeper’s uniforms, neatly folded. Beside them sat a brand-new leather garment bag.
There was a soft knock at her door.
“Come in,” Naomi said.
Ethan walked in. He was wearing a casual sweater and jeans, looking younger and more relaxed than Naomi had ever seen him. He looked at the folded uniforms, then at Naomi.
“Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked softly.
Naomi unzipped the garment bag. Inside hung a sleek, tailored dark navy suit made of high-grade ballistic weave, accompanied by a discreet ear-piece and a tactical belt.
“I tried to hide from who I was for three years, Ethan,” Naomi said, looking up at him. “I thought if I stopped using my hands, the guilt would go away. But keeping quiet while bad people hurt good people isn't peace. It’s just cowardice.”
Ethan stepped closer to her. “You are the furthest thing from a coward I have ever met.”
“Marcus offered me a position,” Naomi said, a small smile touching her lips. “Head of Executive Protection for Whitmore Enterprises. I’ll be restructuring the entire security network for your board, your offices, and your family.”
Ethan’s eyes shone with deep affection. “And what about your primary detail?”
Naomi looked at him, her dark eyes steady and warm. “My primary detail is you, Mr. Whitmore.”
Ethan laughed, taking her hand in his. “I think I can live with that.”
Suddenly, Marcus’s voice came through Ethan’s phone on speaker.
“Ethan, we have a situation at the harbor site,” Marcus said, his tone urgent. “One of Richard Sterling’s former business partners, Victor Vance—no relation to me—just launched a hostile proxy fight at the stock exchange. He’s claiming he has enough board votes to force a takeover of Whitmore Development by 5:00 PM today.”
Ethan’s smile vanished. “Victor Vance? He’s been trying to buy our harbor land for ten years.”
“He’s using Sterling’s frozen shares through an offshore shell company,” Marcus explained. “He’s holding an emergency board meeting at the harbor tower right now. If you aren't there in thirty minutes to exercise your veto rights, the board will vote without you.”
Ethan looked at his watch. “Thirty minutes? Across town in afternoon traffic? That’s impossible.”
Naomi stepped forward, her hand reaching for the keys on her dress dresser.
“It’s not impossible,” Naomi said, her voice shifting instantly into tactical command mode. “Marcus, prepare the armored Range Rover. Clear a route through the industrial district. Ethan, get your corporate ledger.”
Ethan looked at her, amazed by the instant transformation. “Can we make it?”
May you like
Naomi pulled her dark blazer onto her shoulders, buttoning it with a sharp, professional flick of her wrist.
“With me driving?” Naomi smiled. “We’ll be five minutes early.”
