A Brand New Home

Ten minutes later, the front doors opened again, and a small boy in a red hoodie came running across the marble floor.

Toby: Sadie!

Sadie dropped to her knees, opening her arms wide as Toby crashed straight into her chest, wrapping his small arms around her neck.

Sadie: Oh Toby, Toby, my sweet boy! Are you okay? Look at me, are you hurt?

Toby: I was scared, Sadie. Those bad men in the van said you weren't coming back for me.

Sadie: I will always come back for you! Always! Nothing in the world will ever take you away from me!

Roman stood quietly by the fireplace, watching the brother and sister hold each other as their tears mixed together.

Officer Davis stepped up beside Roman, taking off his hat and nodding respectfully.

Officer Davis: The DA's office says with that wiretap evidence, Victoria and her crew will be looking at fifteen to twenty years minimum. No bail.

Roman: Good. Make sure the judge sees the full extortion log before the arraignment hearing on Monday.

Officer Davis: Already on it, Mr. Sterling. Take care of that girl. She went through hell this morning.

After the officer walked out, Roman walked over to the sofa where Sadie was holding Toby’s hand, checking his forehead.

Roman: Sadie.

Sadie stood up immediately, brushing her uniform straight out of habit.

Sadie: Yes, Mr. Sterling? I... I can get back to cleaning the guest suites right away. Toby can wait in the staff room—

Roman: Stop. You're not cleaning anything today. Or tomorrow.

Sadie’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in sudden panic.

Sadie: Are you... are you letting me go, sir? Please, I need this job to pay Toby’s tuition!

Roman pulled a thick manila folder from his jacket pocket and placed it on the coffee table in front of them.

Roman: That is the deed to the three-bedroom guest cottage on the north side of the estate grounds.

Sadie blinked in total shock, staring at the legal papers as if they were written in another language.

Sadie: I... I don't understand.

Roman: You're no longer the house maid, Sadie. My family foundation needs a director of charity operations to manage education grants for underprivileged kids in North Texas.

Sadie: Mr. Sterling, I don't have a corporate degree! I'm just a cleaning girl!

Roman: You stood in front of an extortionist with a bruise on your face and refused to compromise my home, even while your own life was falling apart. That takes loyalty money can't buy.

Toby looked up at Roman, his big brown eyes filled with awe.

Toby: Does that mean Sadie gets to stay home with me after school?

Roman knelt down on one knee, reaching out and ruffling Toby's hair with a warm grin.

Roman: That means she gets to take you to school every single morning, buddy. And you have a full backyard to play football whenever you want.

Sadie covered her face with both hands, the tears flowing freely now, but this time they were tears of pure, unadulterated happiness.

Sadie: Thank you, Mr. Sterling... thank you so much! You saved our lives!

Roman: You saved yourself, Sadie. Now go settle into your new home. Toby has a lot of catching up to do.