Chapter 13: Rewarding Loyalty
Later that afternoon, Julian summoned Elena to his private study on the second floor. The room was lined with dark mahogany bookshelves and smelled faintly of aged paper and leather. Elena stood respectfully near the center of the Persian rug, her hands folded neatly over her apron, her expression a mix of curiosity and cautious respect.
Julian sat behind his large oak desk, opening a velvet-lined jewelry box and pulling out a set of official documents alongside a set of brass keys. He looked up at the young maid with genuine gratitude in his eyes.
"Elena," Julian began, his voice warm and appreciative. "Words cannot adequately express what your quick thinking and courage meant to my mother and to me. If you hadn't called me that night, and if you hadn't risked your own position to pull her out of the storm... I shudder to think what the outcome would have been."
Elena lowered her eyes modestly, shaking her head slightly. "I only did what any decent human being would do, Mr. Julian. Mrs. Martha is a kind, gentle soul. I couldn't just stand by and watch her suffer."
"Decency is a rare commodity, Elena, and it deserves to be recognized and rewarded," Julian said, standing up and walking around the desk to hand her the documents. "First, as I mentioned to you yesterday, your position as head manager of the estate is permanent, with a tripling of your previous salary. Second, this is the deed to a fully furnished residential apartment in the city center, completely paid off in your name."
Elena’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. She stared at the legal parchment, her hands trembling as she held it. "Mr. Julian... I... I can't accept this! It's too much! I was just doing my job!"
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"It is not payment for your job, Elena. It is a gift of gratitude from a son who almost lost his mother," Julian insisted gently, closing her fingers around the keys. "You have secured your own future, and you have earned a place in this family as a trusted friend. Use that apartment when you want a weekend in the city, or rent it out for steady income. The choice is yours."
Tears welled in Elena’s eyes as she looked at the kind-hearted employer. She bowed her head deeply, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, sir. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
