Andrew stepped toward her, trying to use his height to intimidate her. “Where is he?” “He’s hurting. He needs a father right now, not a panel of judges.” One of the women, a sharp-featured brunette in a navy dress, let out a dry laugh. “My goodness, such drama. It’s just a child being spoiled.” Elena turned to her with a look of pure ice.
“Do you have children?” Elena asked. “Well, no, but—” “Then don’t speak about things you don’t understand,” Elena snapped. Andrew looked like he was about to explode. “Elena, you do not speak to my guests that way!”
“I’m protecting Arthur because no one else is! He needs patience and love, not an ultimatum!” “He needs to learn discipline and respect for his father!” Andrew countered. “He needs a heart, Andrew, not a drill sergeant!” Elena fired back.
The courtyard went silent. The five women watched the scene like it was a reality show. A housekeeper was standing up to a millionaire. “You’re fired,” Andrew hissed. “No!” Arthur’s voice rang out. He had come out of hiding and was running toward them, his face streaked with tears.
Arthur ran straight to Elena and grabbed her hand. “Don’t fire her! She’s the only one who listens!” Andrew reached for his son. “Arthur, get over here. This is embarrassing.” “No! I’m staying with Elena!”
The woman in the red dress whispered to the others, “How awkward. The child is completely unmanageable.” Arthur heard her. He turned to the group of women with a fierce, adult-like intensity. “You don’t know anything about me! You’re just here for the money!”
“Arthur!” Andrew yelled, but the boy pointed at Elena. “If you want me to pick, I already did. I pick Elena!” The silence that followed was deafening. The five candidates stood with their mouths open. Andrew turned pale. Elena felt the world tilting, but Arthur didn’t let go of her hand.
“I want her! She actually cares! That’s my choice!” “You’ve lost your mind, Arthur!” Andrew was shaking with shame. The women couldn’t believe a child had chosen the ‘help’ over the elite. “Andrew, this is clearly a tantrum,” the brunette said. “The boy is confused.”
“I’m not confused!” Arthur shouted. “You don’t even know my middle name! Do you know what I like to eat? Do you know I’m scared of the dark? You only know my dad is rich!” The woman in the green dress crossed her arms. “We’d learn those things, honey. We just met.”
“Exactly!” Arthur cried. “You want to be my mom without even knowing me! Elena has known me for six months. She knows I like to skip stones. She knows I talk to my mom at night!” Elena’s heart broke for him. He was fighting for her with everything he had.
“This is ridiculous,” the brunette scoffed. “A housekeeper doesn’t have the background to raise a child in this social circle. She doesn’t even have a degree.” “Do you have a heart?” Arthur shot back. “I can get a degree anywhere, but you can’t buy a heart like Elena’s.”
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