In their opulent living room, which had huge windows that faced the ocean, stood a tiny woman. Her hands were wrapped in rags that smelled of ointment. She was the widow, laundress that Viktor had hired. She started to bow, but Viktor was quick to stop her. “No, ma’am, do not ever feel the need to bow to me. You work too hard to bow to anyone. Have you brought us good news?”
She replied, “Yes. I have found the child. She lives with a couple in the village. They have many children, all very young. The neighbors say this girl is new to their home and she does not look like the others. The children she plays with say she claims to be a cousin. She says that she once lived with her grandmother, but she died. I know no more. I can take you to the house.”
The woman was shocked when Viktor swept her off her feet in a hug. He stated, “You and your children are welcome to live here if you wish. You can oversee the cleaning staff and need never ruin your hands again. The children will be fed and clothed so that they can attend school. Their only chore will be to learn.”
“It is more than I ever dared dream,” she replied.
The door to the cottage was opened by a bedraggled young woman with a baby on her hip. Several more sat on the bare floor eating crackers. A man, wiping grease covered hands, came from the back room and asked, “Who’s bothering us now? Where’s the girl? She should be helping with the little ones.”
“I sent Sophia for milk. I think these people may be here about her. Remember, the neighbors said someone’s been asking questions,” the woman replied.
“What do you want with the girl? She’s not for sale. She’s too young to work in a rich house. Besides, the lawyer would take away the money if we made her work instead of going to school. It was part of the deal, along with making sure she dressed decent and was fed well.”
Viktor tried not to show his revulsion and asked, “What lawyer? Where did Sophia come from?”
“What’s it to you?” the man asked.
“I am Viktor Krovia. I believe that Sophia is my niece. You have no legal rights to her. So, tell me where you got her.”
The wife declared, “We don’t want no trouble. My granny was given her when she was an infant. She cared for her on her little plot of land outside the city. She even taught her to read, write and do numbers. She passed six months ago. A lawyer came to the door and offered us money to take her in. He said Granny had money she stole from that Santos man. If we made sure she went to school, dressed decent and ate good, we would get money every month from her account.”
The man added, “That money’s ours. You can’t claim the girl and get it.”
“I don’t want or need the money. I’ll make sure the lawyer continues to dole it out to you. If Sophia is my niece, I’m taking her out of this mess. I’ll even give you a monthly stipend, if you feed and dress all of your children decent and let them go to school. It’s their chance for a better life. I suggest you take it. Just remember, we will be watching”, Viktor offered.
A little girl walked in with a jug of milk. Her wide eyes were the replica of Elena’s. She was beautiful and appeared happy despite her living arrangements. Viktor grinned and told her, “Your mother was my sister. You look just like her. Come home with us. We’re your real family.”
THE END
A Sugar Daddy’s Secret Page 63
