Chapter 9: The Ultimatum
"Sir," Rosa said, her voice respectful but laced with a newfound steel. She didn't let go of Mateo's hand. "The boy needs to rest. I will clean up the hallway."
It was a dismissal. An employee dismissing the billionaire from his own hallway. Arthur felt a flash of indignation, but it was quickly swallowed by a crushing wave of guilt. He nodded slowly, his eyes locked on Mateo's small, trembling frame.
"I'll... I'll be in my study," Arthur muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. It was a cowardly retreat, and he knew it. He turned around and walked back the way he came, his posture a little less rigid, his shoulders carrying a new, invisible weight. Rosa watched him go, shaking her head imperceptibly before turning her attention back to the boy.
