Her face was expressionless and Cassie saw that she didn’t let her mask slip often, or for long.
“That camera footage was very interesting to me,” Ms. Rossi began.
Cassie caught her breath in horror, because she hadn’t thought that this subject would come up so soon.
“I had no idea you were so curious about the contents of my study, and even the possessions in my bedroom,” the businesswoman continued.
Cassie could say nothing in her defense. Her actions were indefensible. She stared down at the desk’s polished surface, feeling her face burn.
Then Ms. Rossi’s next words had Cassie jerk her head up again in consternation.
“It’s a coincidence that you should have been caught on camera doing this, while at the same time I arrived home to find a strange car outside, and intruders trying to break into my home.”
Cassie stared at her incredulously.
Had the strange vehicle been real at all, or had Ms. Rossi invented the intruders to cement Cassie’s guilt? Had she made up the whole scenario, and the description of the car, to provide another layer of proof when she “discovered” the footage of Cassie searching through her belongings and valuables?
“I am sure you see what I mean,” Ms. Rossi continued, her voice filled with quiet satisfaction. “Of course, I am already aware some valuables have gone missing.”
Cassie drew in a sharp breath.
“But I didn’t—” she began, mortified.
The other woman gave her a small smile.
“Your word against mine. Who will the police believe? We have had incidents before this in our neighborhood, where temporary staff have been found to be informers for professional criminals. Or, of course, petty thieves on their own account.”
The word lashed Cassie like a whip.
“So, now we have confirmed your standing in this household, let us move on. Firstly, you will not speak out of turn again. My daughters will be raised the same way I was. If I punish them, it is because they deserve it. They will be wealthy, successful adults one day, just as I am. However, I will not allow you to work with them any longer. I have arranged for my mother to make the move here earlier. She will arrive tomorrow and will supervise the children in your place.”
Ms. Rossi stared at her over her tortoiseshell frames, and Cassie saw the coldness in her eyes.
“You will not speak about anything you have seen or heard here. If you do, trust me when I say that the whole of the Italian police force will be on the lookout for you. We are a high-profile family and people take us seriously. It would go very badly for you if I had to explain to them how I discovered you were hurting and punishing my children.”
Cassie felt herself shrivel inside at the words.
Ms. Rossi understood she was committing abuse. Of course she did, and this showed Cassie she knew how wrong her actions were. If Cassie tried to expose her, Ms. Rossi would make sure she was blamed for it.
She’d seen how the children had been trained to remain silent. Cassie was sure that to protect themselves, they would also end up protecting their mother.
There was nothing she could do. She had just been checkmated.
“Within forty-eight hours, I want you gone.”
Ms. Rossi reached into her handbag and took out a sheaf of hundred-Euro bills. She counted a few notes off the pile, opened a folder, and pushed the money across the desk.
“Here are your wages for a full month. Sign on the bottom of this page, to say you have received full and final payment.”
Cassie let out a surprised gasp.
“I don’t want your money. After everything that’s just happened? There’s no way I will take it. Please, put it back in your purse.”
Ms. Rossi’s gaze drilled through her. She spoke quietly, but each word was as sharp as the crack of a whip.
“If you refuse the money, that is your choice, but I will have your signature on this page saying that you accepted your wage and you were paid in full. You will not manufacture a reason to lay a complaint against me. Sign. Now. Or I call the police and accuse you of theft.”
Cassie’s hand was shaking so badly she could hardly use the pen. She scribbled an illegible signature on the paper, feeling clumsy and inadequate under the other woman’s withering gaze. She couldn’t bring herself to take the money. The notes lay untouched on the table.
“Go to your room now. The children and I will finish dinner without you.”
Cassie stood up and fumbled her way out of the office. Her eyes were blurred with tears. This situation was utterly horrific. The children were victims of targeted abuse. She should have realized earlier when she had seen the way they shut down and looked to each other for support, their closeness, their blind obedience to the rules, fearing punishment.
She knew what they had gone through because she and Jacqui had suffered abuse too.
Jacqui had stayed to protect Cassie for as long as she could endure. She had only left when Cassie was a teenager.
She hadn’t abandoned Cassie, the way that Cassie would be forced to turn her back on these young girls, and leave them to their fate.
Cassie’s head was a mess. This situation was causing the memories of long ago to bubble up again. She’d forgotten the fear and helplessness she felt, how she hadn’t dared to talk back to her father when he was in one of his violent tempers and how she’d tried her best to become invisible, so that he wouldn’t notice her and her mere presence would not end up angering him more.
She remembered how whenever she’d been home alone, she’d longed for Jacqui to come back, because the older girl would give her some degree of support and protection if things turned
