Chapter 6 - The Executive Promotion
Maria pressed her hands against her mouth, tears spilling over her cheeks as she looked into the beautiful classroom where children were already playing. "Mr. Mercer... I can't accept this. This is too much. I am just your housekeeper."
"You're not just my housekeeper, Maria," Daniel said, his voice dropping to a serious, professional register. He pulled a folder from under his arm and handed it to her. "For seven years, you've managed the logistics of my penthouse, handled vendor contracts for my events, and maintained absolute confidentiality under immense pressure. You have better organizational skills than half my junior executives."
Maria opened the folder. Inside was an official corporate contract for Mercer Urban Holdings.
"Effective today, you are being promoted to the position of Director of Hospitality and Corporate Services for the entire Mercer corporate campus," Daniel announced. "You will oversee the facilities management, event planning, and staff coordination for our headquarters. Your starting salary is eighty-five thousand dollars a year, with full health insurance, dental, and a retirement match."
Maria stared at the numbers on the page, her heart hammering violently. It was more money than she had ever dreamed of earning in her entire life. It meant moving out of her cramped apartment. It meant never having to choose between groceries and Sophia's asthma medication.
"Mr. Mercer... I don't know if I can do this," she stammered, her hands trembling. "I don't have a corporate degree."
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"You have a degree in survival, Maria, and that's the only one I care about," Daniel said firmly. "I'll have our corporate HR team guide you through the transition next week. You earned this. Every single day of it."
As they walked out of the building, Sophia clutched a brand-new coloring book Dr. Vance had given her. She looked up at Daniel and reached out her little arms. Daniel caught her, hoisting her onto his shoulders as they walked toward the car, the shadow of the Langston family completely forgotten in the bright morning light.
