Chapter 3 - The Servants’ Homes
The Harrington Employee Residences consisted of eight apartment buildings outside Hartford.
Retired housekeepers lived there.
Former cooks.
Drivers.
Gardeners.
Widows of employees who had spent entire lives serving Connecticut families too wealthy to remember where their staff went after retirement.
Leah’s mother lived in Building Three.
For thirty-two years, part of every paycheck had been deducted for housing and pension contributions.
Victoria called the apartments a family charity.
The payroll records called them employee-funded property.
Ethan read the redevelopment proposal.
The buildings would be demolished and replaced with luxury townhomes, a private wellness club and short-term residences for wealthy guests attending mansion events.
Residents would receive sixty days to leave.
Victoria would collect an eighteen-million-dollar development fee.
“You wanted my mother declared unfit so you could sell the apartments,” Ethan said.
Victoria remained composed.
“The buildings lose money.”
“They keep rents affordable.”
“That is why they lose money.”
Leah looked at her.
“People live there.”
Victoria turned sharply.
“This is a family decision.”
Leah’s humiliation rose hot in her face.
Her mother’s home was being discussed at a table where Leah had been instructed not to sit.
Yet Victoria still called it private family business.
Eleanor spoke quietly.
“Those workers paid for the buildings.”
Victoria laughed.
“They contributed modest amounts.”
“So did the first Harrington investors,” Leah answered.
“No one calls their shares modest now.”
Several relatives looked away.
The truth sounded different when spoken by a server.
Then Ethan found the Thanksgiving dinner expenses.
May you like
The imported wine, flowers and photographer had all been charged to the employee housing reserve.
The workers had paid for the celebration from which their families were excluded.
