Chapter 9 - Their Mansion
Eleanor proposed transferring forty percent of the mansion into the employee stewardship trust.
Victoria nearly laughed.
“You are giving away the family home.”
Eleanor looked toward the cooks, drivers and housekeepers.
“They maintained it.”
“They raised our children in it.”
“They worked holidays while we entertained.”
Arthur added his support.
The ballroom would remain available for family events.
But employees would receive profit participation from every paid gala, private dinner and film rental.
Staff entrances would no longer be used to hide workers from guests.
Retired employees could access the grounds and archive.
The vote passed.
For the first time, the people polishing the marble owned part of the floor beneath them.
Victoria looked toward the ivory-and-gold doors.
“You cannot force me out of a house my family built.”
Leah answered quietly:
“Your family did not build it.”
“Workers did.”
Arthur opened the doors.
He did not order Victoria dragged away.
He simply suspended her residency rights and asked her to leave until the financial review concluded.
She stood beneath the chandelier, diamonds frozen for restitution, surrounded by guests who now understood what they represented.
Before leaving, Victoria looked at Leah.
“You think they will ever see you as one of them?”
Leah glanced toward the staff.
“I don’t want to be one of you.”
Victoria’s face tightened.
Leah continued:
“I want people like you to stop deciding dignity belongs only to your class.”
Victoria walked out.
May you like
Then Mrs. Harrington asked Leah to check the lining of her wheelchair cushion.
Something had been hidden there for thirty years.
