Chapter 22 - Maya’s Decision
Maya submitted her resignation.
Victor found the letter on his desk.
He read it twice.
Then marched toward Ethan’s room.
Maya was packing books into her bag.
“What is this?”
She looked at the letter.
“My resignation.”
“I can read.”
“Congratulations.”
Victor did not smile.
“Why?”
Maya glanced at Ethan.
Ethan said, “I already yelled at her.”
“I did not ask you.”
“He’s worse.”
Maya zipped the bag.
“My reason for taking the job was dishonest.”
Victor folded his arms.
“We established that.”
“I came here looking for Daniel.”
“And you found him.”
“Yes.”
“So now you leave?”
Maya looked at Ethan.
“That was always the arrangement.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
“No, it wasn’t.”
She softened.
“You were supposed to have a tutor.”
“I do.”
“Maya,” Victor said, “do you want to leave?”
She paused.
Ethan noticed.
“So you don’t.”
“It’s complicated.”
Ethan groaned.
“Adult word.”
Maya sat.
“My brother is safe. Theodore is arrested. Your family is dealing with serious consequences.”
“And?”
“And I don’t want to stay because everyone feels emotionally obligated to keep me.”
Victor frowned.
“No one is obligated.”
“You doubled my salary after one chess game.”
“That was an excellent chess game.”
“You weren’t playing.”
“Exactly.”
Ethan laughed despite himself.
Maya smiled.
Then turned serious.
“I also lied.”
Victor said, “You told me before I hired you permanently.”
“I had already entered your home.”
“Yes.”
“I used the job to get access.”
“Yes.”
“And that matters.”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked between them.
“So fire her for the lie and hire her again for being good at the job.”
Victor stared.
Maya laughed.
“That is disturbingly logical.”
Ethan shrugged.
Victor considered.
“Fine.”
Maya blinked.
“What?”
“You’re fired.”
Ethan grinned.
Victor extended his hand.
“Ms. Carter, Ethan requires a tutor. Would you like the position?”
Maya stared at him.
“You are ridiculous.”
“Is that a yes?”
She looked at Ethan.
He tried to look uninterested and failed.
“Yes.”
Ethan smiled.
Victor kept his hand extended.
Maya shook it.
“Salary returns to original rate.”
She pulled her hand back.
“Absolutely not.”
Ethan burst out laughing.
Victor smiled.
“Fine.”
The humor faded when Maya asked to speak privately.
They went to the terrace.
“I’m still worried about Ethan.”
Victor’s posture changed.
“Why?”
“Not physically.”
He relaxed slightly.
“He’s carrying everybody.”
Victor frowned.
“Explain.”
“He listens to your grief. Adrian’s guilt. Daniel’s fear. My anger.”
Maya looked through the glass doors toward Ethan.
“He’s good at making adults laugh when things get heavy.”
Victor knew.
“That doesn’t mean he’s fine.”
“I know.”
“Does he have someone whose job is only to listen to him?”
Victor bristled.
“He hated therapy after the accident.”
“Then don’t force therapy.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Ask him.”
Victor went inside.
Ethan was arranging chess pieces.
“Do you want someone to talk to who isn’t family?”
“No.”
Victor nodded.
Ethan looked surprised.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not giving me a speech?”
“No.”
Ethan studied him.
“Maybe later.”
Victor waited.
Ethan moved a pawn.
“I might talk to somebody later.”
“Okay.”
No pressure.
The next week, Ethan chose a counselor who specialized in working with adolescents who had experienced trauma and disability.
He rejected two others.
Victor let him.
Progress did not look dramatic.
No music swelled.
No miraculous transformation occurred.
Ethan still got angry.
Still missed Simone.
Still hated strangers who stared.
Still loved chess.
Still complained about homework.
His life was not a tragedy waiting for inspiration.
It was simply his life.
Maya understood that better than anyone in the house.
One evening, she and Victor stood outside Ethan’s door after a lesson.
“He beat me in eleven moves,” Maya said.
“You’re terrible.”
“I was distracted.”
“Excuses.”
She looked at Victor.
“You’re becoming funny.”
“That accusation is unacceptable.”
They smiled.
Something quiet passed between them.
Not romance.
Not yet.
Recognition.
Two adults who had spent months inside the same emotional storm.
Maya stepped away first.
“Good night, Victor.”
He noticed she used his first name.
“Good night, Maya.”
Inside the room, Ethan called loudly:
“You both know the door is open, right?”
Maya closed her eyes.
Victor sighed.
Ethan laughed.
Then Victor’s phone rang.
Renee.
Theodore Blackwell had agreed to plead guilty to several major financial charges.
But he was contesting any criminal responsibility related to Simone’s crash.
Victor listened.
For the first time, he did not feel rage.
He felt clarity.
“Then let the evidence decide.”
Renee paused.
“You’re okay with that?”
“No.”
Victor looked at Simone’s photograph.
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“But okay isn’t the standard.”
Truth was.
