a chorus of congratulation

t to have you

e they gave you

spread through my chest. "Thanks, e

a sprawling cityscape I had worked tirelessly to make my own. This promotion was the culmination of six years of grinding, of l

y housekeeper, for the entire five years I'd lived here. She handled everything from

phone and dia

, it's Sarah. Do

lright?" Her voice was the same a

news. I've been promoted, but the position is i

a happy response. Inst

Jenk

ally, her voice flat. "That'

aken aback. "And of course, I'll write you a glowing letter

ter laugh. "After five years of dedicating myse

t you mean. Our arrangement

r voice rising with a strange, theatrical wobble. "I've been here f

not throwing you away. My job is movi

ense of warmth gone. "I'm not young anymore. Who's goin

e pension? Mrs. Jenkins, you're my housekeeper, no

condo? You're moving, you won't need it. You can just sign it

r. This condo was my sanctuary, the first major a

t giving you my condo. T

e best years of my life! You can't just leave me with nothin

but because of the venom behind it. She was try

bove the market rate, given you bonuses every Christmas, and treated y

needs. My daughter, Emily, she's trying to get on her feet. Thi

-dollar property because you feel you're owed it," I sa

g. "We have our own community, our own ways of making sure we're treated right. Y

service workers in these affluent downtown buildings, the gossip mi

. I was done

you threatening to spread rumors ab

you should do t

r about what's happening here. You aren't asking for help. You're trying to extort

greedy whisper. The mask was completely off. "Y

have it. This is your final warning. Do not contact me with these d

r to back dow

y, Sarah. You'l

ffective immediately. Do not come back to my building. I will hav

denly felt tainted by this ugly, grasping conflict. The beautiful city view from my window seemed to mo