Chapter 6 - The West Garden Suite
Back at the Upper East Side estate, Ava stood by the tall, arched window of the west garden suite, watching the sunlight bounce off the melting snow in the private courtyard below.
The room was breathtaking—walls painted in soft cream and pale sage, a magnificent white marble fireplace, a custom mahogany crib draped in Swiss cotton, and shelves lined with hundreds of leather-bound classics.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Ava said.
Mrs. Gable entered carrying a silver tray with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea and a plate of shortbread biscuits.
"How are you settling in, my dear?" Mrs. Gable asked, setting the tray down on the mahogany writing desk.
"I still feel like I’m dreaming," Ava admitted, turning away from the window and walking over to the crib where Lily was sleeping soundly, wrapped in a pink cashmere blanket Mrs. Gable had provided. "This place... it’s a palace, Mrs. Gable. I don't know the first thing about managing an estate archive."
"Nonsense," Mrs. Gable smiled warmly. "Mr. Maro doesn't make mistakes when he hires people. He spent two days checking your background before he brought you here. He knew every teaching award you won at NYU, every volunteer hour you logged at the community center, and every book on your shelves."
Ava blinked in surprise. "He checked my background?"
"Thoroughly," Mrs. Gable chuckled. "Mr. Maro leaves nothing to chance. Especially not the people he invites under his roof."
Before Ava could reply, a sharp chime echoed through the intercom system near the door.
Mrs. Gable pressed the speaker button. "Gable speaking."
"Send Miss Sullivan to the ground-floor study," Nicholas Maro’s deep voice came through the speaker. "We have correspondence to review."
May you like
Mrs. Gable released the button and winked at Ava. "Duty calls. Don't worry about the baby—I’ll be right here in the adjoining nursery the entire time."
Ava took a deep breath, smoothed down the skirt of her simple black dress, and walked out of the suite, heading down the sweeping grand staircase toward the ground floor of the Maro estate.
