Richard sat down on the leather sofa while still holding his sleeping son.
He looked up at Clara, who was standing quietly with her hands folded.
She was wiping away the remaining dust from her black maid skirt fabric.
She prepared to walk back toward the kitchen to finish her evening work.
Richard: Please do not leave just yet, Clara. I need to talk to you.
Waitress Clara: Yes, Mr. Vance? Is there anything else you need tonight?
Richard: You saved my son's life when nobody else was watching her.
Waitress Clara: I only did what any decent human being would do, sir.
Richard: Most people would have been too scared to move like that.
Richard stood up from the plush sofa and walked over to stand near her.
He looked at her simple uniform and saw the brave heart beating underneath.
He knew that a woman with such courage deserved much better in this world.
Richard: Starting tomorrow morning, you are no longer a maid in this house.
Waitress Clara: Sir? Please do not fire me! I really need this job!
Waitress Clara: My mother is sick in the hospital and needs her medicine!
Richard: You misunderstood me, Clara. I am not firing you at all.
Richard smiled warmly for the first time on this dark, stressful night.
He reached out and placed a gentle hand on her brave shoulder again.
Richard: I am offering you the position of head nanny for my son.
Richard: You will receive a salary five times higher than what you make.
Richard: And I will pay for all of your mother's medical bills myself.
Clara covered her mouth with her trembling hands as tears fell again.
She could barely believe the wonderful words coming from her boss's mouth.
Her long days of endless poverty and worry were finally coming to an end.
Waitress Clara: Thank you so much, Mr. Vance! I will protect him always!
Richard: I know you will, Clara. You are part of this family now.
Little Leo opened his bright eyes and let out a happy little baby laugh.
He reached his tiny hands out toward Clara from his father's warm arms.
Clara leaned down and kissed the baby's cheek with a gentle, loving smile.
Truth and love had conquered greed and cruelty inside the mansion tonight.