Chapter 6 - The Confrontation
The front entrance hall of the Hail estate was grand, soaring two stories high with a double staircase made of imported white marble. In the center of this cavernous space stood Harrison Vance, shaking snow off his designer overcoat, his eyes darting around the expensive artwork with a mixture of envy and groveling deference.
When Matthew Hail stepped down the main staircase, his hands tucked into his pockets, Vance immediately straightened his tie and put on an exaggerated, obsequious smile.
"Mr. Hail! Merry Christmas Eve!" Vance chimed, stepping forward with his hand extended. "I do apologize for dropping in unannounced, sir, but as head of regional operations for Clean Express, I make it my personal mission to oversee our top-tier accounts. I wanted to personally verify that our replacement cleaner met your exact standards tonight."
Matthew ignored Vance’s outstretched hand completely, stopping at the bottom step. His gray eyes locked onto Vance with a coldness that made the manager’s smile falter.
"The work is fine, Mr. Vance," Matthew said flatly.
"Excellent, excellent!" Vance exhaled with relief, though his eyes remained sharp and calculating. "I was worried when our primary worker fell ill. I had to send one of our lower-tier employees—a woman named Jenna Carter. Unfortunate situation, really. Reliable enough with a broom, but I know she has... baggage. A child she constantly drags around, personal distractions. I hope she hasn't been a nuisance or caused any inconvenience in your home?"
Matthew took a slow, deliberate step off the stairs, narrowing his eyes as he approached Vance. The air in the foyer suddenly felt ten degrees colder.
"What kind of baggage, Mr. Vance?" Matthew asked softly.
Vance, misreading Matthew’s cold tone as annoyance toward the employee, scoffed derisively. "Oh, you know the type, sir. Single mother, living on government assistance, always begging for advances on her paycheck. I only keep her on out of charity, frankly. If she let her daughter touch anything or stepped out of line while she was here, you just say the word and I’ll have her terminated before midnight. Clean Express prides itself on invisible, flawless service."
Matthew stood inches away from Vance now. Though Vance was taller, Matthew’s sheer presence seemed to dwarf the manager entirely.
"Invisible," Matthew repeated, his voice dangerously low. "You think poverty should be invisible, Mr. Vance?"
Vance blinked, suddenly realizing he had taken a wrong turn. "I—well, sir, for our clients' comfort—"
"Jenna Carter has been working in this house for four hours," Matthew said, every word clipped and sharp as a razor. "She has worked with a level of dignity and dedication that you clearly know nothing about. Her daughter is currently sleeping in my study because her mother was forced to work on Christmas Eve just to keep them from freezing in a building that I happen to know your parent company owns and refuses to heat."
Vance’s face went completely pale. "Mr. Hail, I... I didn't realize..."
"You called her a nuisance," Matthew continued, his voice dropping into a register that had destroyed billion-dollar corporations in boardrooms across the country. "You described a mother fighting to feed her child as 'baggage.' You come into my home on Christmas Eve, uninvited, expecting me to praise your coldness."
"Sir, please," Vance stammered, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead despite the draft in the hall. "Clean Express highly values your business. If I offended you—"
"Clean Express’s contract with Hail Enterprises is officially terminated as of this second," Matthew said smoothly. "And tomorrow morning, my legal team will be filing an emergency injunction regarding the health and safety violations in the residential properties your firm manages."
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Vance gasped, clutching his coat. "Mr. Hail! You can't ruin our contract over a cleaner!"
"I am not doing it over a cleaner, Mr. Vance," Matthew said, turning his back on the man and walking toward the study. "I am doing it over a human being. Richard, show Mr. Vance to the gate. If he hesitates, call security."
