Page 23 of The Last Morgan
Standing like a statue beneath the floodlight near the guesthouse. Shirt sleeves rolled up, cigarette burning between his fingers. Smoke curled lazily around his face.
He looked up.
His eyes met hers. Steady and unflinching. That same haunting intensity that caught her off guard the fist time she saw him.
She stopped moving. Her heart skittered like a stone over water.
Then her towel slipped.
"Crap!" she yelped, diving to the floor in a clumsy mess of fabric and limbs.
She scrambled on the plush carpet, gathering the fallen towel with a furious flush rising to her cheeks. The cool air hit her skin, only worsening the sting of embarrassment.
From under the windowsill, she peeked again.
He was still there.
Still staring.
Unmoving.
And then just like that he was gone.
"Lucy?" Corey’s voice on the other side of the door. "You okay? Byron said he saw you drop... something?"
"I’M FINE!" she shouted, sitting in the exact same spot under the window.
She pulled the towel tighter. Her face felt like it was on fire.
Tomorrow, she told herself. ‘I Start again Tomorrow’.
Morning sunlight streamed through the wide bay windows of the Morgan estate, casting a golden glow over the room as Lucy opened her eyes. For a moment, the warmth felt like peace. But then the weight of everything—the company, the legacy, the enemies—settled back on her chest.
Today was important.
Lucy picked out a sharply tailored Black pantsuit, accented with silver buttons and a crisp white blouse. She tied her hair back into a low ponytail, letting a few strands fall loose to soften the sharp angles of her face. The finishing touch was her father’s watch.
She didn’t wear it for time.
She wore it so she could feel close to him.
At the base of the steps, the household staff were already assembled as requested. They stood in a neat line, looking slightly nervous but attentive. Lillian hovered nearby, maintaining her usual posture of authority.
Lucy offered a warm smile. "Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. I know this is a little different from your usual routine, so I appreciate your time."
She paused and let her words settle.
"I want to start by saying I respect the work you all do. I grew up here, and I know how much effort it takes to keep this home running. I'm not here to tear anything down. But I do want to establish something clearly."
Her tone remained gentle, but firm.
"As of today, I am the head of this household. I want to be approachable and fair, but I also expect respect. Mutual respect. I won’t tolerate anyone being treated as less than, including myself."
She glanced at Lillian.
"Lillian will continue to oversee the day-to-day coordination of staff. But ultimate decisions in this household rest with me now.If anyone has concerns or ideas, you can bring them to me. My door is open."
A few nods. A few eyes widened. But the energy in the room had softened.
