The Maid on the Floor Was His Millionaire Daughter
CHAPTER 1 -- The Daughter on Her Knees
The sound of a wet cloth scraping marble stopped Richard Caldwell in the doorway.
A young woman knelt beneath the chandelier, scrubbing the floor with both hands. She wore a maid's uniform, her pale hair tied back and her eyes swollen from crying.
"Emily?"
She looked up.
"Dad?"
Richard's briefcase slipped from his hand.
His daughter was supposed to be recovering at the family estate while he completed a six-month business assignment in Geneva. Victoria had assured him Emily was resting, attending therapy and rebuilding her confidence after ending a painful engagement.
Victoria entered holding a glass of wine.
"You're early," she said. "Emily still has her chores."
"Chores?" Richard stared at her. "In her own house?"
Victoria smiled as if explaining something to a child.
"Her therapist recommended structure. Emily has become lazy, emotional and financially irresponsible."
Richard took the cloth from Emily's hand and threw it beside the bucket.
"Stand up, sweetheart."
Emily tried, but her knees buckled. Richard caught her and noticed the angry red marks circling her wrists.
His expression changed.
"Who did this?"
Emily glanced fearfully at Victoria.
"They're from carrying the buckets."
Victoria set down her wine.
"She exaggerates when she wants attention."
Richard removed his phone and called the head of Caldwell Holdings' forensic accounting department.
"Begin a full audit. Personal accounts, household expenses, property records--everything."
Victoria's face stiffened.
"That's unnecessary."
Richard's gaze settled on her.
"My daughter owns this estate. She serves no one here."
Within twenty minutes, two security officers arrived. Richard ordered them to prevent anyone from removing documents or electronic devices.
Victoria laughed nervously.
"You're making a humiliating mistake."
Then Richard's phone rang.
The auditor spoke for less than a minute.
Richard slowly lowered the phone.
Someone had taken out a multimillion-dollar loan against Emily's house using her electronic signature.
The payment was already overdue.
Foreclosure was scheduled for nine o'clock the following morning.
But that was not the worst discovery.
The company purchasing Emily's home belonged to Victoria's brother.
