Loriel's Offer

"Well, the reason why I'm here is that I want to look for a job as well," she finally explained her situation. "I have to support myself and I heard people say I can easily find work in New York."

"Work? What kind of work are you looking for?" Loriel asked.

His mind went to Marc and his Sanderman Group of which Loriel held a big share. It would be very easy for him to make his great-nephew hire Elise.

Actually, Loriel wanted to ask Elise about her family. From his observation and all the bits and pieces of information he received from her, he concluded that the woman came from a sheltered background.

Perhaps her 'new family' in this modern world was wealthy that they could hire a nanny to help her. If this was HIS Elise, Loriel assumed the nanny was hired to teach Elise the language and how to behave in the modern world.

That's why she could speak English and seem to fit well in this modern world.

But, all this sounded crazy!

Loriel, you're pushing it! The man chided himself.

He was worried that he made up things on his own just to force his belief that this woman was Elise.

What if he was wrong? He must not be that invested in her. If she was not really his wife, Loriel would have a hard time accepting reality and letting her go.

How could he check if that was really her? What to do?

Ah, he must probe her about her family. There was no other way. If he could get at least their name, he could ask Marc to investigate the family and eventually find out the truth about Elise's origins.

Before the beautiful woman replied to his first question, Loriel couldn't help but ask another. "I am very sorry to be asking this, but have you run away from your home?"

Normally, this question would sound weird if he asked other adult women because, usually, people started living independently after they turned 18.

However, someone who had a nanny and certainly came from a well-off family with loving parents wouldn't be stranded in the city and was desperate for a job like she was now.

Did something bad happen to her back home that the soft and demure Elise decided she couldn't stand it anymore and chose to leave?

If she was bullied by someone and ran away, Loriel wanted to know. He wanted to protect her and punish anyone who had wronged her.

Elise's face turned completely red. It was as if the man had read her mind!

Was it really that obvious?

She lowered her head for a moment but eventually said it. "Yes, that is the case."

"Forgive me again for being rude, but may I ask, why?" Loriel asked. His eyes looked sympathetic and sincere.

Elise's heart thumped in her chest. She was still hesitant to tell everything to the man. She didn't want to be judged or seen as strange at all by someone who she had just met.

And yet the man's voice was nothing more but respectful and polite. Loriel seemed like someone who was not judgemental and very relaxed. Perhaps, he would understand her situation if she shared it with him.

Well… maybe she shouldn't tell Loriel everything, but just enough for him to understand her situation.

Elise cleared her throat and met the man's gaze. "There are some troubles at my home that require me to find a job of my own and leave the place for a while… That's why I decided to go here."

"Ah, I see," Loriel said.

She still hid her identity, but Loriel could work with that.

While there was no clear answer as to who she was, Loriel could not let this woman go after hearing how she was in trouble and had to find ways to support herself.

The man decided he would be patient and waited until Elise trusted him enough to tell him everything. He must gain her trust.

"I am not so sure how long I'll need to find a job, but if it is possible to stay here and pay you with the money I have right now… I'll do my best to find another place once I secure a better position," Elise promised him.

Loriel shook his head. "I don't think that's necessary at all."

"Eh?" Elise batted her eyes in confusion.

Loriel bit back a smile and nodded. "I don't think you have to look for any other place to be. You can simply opt-in to stay with me if you don't mind being with me. In fact, you can even keep your money."

A confused look appeared on Elise's face. He didn't want Elise's money?

Didn't he say he was having a tough time and needed cash? Wasn't that why he offered Elise to stay with him and use the money she received from the hostel to pay for her accommodation?

Loriel cleared his throat.

"Well, I know I told you that I could use some extra cash by renting out one of the rooms here to you. However, I suddenly have a change of heart."

"What do you mean?" Elise narrowed her eyes and looked at the man intently. Did he want something else as compensation?

Loriel noticed her discomfort and quickly explained what he had in mind. "Now that you told me you are looking for a job to support yourself, I am thinking maybe… you can pay the room by doing some work around here. That way, you can save your money. I was once like you, falling on hard times. I know how it feels. At that time I so wish other people would help me so I can pay it forward."

"Oh…" Elise didn't know how to respond to such a kind offer from this stranger. Did he offer her a room in exchange for a job?

What kind of job?

"What I mean by this is simply offering you a position as… well, you could stay here at the penthouse and ensure that it's clean. If you do that, you can remain here for as long as you like," he said.

Elise pursed her lips. "A maid?"