Chapter 14 #2
“What severance?” Frau Dietrich demanded, speaking for the first time. Her voice was sharp with anger.
Katja opened her leather folder and extracted five crisp envelopes. “Each of you will receive three months’ salary plus an additional month for every year of service. The calculations have been made according to German labor law and are, in fact, more generous than legally required.”
“This is outrageous,” Müller said, his controlled facade beginning to crack. Red crept up his neck. “Master Abdul would never have—”
“Master Abdul is dead,” Petra said, and her voice was stronger now, firmer. “I am the owner now. I make the decisions. And I’ve decided that I want my own staff. People I choose, not people I inherited.”
“You’re making a serious mistake,” Müller said, and there was something almost threatening in his tone.
Something that made Seth’s jackal growl low in warning.
“This estate requires specific knowledge, institutional memory. The relationships I’ve built over thirty-two years cannot simply be replaced—”
“Actually, she can replace you,” Katja said calmly. “And she has. Your replacements will be assuming duties immediately upon your departure.”
“Tonight?” The youngest maid looked panicked. “But our belongings, our rooms—”
“Will be packed and forwarded to whatever addresses you provide,” Katja continued without missing a beat. “Professional movers will handle everything within forty-eight hours. You need only take your immediate personal items this evening.”
Seth watched Müller’s face carefully. The butler was furious, but more than that, he was thinking. Calculating his options, weighing whether to escalate or retreat. His eyes flicked to Seth for just a moment, and Seth made sure his expression conveyed exactly how that confrontation would end.
Müller looked away first.
“I want to speak with the estate’s lawyers,” Müller said finally, grasping at straws. “Herr Kessler will confirm that this is—”
“Herr Kessler will tell you exactly what I’m telling you,” Katja replied.
“This is entirely legal. Ms. Haas has full authority to make these changes, and the severance being offered is more than generous. If you wish to contest the termination in court, you’re welcome to try, but I can assure you that you will lose and potentially forfeit your severance in the process. ”
Müller’s jaw clenched. He turned back to Petra, and Seth saw him shift tactics. The anger drained from his expression, replaced by something that looked almost like hurt.
“On what grounds, madam?” he asked, his voice taking on a wounded quality. “Surely you must have grounds. You cannot simply dismiss loyal staff who have done nothing wrong without giving a reason.”
It was a good play. He was trying to appeal to her sense of fairness, and make her feel guilty for being cruel to innocent servants. Seth could see Petra waver for just a second.
Then she lifted her chin and met Müller’s gaze directly.
“My grounds are that this is now my castle and I want my own people,” she said firmly. “That’s all the reason I need to give.”
“You’re being influenced,” Müller said, his voice taking on an almost pleading quality now. “These outsiders—” he gestured vaguely at Seth and Katja without looking at them, “—they don’t understand how things work here. They don’t know the history, the proper way things should be done—”
“They know enough,” Petra interrupted. “And I trust them. Which is more than I can say for staff who’ve been reporting my every move to people outside this household.”
The room went very still and Müller’s expression went carefully blank. “I don’t know what you’re implying, madam.”
“I think you do.” Petra’s voice remained calm, but Seth could hear the anger underneath, controlled and focused. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The way you watch me. The questions you ask about my meetings, my plans, my decisions. The interest you take in my visitors and consultants.”
“I was simply doing my job as butler—”
“Your job was to serve this household,” Petra said, her voice cutting through his excuses. “Instead, you’ve been serving someone else’s interests. Multiple people’s interests, I suspect. And I’m done with it. I don’t trust you.” The last four words were as clear as she could make them.
She picked up one of the envelopes Katja had set on the desk and held it out toward Müller. “This is your severance. Take it and leave quietly, or refuse it and leave anyway. The choice is yours, but either way, you’re leaving tonight. I won’t be spied upon in my own home.”
Müller stared at her for a long moment. Seth could practically see the wheels turning as the butler tried to find an angle, some leverage he could use to change her mind or delay the inevitable. But Petra held all the cards now, and her expression made it clear she wasn’t going to fold.
Finally, Müller reached out and took the envelope with stiff, jerky movements. His fingers trembled slightly—with anger or fear, Seth couldn’t tell.
“Very well,” Müller said, his voice tight. “But you are making a grave mistake. You’ll regret this decision. Mark my words.”
“Is that a threat?” Seth asked quietly, his voice dropping to something dangerous.
Müller’s eyes flicked to him, and whatever he saw in Seth’s face made him take an involuntary step back. “Of course not. It’s simply…advice. From someone who knows this estate far better than you ever will.”
“Then I’ll take your advice under consideration,” Petra said. “Now please, all of you, collect your personal items and vacate the premises. You have until eight o’clock.”
The other staff members came forward to collect their envelopes. The maids looked shell-shocked, clutching the severance letters like they might disappear. Frau Dietrich’s expression was thunderous, but she took her envelope without comment, though her hands shook as she gripped it.
“You have until eight o’clock,” Katja reminded them, her voice crisp and businesslike. “After that, you’ll be considered trespassing and will be removed by security.”
The maids fled immediately, practically running from the room. Frau Dietrich followed more slowly, her back rigid with barely contained fury. Müller was the last to move, and he paused at the door to look back at Petra.
“Thirty-two years,” he said softly. “I gave thirty-two years to this family. I thought that meant something.”
“It might have meant something to Abdul,” Petra replied. “But he’s gone. And I’m not him.”
Müller’s expression hardened. Then he turned and left without another word.
Seth waited until the library door closed behind them before pulling out his phone. He sent a quick text to Pax.
SETH: They’ve been told and should be heading to their rooms to pack now. Make sure they leave by eight. Escort them off property. Watch what they take.
PAX: Copy that. Ari and I are in position. Nobody’s leaving with anything that isn’t theirs.
Seth pocketed his phone and turned to find Petra sagging against the desk, her brief surge of strength apparently exhausted.