Suddenly, I Am Rich

The tension in the lobby stayed as they waited for Lita’s arrival. All throughout, Eli stayed close to Gray. He was still holding his hand tightly. Mara also stayed by their side, though she still looked visibly confused at what was happening.

Meanwhile, the staff members who were disagreeing earlier were now avoiding everyone’s eyes. Some looked nervous, while others tried to act as though to tell that there was nothing wrong.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long before hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Lita appeared from the corner soon after. She looked slightly out of breath. She rushed on the way here because a staff told her that there was a problem. Her smile was meant to be warm, but when she noticed Gray’s grim expression, the smile faded instantly.

”Sir Gray,” she breathed out, ”they said you were looking for me? Is something wrong?”

Gray didn’t answer her right away. He only motioned with his head and nodded. ”Let’s talk in private.”

”Of course... we can use the meeting room.” Lita blinked, confused by it.

The older staff members stiffened with it while the younger ones looked more worried by the second.

Lita was about to walk away when Gray stopped her.

”They’re coming too.” He pointed at the employees behind him.

With that, the color drained from their faces immediately.

Eli pressed his lips together, scared at the sudden change in the air. His little heart was thumping loudly against his chest. When Gray saw fear in his eyes, he smiled at him and gently squeezed his hand.

”It’s okay. I’m right here.”

With those comforting words, Eli nodded. Thinking that it was about Eli, Mara also smiled at the boy. She placed her hand on Eli’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile when he glanced at her.

”Sure...” Lita unsurely smiled.

The small group walked down the hallway and entered a quiet meeting room. The room was simple and clean, but it was small. That made the employees more uneasy as they were just close to each other.

Gray guided Eli to sit beside him at the table. Mara sat on the other side, her eyes never leaving the staff members. She was now having a small idea of why they were here. Lita took the spot across from Gray.

The staff stood farther away. Their postures were rigid, with their hands clenched.

Gray let out a deep breath.

”Before anything else,” he said, ”let me ask a simple question.”

Everyone looked up.

”Is there anyone here who wants to tell the truth before I drag it out myself?” he calmly asked.

Gray waited for a second, but no one spoke.

”Truth? Sir Gray... I’m not sure I understand.” Lita’s brows furrowed.

Gray leaned back in his seat, but his eyes were sharp. ”Eli,” he said softly, ”is it okay if I ask you something?”

Eli nodded slowly.

”Would you like to tell Miss Lita what you told me earlier?” Gray continued, his voice careful.

Eli froze. His shoulders tensed, and his breathing turned shallow. He shook his head quickly, fear flashing in his eyes.

Gray gently placed a hand on Eli’s back. ”It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything if you’re scared.”

”Sir Gray, what is this about? Did something happen to Eli?” Lita grew more confused.

Gray didn’t answer. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked Eli, ”Can I show her the marks?”

Eli hesitated, trembling again. Then after a moment, he gave a small nod.

Lita’s expression changed. She leaned forward slightly, worry forming in her eyes.

”Can you lift your shirt a little?” Gray shifted closer to Eli and asked softly.

Eli slowly turned, his shaking hands grabbing the hem of his t-shirt. He raised it just enough for the bruises on his back to show.

And as soon as they came into view, the room went completely silent.

Lita gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth. ”What... what happened to you?” Her voice trembled.

Mara stiffened beside Gray, her eyes widening in horror. She whispered a curse under her breath when she saw the bruises. The expression on Mara’s face darkened.

The staff members who sat across the room froze too. One of them looked away, guilt spreading across her face. The older woman gripped the sides of her uniform, her knuckles turning white.

Gray lowered Eli’s shirt gently after a few seconds. Then he raised his head, looking straight at Lita.

”Now,” he said quietly, ”do you understand why I called you?”

Lita shook her head, almost dazed by what she learned. ”No... no, this can’t be... Eli, sweetheart—who did this to you?”.

Eli flinched again at the sudden attention. ”I’m sorry,” he whispered. ”I didn’t mean to say anything. I didn’t mean to make trouble.”

”You didn’t do anything wrong, Eli.” Gray said firmly.

Mara reached over and held Eli’s tiny hand. ”You’re very brave for telling us.”

Lita looked around the room, confusion turning into horror when she noticed the expressions of her staff. Something clicked in her eyes. Her face paled.

”No...” she whispered. ”No. Tell me this isn’t true.” She turned to the employees.

However, just like earlier, no one moved and answered.

Gray watched them all with a controlled expression on his face.

Eli pressed his face against his knees. ”They said if I told anyone... I wouldn’t be allowed inside anymore,” he whispered. ”They said I’d get sent away.”

Mara closed her eyes for a moment, her jaw tightening.

Lita covered her mouth again, tears forming in her face.

”Eli... honey, no one would ever send you away. Who told you that?”

Eli didn’t answer.

Gray leaned forward again, elbows resting on the table. ”This also isn’t just about Eli,” he said. ”He told me other kids were being hurt too.”

”What?” Lita’s eyes widened.

”And that new employees were being threatened to stay quiet,” Gray added.

One of the younger staff members broke. She covered her face with her hands and started crying silently, her guilt slipping away.

Gray watched her for a moment.

”You’re new?” he asked gently.

The staff nodded shakily.

”Did anyone threaten you?”

She nodded again, her tears dripping down her cheeks.

Lita turned toward the older caretakers slowly. Her face twisted in disbelief. ”You,” she whispered. ”Is this true?”

The older woman who had spoken earlier looked down, lips trembling. ”Lita... we were only trying to discipline them. They were being very—”

Lita slammed her palm on the table.

Everyone jumped.

”Discipline?” she shouted. ”This is abuse! These are children!”

Eli flinched hard. Gray placed a hand on his back again, hugging him in his arms.

Lita stood, pointing at the caretakers with shaking hands. ”How dare you? How long has this been going on? How many children did you—”

”We did it out of care!” the older woman suddenly cried out. ”We noticed that the foundation was losing donors because the kids looked unorganized and gloomy! Losing donors means that our salary would also be cut off! We can’t afford that!”

”.”

”And that gave you the right to hit children?” Mara muttered in a cold voice, still fuming.

The room broke into a mess after that. Lita kept shouting at the older staff. One of them started crying. Another tried to make excuses. The younger staff looked horrified. Some backed away from the older caretakers, distancing themselves from them.

Gray didn’t join the chaos. He just watched calmly, his hand still resting on Eli’s back as the boy curled toward him, overwhelmed at all the things that were happening.

After a while, Gray finally stood up. He looked straight at Lita.

”You’ll handle the investigation,” he said. ”The kids will be checked. Interviews will be done. And these people—” he pointed at the older caretakers, ”—are not allowed near the children ever again. I’ll talk to Alistair about this.”

Lita nodded instantly, ”Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll suspend them right now. And after this... they’re gone. I’ll report everything to the Mayos. I swear, Sir Gray, I didn’t know—”

”Even if you didn’t know, It’s still your fault,” Gray said. ”But I don’t blame you. Still, this cannot happen again.”

”It won’t. I promise you with everything I have.” Lita lowered her head.

Gray looked down at Eli again. The boy peeked up at him, his eyes red from tears. However, he was not terrified as earlier.

”We’ll let you talk. I want to have time with Eli and the res of the kids.”

”Sure, Sir.” Lita nodded at Gray’s request.

Gray didn’t respond to her further. He simply nodded and held onto Eli’s hands. They stood up and left the room, not sparing a glance at the employees who were all bowed down now.

The moment the door shut, the atmosphere inside the room changed. Lita remained standing at the head of the table.

A mix of horror, shame, and disbelief still clung to her expression, but the moment Gray and the others left, it immediately disappeared.

”You fools.”

Everyone froze.

”We’re caught.”