Chapter 4 The Matriarch's Scrutiny

Damien continued his icy stare down. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Before he could speak, the heavy mahogany doors opened wider.

Catherine Beaumont glided into the room. The formidable matriarch of the family moved with terrifying grace. She wore a flawless white Chanel suit. Pearls rested against her collarbone.

The entire room immediately fell completely silent. Even Damien closed his mouth. The ingrained respect for the matriarch was absolute.

Catherine walked to the head of the table. Damien shifted slightly to give her the absolute center position. Her sharp eyes swept over the five remaining candidates. She did not smile.

She gestured elegantly with one hand. Kevin Robles immediately stepped forward. He placed thick paper files in front of her. Catherine ignored the digital tablets completely. She preferred paper.

Catherine opened the first file. She looked at a blonde nanny sitting near the window. She sniffed the air delicately. "Your perfume," Catherine stated, her voice soft but sharp. "It's an assault on the senses. An infant's respiratory system is delicate. You are dismissed."

The blonde nanny stood up quickly. "But-I can wash it off! I apologize-" Two security guards immediately stepped forward and escorted her out of the room. She was gone in seconds.

Catherine opened the second file. She looked at a woman across the table. "A micro-tremor in your left hand," Catherine observed without a hint of sympathy. "An unacceptable physical weakness for someone handling a Beaumont child. You may leave." The woman left crying.

The oppressive silence in the room thickened. Maya controlled her breathing. She made sure her hands were flat against her sides. She kept her body perfectly still.

Catherine finally turned her piercing, eagle-like gaze onto Maya. She studied Maya's face. The silence stretched for a long, uncomfortable moment. Maya felt like a bug under a microscope.

"And you," Catherine finally spoke, her tone soft but lethal. "From... where is it? A decaying industrial town. Tell me, why do you believe you belong in this house? What makes you think you are worthy?"

Maya felt the immense psychological pressure pushing against her ribs. She kept her voice steady. "I excel in environments where failure means death," she stated calmly. "I do not panic when things go wrong."

Catherine raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. She was visibly intrigued. She liked the dark, pragmatic answer. It was better than the standard corporate fluff she usually heard.

Diane Adler sensed Catherine's slight interest in Maya. Panic flashed in Diane's eyes. She desperately attempted to sabotage her rival before it was too late.

"Mrs. Beaumont, if I may!" Diane spoke up loudly, her voice sharp with feigned concern. "This woman has zero references from high-society families. She is a massive liability. She simply does not know how to behave around wealth."

Maya did not look at Diane. She kept her eyes locked on Catherine. She addressed the matriarch directly. "Rich references prove obedience, not competence," Maya said, her voice cutting through Diane's accusation. "Anyone can learn to pour tea."

"I can, however, manage a bleeding disorder, identify silent seizures in a toddler, and execute the protocol for an acute airway blockage. Those are skills one does not acquire at a garden party."

Catherine's expression remained unreadable. But her fingers stopped tapping the mahogany table. The subtle movement signaled that she was actively listening.

Damien interrupted, annoyed by Maya's resilience. He leaned forward. "Theoretical knowledge is useless if the person is morally corrupt," he stated, his voice dripping with disdain.

Damien pointed a long finger at Maya. "Look at her, Mother. Her eyes constantly dart to the exits. She's been assessing the room's security since she sat down. That is the behavior of a thief or a corporate spy."

Maya clenched her jaw. Her teeth ground together. She knew her hyper-vigilance was a trauma response. She was used to protecting Pippa from sudden violent outbursts. It was not a criminal trait.

She could not reveal Pippa's existence. The Beaumonts would never hire someone with a severely mentally ill family member. "Situational awareness is a survival skill, Mr. Beaumont," she replied coldly. "Not a crime."

Catherine watched the hostile dynamic between her son and the applicant. Her eyes darted between them. She was calculating the power balance.

Catherine leaned back. "Everyone has a price, Miss...?" She paused, deliberately forgetting Maya's name. "What is yours? What is your ultimate price?"

Maya did not hesitate. "The maximum salary bracket you offer. No bonuses. Just hard cash, deposited weekly."

Damien scoffed loudly. The sound was harsh. "There you have it, Mother," he said, turning to her. "Her blunt greed proves she's a massive security risk. She would sell our secrets to the highest bidder for a quick payday."

Diane Adler smiled smugly. She leaned back in her chair. She believed Maya had just dug her own grave with her aggressive financial demands.

Catherine closed Maya's file. The paper slapped against the wood. Her face was a mask of aristocratic indifference. She prepared to render her final verdict.

Damien leaned closer to his mother. His posture was rigid with absolute rejection of Maya's candidacy.

Damien leaned down. He whispered a few inaudible words into Catherine's ear. His icy blue eyes never left Maya's face.