Gabriel: Has she been mistreating you before today?
Elena: She... she was always very harsh when you weren't here, sir.
Gabriel: Why didn't you come to me?
Elena: I was afraid you wouldn't believe me over your fiancée. I needed this job too much to risk getting fired.
Gabriel took a deep breath, resting his hands on his knees.
Gabriel: I am deeply sorry, Elena. I brought a terrible person into this house, and you paid the price for my poor judgment.
Elena: You protected me today, Mr. Sterling. No boss has ever done that for me before.
Gabriel: You mentioned your mother earlier. Is she in the local hospital?
Elena: Yes, sir. She has a heart condition. Her medication costs a lot of money every month.
Gabriel stood up and walked over to his desk near the window, pulling out a leather checkbook.
Gabriel: What is her name?
Elena: Martha... Martha Vance. But sir, you don't need to—
Gabriel: Martha Vance. Got it.
Gabriel wrote quickly on the paper, tore the check out, and set it on the small glass table next to Elena.
Elena: Mr. Sterling... this check is for fifty thousand dollars!
Gabriel: That will cover your mother's medical bills for the entire year.
Elena: I can't accept this! This is way too much money!
Gabriel: It's not a gift, Elena. It's an advance on your new role here.
Elena: New role?
Gabriel: Mrs. Gable is retiring at the end of this year. I want you to step up as the Head Housekeeper for the Sterling estate.
Elena stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes again, but this time they weren't from pain.
Elena: Head Housekeeper? But I'm only nineteen...
Gabriel: You have more grace, honesty, and strength than anyone who has walked through those doors in a long time.
Loud sounds of suitcases hitting the floor echoed from the foyer outside.
Gabriel: Excuse me for a moment. I need to make sure she leaves.