_Kaelen's POV_
Silence settled over the household office.
Virella stared at me as if I had struck her. The suspension order remained in my hand, bearing her signature beneath a line that named her acting mistress of the Varkos household.
"But you gave me authority to manage the staff," she said.
"I gave you authority over the household. Stella works in my private office."
"You told me to deal with financial irregularities as I saw fit." Hurt crept into her voice. "I mentioned that an employee had accessed one of your private accounts without written authorization. You told me to handle it."
"You never told me the employee was Stella."
"Would that have changed the facts?"
Her question was soft, but it carried an edge.
Virella lowered her eyes.
"If I misunderstood what you entruste
