Merchant’s Son Humiliated an Apprentice — But Her Father Owned the Trading House
Chapter 10
Months passed.
Hawthorne & Sons changed.
The old ledgers were audited.
Merchants who had been cheated were compensated.
Workers received better wages.
Apprentices were taught accounting rather than treated as servants.
And Anna was given a permanent position.
Not because of her father.
Because she had earned it.
Jonathan placed her at the head of the accounting room.
Elias objected.
“She’s been here less than a year.”
Jonathan looked at him.
“Then you should have worked harder.”
Elias smiled.
“I suppose I should.”
Anna became responsible for the company’s books.
Within six months, she discovered another problem.
A shipment was being delayed because the harbor master demanded an illegal fee.
Elias wanted to pay.
Anna refused.
“It will continue if we give in.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“We expose him.”
Elias looked at her.
“Again?”
“Again.”
They did.
The harbor master was removed.
The merchants cheered.
For the first time, Anna understood something her grandfather had once written:
A company did not become honorable because its owner was rich.
It became honorable when ordinary people inside it refused to participate in dishonesty.
One evening, Elias found Anna alone on the balcony.
“May I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Do you still think I’m arrogant?”
Anna considered.
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“But less than before.”
“I’ll take that as progress.”
He stood beside her.
Below, Greyhaven’s harbor glowed beneath the setting sun.
“Anna.”
She turned.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For humiliating me?”
“For more than that.”
He hesitated.
“I thought status made me important.”
Anna said nothing.
“I was wrong.”
She smiled.
“Then remember that.”
“I will.”
Neither noticed Samuel standing inside the doorway.
He watched his daughter and Elias quietly.
Then he smiled and walked away.
