The Loyalty Game

For the first time in two days, the estate was quiet too quiet. No servants moving with hurried feet. No whispers trailing

. Her skin, though pale from the stroke, glowed with its natural softness. In her la

look up whe

dead ye

air beside her bed, smiled without

ll scaring the whole house li

aybe I needed to fall, so you'd all

aside. "You're not made of marbl

rmured. "But fire fad

hem, filled only by the rhythm o

. "We're doin

O

We're putting out a ca

ranger? To smile in my face and rep

retreat. A test. Loyalty. Empathy. Patien

. "You think you can measure

a storm and see who wa

ed, but because she knew that tone. Tunde

lect eight to ten finalists.

and dollar

e no

's enough money to mak

kno

t how they wait. Look at how they sit when no

rd. "Will you h

d. "So you're givin

I just forgot how

ted the poetry book from he

on't try to fill every space with words or pity. Someone w

. We'll design it around wh

s someone who won't treat this job

breath

e years ahead. Who challenges me. Who remi

her hand. "Then we'll wait for t

to a whisper. "I do

d so. And because I st

Bring me the caregiver first.

d in, holding a slim brown folder and a tablet

ength returns like a

what's in your hand," Mama sai

y challenge. Three days, closed compound. Psychological observation and

will come?

s, therapists. Some see it as a job. Others see it as a callin

. "And what do th

now," Tunde said. "They'll me

o see them when they t

actions. A few actors. Some emotional curveballs. But the real

et over her lap. "The

aised an

ressed plainly. No jewelry. I want to talk to th

lit up. "Ye

calls me 'Aunty' and who sees me as 'just work.'

ake it happen. The moment they enter, we'll begin reco

k for perfection. Look for presence. Even if they

ver and kissed

id know what