Ophelia shook her head. "No. Palr never traveled to Ghana, and according to old church staff, he simply said he was protecting two lives and requested that Kelly and her child be kept low profile. It seems their real enemies were here, in the Kingdom."
Eleanor tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the armrest. "What about Kelly’s background?"
Ophelia smiled faintly. "Kelly worked as a finance officer in the church. Despite having no listed educational background, she was described as better at financial managent than trained professionals. She even acted as an unofficial Director of Finance for a ti."
"In my opinion," Ophelia said, voice firm, "she likely had a high-level degree or professional training but had to bury her identity for her safety."
Eleanor nodded in affirmation while Ophelia continued. "When her daughter was born, the Archdeacon chose to na her June Osborne, in honor of the first female Dean of any dieval cathedral in Britain. It was a symbolic gesture. Archdeacon Cole Palr made her na known to all the staff and treated her like a child personally protected by the Church. I learned this detail from an elderly staff mber... soone who had worked closely with Kelly Wilson during those years."
Ophelia paused briefly, allowing her words to settle. Eleanor said nothing, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Ophelia continued.
"After her birth, June showed remarkable intelligence and a strong aptitude for learning. From a very young age, she outshone her peers. She began her education at a local church-run school, where tuition was free for children from underprivileged families. Yet even among them, she stood out. With each stage of her academic life, she earned nurous scholarships and academic awards. She never once needed to pay for her education."
"She completed her bachelor’s degree in International Business, Finance, and Economics at the University of Manchester," Ophelia added. "She was admitted with a full university scholarship and graduated with the highest honors, sweeping every award in her departnt. Currently, she’s pursuing her Master’s degree in Business Analysis and Strategic Managent at the Alliance Manchester Business School. Again, under a full scholarship."
Ophelia paused for a mont, then continued. "While studying, she worked part-ti at various places... KFC, Tesco, UNIQLO, and others. Later, she gained recognition in retail sales and was awarded several performance accolades from these companies. Recently, she worked at Louis Vuitton for over a year, where she won ’Employee of the Month’ three tis and was nominated for the regional ’Best Retail Assistant’ award."
"But..." Ophelia’s expression darkened slightly, "things took a turn recently. Few days ago, she unintentionally offended a wealthy woman who visited the store. A few days later, that woman returned with a group of high-society friends, all with mbership cards. They caused a scene, lodged a formal complaint with the corporate office, and accused June of misconduct."
"The store manager initially defended her, but the corporate response was swift, and June was terminated. Soon after, the sa group of won began contacting other high-end stores in the area, warning them against hiring her. Whether out of fear or caution, every place she applied later turned her down. Eventually, she ended up working off-the-books at the gas station."
Eleanor frowned. "If the forr Archdeacon was protecting her, why was she forced into such desperation? Doesn’t the university scholarship cover her expenses?"
"I wondered that too," Ophelia said. "So, I dug deeper. Currently, she’s receiving the Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount, aning she pays no tuition for her Master’s degree. She also receives a £200 stipend from a Church foundation each month. anwhile, her mother, Kelly Wilson, receives a £600 pension from The Church of England Pension Board. But..."
She paused for a mont, then continued, "Almost two years ago, Kelly was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. While NHS covered most of the direct dical costs, she was prescribed ho dialysis... four-hour sessions, three to four tis a week. The dietary requirents, dications, and increased utility bills from the dialysis equipnt have placed a heavy financial strain on them. Their monthly dical expenses now exceed £1000, and that’s a conservative estimate based on her GP’s input."
"Though they still live rent-free in a house owned by the Church, their savings are nearly depleted. Kelly was dically advised to stop working and took early retirent. The financial burden fell solely on June. That’s why she desperately needs part-ti work, despite her rigorous academic commitnts."
Eleanor remained silent for a few monts. Her fingers tapped gently on the armrest of her chair.
"So, this girl... June Osborne... is an exceptionally talented student, skilled in sales, resilient in the face of hardship, and loyal to her mother. Yet now, she’s being punished by society for crossing paths with people like us. People with too much power and too little empathy."
Ophelia didn’t answer. She waited.
Eleanor finally spoke, her voice decisive. "From what you’ve said, I can see potential in June. She’s skilled, driven, and currently vulnerable. This is the perfect mont to bring her in... especially because her troubles stem from a situation I unintentionally caused."
She paused to think. "et with Kelly Wilson. Be respectful. Explain the circumstances behind June’s job loss and offer my personal apology. Then, invite June to Heimdall for a walk-in interview. Let her know that we’re offering a part-ti position with pay equal to or greater than her previous role at Louis Vuitton. The job will continue until she completes her degree."
Ophelia nodded in understanding, but Eleanor wasn’t finished.
"I also want you to investigate Kelly Wilson more thoroughly," she added. "There’s sothing off about her past. An Archdeacon doesn’t fund a stranger just out of charity... especially not without attracting attention. I don’t buy this Ghanaian orphan story. Look for any clues in their ho. Find out who June’s real father is. If he turns out to be soone influential or dangerous, I need to know. If June performs well, she could be a valuable asset. But if her bloodline poses a threat... I must be cautious."
Ophelia’s expression turned more serious. "One of our extended family branches settled in Ghana during the colonial era. They’re still well-connected in the region. If you want, I can reach out to them. They might be able to trace Kelly’s origins through the church records there."
Eleanor gave a slow nod. "Yes. Do it. Start tonight. Use all resources necessary, but don’t alert June or her mother. I don’t want them suspecting we’re digging into their past."
"Understood, Ma’am," Ophelia said, standing up.
Eleanor stood as well and walked toward the bathroom. "If that’s all, I’d like to take a bath before dinner."
Ophelia gave a small bow. "Yes, Ma’am."
With that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Eleanor alone with her thoughts.
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