Victoria stood over her son and his bleeding wife, adjusting her expensive jewelry with calm fingers. She looked down at Chloe with utter disgust, showing no remorse for the horrible act she had just committed in front of the house staff.
Victoria: Mark, step away from her. You don't know if moving her will make her condition worse.
Mark: Get away from us, Victoria! If anything happens to my wife or child, I swear to God—
Victoria: You're upset, Mark. You're not thinking clearly. She was clumsy. Everyone saw her staggering earlier.
Elena: That is a lie! You shoved her with both hands!
Victoria stopped at the base of the stairs, her jaw tightening instantly as she turned her icy glare toward the brave maid in the grey uniform.
Victoria: Excuse me? You're a hired maid in this penthouse. Know your place.
Elena: I saw what you did! You leaned into her and pushed her right over the edge!
Victoria: You are mistaken, girl. And if you want to keep your job, close your mouth right now.
Mark looked up from Chloe, his eyes bright red with tears and pure rage as he stared directly at his wealthy mother.
Mark: You think you can buy everyone off, don't you? You think money covers attempted murder?!
Victoria: Murder? Don't be dramatic, Mark. She had an accident. The floor is slick polished marble.
Mark: I heard her scream! I heard the glass break!
Victoria: Accidental falls happen every day, Mark. Especially to girls who don't belong in luxury apartments.
Elena stood up quickly, placing her entire body between Victoria and the wounded couple lying on the cold ground. Her hands shook uncontrollably, but her chest heaved with fierce, protective determination as she glared through her thick glasses at the cold billionaire woman.
Elena: YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME FIRST!
Victoria: Move out of my way, Elena, before I have you fired and arrested for slander.
Elena: Fire me! Go ahead! But I will tell the police, the judge, and the news reporters exactly what you did!
Victoria: Nobody listens to a servant over a Sterling.
Elena: They will when they see the security cameras!
Victoria's eyes flicked upward toward the corner of the high ceiling, where a tiny dark lens was hidden near the crystal chandelier. For a split second, her icy composure cracked completely. She had not noticed the newly installed security system mounted in the grand living room earlier that week.
Mark: What security cameras, Elena?
Elena: Mr. Sterling installed them yesterday afternoon, ma'am. High-definition video with crystal-clear audio recording technology.
The heavy front doors of the penthouse burst open suddenly, and three paramedics rushed in carrying a heavy yellow stretcher, followed closely by two armed police officers in dark blue uniforms. The room was suddenly filled with loud voices and flashing emergency lights from outside the glass windows.