The heavy dark wooden doors of the estate opened to reveal a massive dining room.
Golden chandeliers hung high above the long polished table where elite guests gathered every weekend.
Clara adjusted the thick straps of the front baby carrier holding her tiny infant son.
She took a deep breath to calm her nervous heartbeat before stepping into the hall.
Working as a temp waitress at private estates paid enough to keep a roof over their heads.
She picked up a heavy silver tray carrying a bottle of expensive red wine.
At the head of the table sat a powerful man named Damon Vance.
Damon ran half the city's private security firms and held immense local influence.
He leaned back in his leather chair while holding a cigar in one hand.
Behind him stood his chief financial advisor, an older soft-spoken man named Arthur Pendelton.
Arthur had served the Vance family estate for over thirty long years.
Clara approached the head of the table with slow careful steps.
Her baby rustled slightly against her chest, letting out a faint sleeping sigh.
She reached out to set down a crystal wine glass beside Damon's hand.
Clara: Sir, let me set this down for you.
Damon did not even look up from his phone screen.
Damon: Just set it down and keep moving.
Clara's hand shook slightly from exhaustion after working a double shift.
The base of the crystal glass caught the edge of a silver utensil.
The glass tipped sideways before anyone could reach out to catch it.
Dark red wine spilled instantly across the crisp white linen tablecloth.
The deep red liquid spread quickly toward Damon's gold ringed fingers.
Damon froze instantly as the wet stain ruined his fine Italian suit sleeve.
The heavy room fell into a dead silence as guests stopped talking.