The large estate was peaceful while Mark drove down the winding coastal highway.
Victoria walked into the nursery holding a small glass of fresh orange juice.
Leo sat on the soft wool rug playing silently with his wooden train set.
He looked up and shrank back against the wooden toy box immediately.
Victoria: Stop making that silly face at me right now, Leo.
Leo kept quiet and held his small wooden train close to his chest.
Victoria lowered her hand and grabbed the toddler roughly by his small arm.
Leo began to cry softly as the tight grip hurt his tender skin.
Carla heard the quiet whimper from the end of the long upstairs hall.
She dropped her yellow cleaning dust cloth and ran quickly toward the nursery.
Carla opened the heavy mahogany door without even knocking on the wooden frame.
Carla: Please, Mrs. Sterling, let go of his small arm right now!
Victoria: How dare you enter this private room without knocking first, maid?
Carla: You are hurting him, and I will not let you do that!
Carla stepped forward boldly and placed her body right between Victoria and Leo.
She gently pulled the crying toddler into her warm, protective arms.
Leo buried his face deep into Carla's shoulder while shaking with fear.
Victoria's eyes turned sharp with pure anger as she raised her small hand.
Victoria: You are just a hired worker in this house, remember your place!
Carla: My place is keeping this poor child safe from your cruel temper!
Victoria stepped closer and pointed her finger directly into Carla's tired face.
Victoria: Mark will fire you today if I say a single word!
Carla: Tell him whatever you want, but leave this innocent boy alone!
Victoria reached out aggressively and tried to yank Leo away by his collar.
Carla turned her back quickly to shield the frightened boy from the grab.
The conflict escalated into a loud argument that filled the entire upper floor.
Neither woman noticed that Mark had forgotten his important legal documents on his desk.
Mark's sleek black luxury sedan pulled back into the wide driveway outside.
He opened the massive front entrance doors and stepped inside the echoing foyer.
He heard loud shouting coming from the marble balcony right above his head.
Mark froze as the angry voices echoed clearly off the expensive stone walls.