The morning sun poured through the massive glass windows of the estate.
Light danced across the polished parquet floors of the grand entrance hall.
A prominent American flag hung proudly on the high main wall.
Martha knelt on the cold floor with a small bucket and scrub brush.
Her back hurt after working four long hours without a single break.
She had served the Sterling family for over twenty dedicated years.
Martha loved this home and always kept every single room spotless.
However, the past few months had been harder than ever before.
Victoria walked down the winding staircase in an expensive emerald gown.
Her diamond necklace caught the bright daylight as she stepped down.
She looked down at Martha with total disgust in her eyes.
Victoria was engaged to the owner of the massive family business.
She treated the household staff like they were completely beneath her.
Martha kept her eyes down and continued scrubbing the wooden floor.
She did not want to cause any trouble with the new lady.
Victoria stopped right in front of the kneeling older woman.
She tapped her designer shoe impatiently against the shiny hard wood.
Victoria: You missed a spot right here, old woman.
Martha stopped scrubbing and looked up with tired, gentle eyes.
Martha: I am sorry, Miss Victoria, I will wipe it right now.
Victoria: You move far too slowly for a house this grand.
Victoria raised her hand and pointed toward the grand door.
Victoria: Scrub faster, you pathetic old servant!
Victoria: You will never be clean enough for this house!
Martha lowered her head and tried her best to hurry up.
Her hands trembled as she pressed the cloth against the floor.
Victoria grabbed a nearby heavy mop handle with a sharp glare.
She raised the wooden stick high into the bright morning air.
She slammed the handle down right beside the terrified old maid.
The loud crack echoed through the vast, empty high foyer.
Martha gasped and pulled her trembling hands back toward her chest.
She felt completely helpless under the younger woman's harsh gaze.
Victoria let out a cold laugh that filled the large space.
Victoria: That should teach you to pay closer attention to your work.
Martha wiped a single tear from her soft, wrinkled cheek.
She prayed quietly for the owner of the house to return.