Evelyn: Learn your place!
Before Evelyn's hand could finish moving through the air, Elena reacted with speed borne of pure anger and self-respect. Her right hand swept forward in a firm, powerful arc that landed square against Evelyn's jawline before the socialite could even blink. The loud crack of the hit echoed off the high ceilings like a thunder clap in the quiet master bedroom.
Evelyn gasped in pure surprise, losing her balance completely as her designer high heels tangled in the long hem of her black dress. She stumbled backward three fast steps, falling heavily into the cushioned seat of the leather armchair behind her. Her hands flew up to touch her reddening cheek as her perfectly applied red lipstick smudged across the corner of her lips.
Evelyn: You... you hit me?! You put your filthy hands on me?!
Elena: I told you never to lay a finger on me again!
Evelyn: SECURITY! SECURITY! GET UP HERE NOW!
Evelyn scrambled out of the chair on shaky legs, her voice breaking into a high screech that rang through the hallway. She looked like a wild animal caught in a trap, her elegant appearance completely ruined by her sudden terror and outrage.
Elena: Scream all you want, Mrs. Vance.
Evelyn: You're dead! Do you hear me?! I will have my husband ruin every single person in your family!
Elena: Your husband is an accountant, not a god.
Evelyn: He is the chief executive officer of Vance Enterprise! He owns this city!
Elena: He owns a company, but he doesn't own the truth.
Evelyn: You just committed aggravated assault! You're going to prison for years!
Elena: Am I?
Elena raised her right arm slowly, pointing her index finger up toward the top corner of the spacious master suite. Right above the crown molding near the wooden wardrobe sat a small, modern dome camera casing that was mounted cleanly against the wall. A steady, bright red recording light blinked softly on its side, working continuously without a sound.
Elena: Check the camera, you fool!
Evelyn stopped shouting instantly, her jaw dropping open as her eyes followed Elena's finger up to the ceiling corner. Her face drained of all color in a matter of seconds, leaving her skin looking sickly pale against her dark dress.
Evelyn: That... that camera isn't active. It was turned off during the master bedroom remodeling last year.
Elena: Is that what you told yourself when you decided to stage this little drama?
Evelyn: It IS disconnected! My husband told me the wiring was cut!
Elena: Your husband had the entire security system upgraded forty-eight hours ago for the charity gala insurance policy.
Evelyn stood frozen, the red slap mark on her cheek burning bright against her pale skin. She took a shaky step back toward the open doorway, her mind racing to understand what had just happened.
Evelyn: No... no, that's impossible. He didn't tell me.
Elena: Because he knows you don't pay attention to anything in this house unless it glitters.
Evelyn: Shut up! Shut your mouth!
Elena: Every word you said, every threat you made, and every hit you landed was captured in crystal-clear high definition.
Evelyn: I'll delete the files! I have the master password to the home network!
Elena: It feeds directly to a cloud server managed by the security company, Mrs. Vance. You can't delete a thing.
Evelyn: I'll tell Richard you forced your way in here! I'll tell him you attacked me first!
Elena: You don't have to tell him anything. Why don't you ask him yourself?
Elena pointed toward the wide double doors leading out to the second-floor balcony landing. Evelyn turned around slowly, her stomach dropping like a lead weight into her chest as she stepped out into the light.