The morning sun cut through the tall stained glass windows of the grand estate.
Ethan stood in the center of the marble foyer, holding his brass pocket watch.
He checked the time and felt a cold knot tight in his stomach.
His young daughter Lily was supposed to be eating breakfast in the dining room.
Instead, her loud sobs echoed down the long curved staircase above him.
Ethan set his watch inside his vest pocket and walked toward the stairs.
He had hired Victoria six months ago to help manage the grand household.
She was elegant and soft-spoken whenever Ethan stood in the room with her.
Yet the house held a strange tension whenever Ethan left for his office.
Ethan: Lily, sweetie, why are you crying so early today?
He called up to the landing but received no answer from his daughter.
The crying grew louder, accompanied by the harsh sound of raised voices.
Ethan narrowed his eyes and moved quickly up the polished wooden steps.
At the top of the stairs stood Elena, the quiet nanny he hired last month.
She was holding small Lily close to her shoulder, whispering soft words of comfort.
Victoria stood just three feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her silk chest.
Her eyebrows were drawn together in anger as she glared at the quiet nanny.
Victoria: I told you never to touch her without my permission first!
Elena: She was standing near the top stair and lost her balance, ma'am.
Victoria: Do not make excuses for your incompetence in this home!
Ethan reached the top landing and observed the sharp conflict between the women.
He saw Elena's hands trembling as she patted Lily's tiny trembling back.
Lily clutched Elena's soft cotton apron like her life depended on it.
Ethan: What is the meaning of all this noise in the hallway?
Victoria turned around instantly, her harsh expression melting into sudden tears.
She reached out toward Ethan with dramatic, trembling fingers.
Victoria: Oh Ethan, thank goodness you are finally upstairs to see this!
Elena: Sir, I swear I only reached out to save her fall.
Victoria: She pulled Lily away from me and caused her to stumble!
Ethan looked at Elena's pale face and then at Victoria's sharp, angry eyes.
He felt torn between the woman he trusted and the nanny he barely knew.
Ethan: Hand my daughter over to Victoria right now, Elena.
Elena swallowed hard and slowly handed the crying toddler to Victoria.
Lily reached her small arms back toward Elena, weeping louder than before.
Lily: No, stay with me, Elena, please do not go away!
Victoria held the girl firmly and backed away toward the nursery door.
Victoria: See how she has confused the poor child with her games?
Ethan rubbed his forehead as a deep headache began to form behind his eyes.
He needed to understand what was really happening inside his large home.
Ethan: Elena, go down to the kitchen and wait for my decision.
Elena lowered her gaze, nodded quietly, and walked down the grand staircase.