Richard carried Lily gently into the adjoining library and placed her comfortably on the soft sofa.
Richard: Stay right here, sweetheart, while I handle this situation once and for all.
He walked back out onto the marble balcony where Victoria stood trembling in fear.
The soft breeze blew through the open balcony doors as Richard approached her with cold focus.
He pointed his index finger directly at her face in front of the flag hanging nearby.
Richard: Don't you ever dare touch my child again! Get out of my house!
Victoria: You cannot fire me without paying my full contract settlement fee first!
Richard: A contract fee? You just put my young daughter in serious danger!
Victoria: She tripped on her own dress! I was trying to save her!
Richard: I saw you corner her against the balcony railing with my own eyes!
Victoria's confident attitude vanished completely as she realized her excuses were failing miserably.
She stepped toward the staircase, hoping to slip away into her ground-floor staff bedroom.
Richard blocked her path with authority, his posture resolute and completely unyielding.
Richard: You are not going anywhere near the private guest rooms, Victoria.
Victoria: My personal belongings are inside that room, Mr. Sterling!
Richard: Security will pack your clothes while you wait in the security office downstairs.
Richard reached into his jacket pocket and dialed his head of private property security.
Within two minutes, two uniformed security officers entered the front foyer from the gate house.
They marched up the marble stairs quickly, positioning themselves on either side of Victoria.
Richard: Escort this woman to the guard house and call the local police department immediately.
Victoria: You have no proof of any crime, Richard! It is my word against hers!
Richard: This entire mansion is equipped with high-definition security cameras in every hallway.
Victoria turned pale as she remembered the small dome camera mounted near the balcony ceiling.
She had forgotten about the newly installed property security system when she opened the desk drawer.
Victoria: Please, Richard! Do not involve the police! I was desperate for money!
Richard: You threatened a child and tried to steal a family heirloom.
Security Officer: Step this way, ma'am. Do not cause any further trouble on this property.
The guards led Victoria down the grand staircase while she wept loudly in defeat.
Richard watched them walk out the front entrance before returning quickly to the quiet library.
Lily was sitting on the leather sofa, clutching her late mother's gold locket tightly.
Richard knelt beside her and gently wiped the stray tears from her round cheeks.
Richard: Are you hurt anywhere, my brave little girl?
Lily: No, Daddy. You caught me just in time.
Richard: I will never let anyone hurt you ever again, I promise you that.
Lily pressed her head against his shoulder as the fear slowly left her small body.
Richard held her tightly, realizing how close he had come to losing everything that mattered.