Maya: Please... someone answer...
Maya pressed her hand against her bump, her vision swimming with tears as she clutched the cool glass of her smartphone. The pain in her abdomen was a deep, throbbing ache, but she forced her thumb across the screen.
Police Operator: 911, what is your emergency?
Maya: Not yet... I recorded everything. Call the police now... send an ambulance to the Sterling estate...
Police Operator: Ma'am? Stay on the line! Are you injured?
Maya: She pushed me... down the stairs... I'm pregnant...
Up on the balcony, Eleanor finally broke her silence, her voice trembling with panic as she grabbed Alexis by the elbow.
Eleanor: What did you just do?! Are you completely insane, Alexis?!
Alexis: I... I didn't mean to push her that hard! She slipped!
Eleanor: She didn't slip! You shoved her! Look at her down there, she isn't moving!
Alexis: Mom, stop screaming! If people hear you, the whole party will come running out here!
Eleanor: If that baby is hurt, Julian will destroy us both! Do you realize what you've done to the inheritance?
Alexis: We can just say she tripped on her dress! Look at her heels, they're four inches high!
Eleanor: She's on the phone down there, Alexis! Look at her hand!
Alexis rushed down the grand staircase, her sequined dress rustling loudly against the wood. Her heels clicked sharply on the steps as she approached Maya's limp body on the floor.
Alexis: Give me that phone! Who are you talking to?!
Maya: Get away from me...
Alexis: Give it to me, you fake little gold-digger!
Alexis bent down and tried to snatch the phone out of Maya's hand, but Maya tucked it tightly under her body, shielding it with her remaining strength.
Maya: Don't touch me! The police... they already have the live feed!
Alexis: What live feed?! What are you talking about?!
Eleanor: Alexis! Leave her alone! We need to pull ourselves together before the guests come out!
Alexis: Mom, she said she was recording! She had her phone out before I even touched her!
Eleanor: What?
Maya: Every word... every threat you made... it streamed directly to the cloud and to Julian's tablet...
Alexis stared at Maya in disbelief, her face draining of color. The confidence she had worn all evening evaporated instantly, leaving her shivering in her glittering dress.
Alexis: You're bluffing. You couldn't have been recording!
Maya: Check Julian's family account... he set up the security link for me... because he didn't trust you...
Eleanor: Oh dear lord... Alexis, we're ruined.
Alexis: Shut up, Mom! Maya, give me the passcode to your phone right now!
Maya: Never.
Alexis: I swear to God, Maya, if you ruin my life over a stupid fall, I'll make sure you never see a single cent from the Sterling trust!
Maya: You won't be seeing any money either... from inside a prison cell.
Alexis raised her hand in rage, but before she could do anything else, the heavy double doors of the foyer burst open.
Julian: Maya!
Julian rushed into the foyer, his suit jacket unbuttoned, his phone still in his hand displaying a red live-recording bar at the top of the screen. Behind him, three security guards and several shocked party guests spilled out into the hall.
Julian: Get away from my wife right now, Alexis!
Alexis: Julian! Thank God you're here! She fell, Julian! She tripped on the stairs!
Julian: I watched you push her on my phone screen, you monster!