Victoria walked down the wide stairs with slow and controlled steps.
She held her head high as if nothing wrong had occurred.
Her expensive silk dress rustled softly against the stone steps.
Victoria: Mark, you must calm down and listen to reason.
Mark: Explain why that stroller is sitting upside down on the floor.
Victoria stopped three steps from the bottom of the staircase.
She pointed a well-manicured finger directly at Elena's face.
Victoria: The maid was careless while cleaning the top hallway.
Victoria: She bumped into the wheels and sent it rolling.
Elena shook her head firmly in total disagreement.
Elena: That is not what happened at all, Mrs. Vance.
Elena: I was carrying the baby out of his bedroom.
Elena: You saw the stroller near the banister and shoved it hard.
Mark looked back and forth between the two women.
His jaw remained tight as he processed their conflicting words.
Mark: Mom, why were you near the baby's nursery anyway?
Victoria: I came to inspect the house like I always do.
Victoria: A mother has every right to visit her son's home.
Mark: You did not have permission to be upstairs today.
Victoria clasped her hands together in front of her dress.
Victoria: I noticed the dust on the wooden railings upstairs.
Victoria: I tried to move the stroller out of my way.
Victoria: My shoe caught on the carpet runner and I slipped.
Elena: You did not slip, Mrs. Vance.
Elena: You looked around to see if anyone was watching you.
Elena: Then you gave the handle a strong push downward.
Victoria pressed her lips into a thin and angry line.
Victoria: You insolent girl!
Victoria: You are trying to frame me to cover your mistake!
Mark held his baby son closer against his chest.
He felt a deep sense of unease settle in his stomach.
Mark: Elena has worked for us for three years without an issue.
Mark: She has never lied to me about anything in this home.
Victoria: So you trust a hired worker over your own mother?
Mark: I trust the truth, Mom.
Mark: And right now, something feels very wrong here.
Victoria took the final steps down to the main level.
She brushed past Elena with a cold and dismissive glare.
Victoria: Fire her immediately, Mark.
Victoria: She is a danger to your infant child.
Elena: I am not going anywhere until the truth comes out.