The bright white marble kitchen was usually the warmest room in the entire mansion.
Morning sunlight poured through the floor to ceiling windows and lit up the polished countertops.
Sarah adjusted her green cable knit sweater as she walked down the quiet hallway.
She had spent the last two hours finishing up monthly financial reports in her home office.
Her six month old baby boy named Toby was downstairs with Victoria.
Victoria was Mark’s younger cousin who had recently moved into the city.
She had begged for a temporary job while looking for a corporate accounting position.
Sarah had felt hesitation from the beginning about letting Victoria handle childcare.
Victoria always carried an attitude of quiet arrogance around the grand house.
She often complained about the baby crying during her favorite television shows.
As Sarah neared the double doors of the kitchen, a sudden loud crash echoed out.
It sounded like heavy plastic slamming hard against the solid marble floor.
Immediately after the crash, Toby began to scream in absolute terror.
This was not his normal soft hunger cry or sleepy whimper.
It was a sharp sound that made Sarah’s heart freeze inside her chest.
Her footsteps quickened as she rushed across the glossy hallway floors.
She threw open the heavy kitchen door and stepped inside the room.
Victoria was standing directly over Toby’s high chair with her back turned.
Her shoulders were tense as she leaned over the tiny crying child.
Sarah saw Victoria aggressively shake a heavy plastic tray right in front of Toby.
Victoria: Be quiet right now you spoiled little brat!
Sarah: Get your hands away from my child right now!
Sarah sprinted across the polished marble floor without thinking twice.
She placed her body directly between Victoria and the wooden high chair.
Her hands moved quickly to unbuckle the leather safety harness around Toby.
She lifted the trembling baby into her arms and pulled him close.
Toby buried his tear stained face into the soft wool of her green sweater.
Sarah could feel his little heart pounding rapidly against her collarbone.
She turned around to face Victoria with fierce anger in her eyes.
Victoria smoothed down her purple long sleeve top with total indifference.
She did not look guilty or sorry about what had just happened.
Instead, her lips curled into a cold and condescending smirk.
Victoria: You are completely overreacting over a little crying!
Sarah: You slammed his tray and screamed directly in his face!
Victoria: He was being noisy and needed to learn some discipline!
Sarah: He is a six month old infant who cannot even walk!
Victoria: He screams because you spoil him every single minute of the day!
Sarah felt a cold chill run down her spine as she listened.
She held Toby tighter while backing toward the central kitchen island.
Victoria stepped forward into Sarah’s personal space without any hesitation.
Her eyes narrowed into dark slits as she stared at the mother.
Victoria: You think you are so much better than everyone else in this family.
Sarah: Do not take another step toward us, Victoria.
Victoria: Just because Mark bought you this massive mansion does not make you queen.
Sarah’s hand reached out toward the landline phone on the counter.
Before she could touch the receiver, heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway.