Richard lowered his fist slowly, though his knuckles remained white. His chest heaved as he knelt down beside his sobbing boy.
Richard: Leo, look at me. Did this woman push you into the deep end?
Victoria: Don't interrogate a traumatized child, Richard! She lunged at him when his back was turned. I had to run all the way down from the second-floor terrace to save him!
Maya: That's a lie! You weren't running down to save him! You were standing up there watching him sink!
Victoria: How dare you speak to me like that in my own mansion? Richard, fire her immediately and call the police!
Richard turned back toward Maya, his eyes dark with suspicion.
Richard: Why were you even near the pool, Maya? Your duties are inside the east wing.
Maya: I was bringing clean towels to the cabana, sir. I heard splashing and a scream. When I looked, Leo was already under.
Victoria: She's fabricating an alibi! She's been resentful ever since I cut her overtime hours last week.
Leo: Mommy pushed my ball... then she pushed me!
A dead silence fell over the stone patio, broken only by the hum of the pool filter.
Victoria: Leo Hayes, stop telling stories! You slipped because you were running near the edge, and then she grabbed you under!
Richard: Victoria, quiet for a second. Leo, what did you just say?
Victoria pulled the child tighter against her silk dress, her polished nails digging into his shoulder until he squirmed.
Victoria: He is confused, Richard. He hit his head on the coping stones. Can't you see he's in shock?
Maya: Check his head, Mr. Hayes! There are no bruises on his forehead. But check his upper arms. Look where she held him!
Victoria: Get this girl off my property before I have my security team throw her out into the street!
Richard: Nobody is moving an inch until I get the full truth. Stand up, Maya.
Maya rose slowly, her sneakers squeaking against the wet tiles, her teeth chattering from the cold wind blowing off the bay.
Maya: I have worked for you for two years, Mr. Hayes. Did I ever once neglect Leo? Did I ever let him out of my sight when you trusted me with him?
Richard: No. You never did.
Victoria: Oh, so now you're taking the word of a minimum-wage cleaner over your lawful wife? Remember who stands beside you at the charity galas, Richard!
Richard: This isn't about galas, Victoria! This is about my four-year-old nearly dying in our backyard!
Victoria: Then call the chief of police! He's on your board of donors! Let him arrest her!
Maya: Yes, call them, Mr. Hayes. Please call the police. And make sure they review the security cameras before they take me away.
Victoria's sharp voice cut off instantly. Her pale eyes flickered toward the corner roofline of the villa.