The polished oak floors of the Dallas luxury estate echoed with the terrifying sound of continuous weeping. In the middle of the spotless gourmet kitchen, two young twin sisters dressed in matching maid uniforms sat curled up on the white porcelain tiles. Maya and Chloe were only nineteen years old, hired just three months ago to help manage the massive residence while completing their online college degrees. Right now, both girls held their right cheeks, where swollen red handprints were rapidly darkening into severe bruises.
Maya: Please, stop crying, Chloe. Someone is going to hear us.
Chloe: It hurts so bad, Maya! My face is burning! Why did she do this to us?
Maya: I don't know, but we have to pack our bags before she comes back down the stairs.
Chloe: We didn't do anything wrong! We were just setting the lunch table like Mr. Sterling asked us to!
Down the hallway, a heavy mahogany door slammed open against the wall with a deafening crash. Heavy rushing footsteps pounded across the hardwood as Brandon Sterling, a prominent real estate mogul and heir to a vast Texas energy estate, hurried into the kitchen. Dressed in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt and vest, his eyes widened in utter shock as he saw his two young staff members sobbing hysterically on the floor under the framed American flag artwork.
Brandon: What happened?! Who did this to you?
Maya: Mr. Sterling... please don't be mad at us!
Brandon: I am not mad at you! Look at your faces! Who hit you?!
Chloe: She slapped us both and tried to throw us out!
Brandon dropped down on his knees onto the cold white tile floor, his hands trembling as he reached out toward the terrified girls. Before he could ask another question, the quiet sound of soft silk rustling marked the arrival of his second wife, Victoria. Wearing a sleek red silk slip dress, Victoria casually leaned against the kitchen island, filing her fingernails with a cold, smug expression. Brandon slowly turned his head toward her, his breath catching in his throat as a wave of realization hit him.