The bright morning sun streamed through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows of the estate.
Everything inside the spacious mansion looked completely spotless and impossibly expensive.
A framed American flag hung proudly on the tall white wall near the front entrance.
An older woman named Victoria scrubbed the smooth marble floor on her hands and knees.
Her gray hair was tucked neatly under a clean white cap.
Her worn hands trembled slightly as she pushed a heavy wooden scrubbing brush back and forth.
She had worked for the wealthy family for more than twenty long years.
She knew every quiet corner and every dark secret of this vast property.
Yet today felt much heavier than any other day in her long memory.
A sharp set of footsteps echoed loudly down the polished hallway.
Victoria froze in place and kept her tired eyes glued to the glossy floor.
Evelyn swept into the broad hall wearing a long, vibrant red silk robe.
She held a thick wooden broom handle in her right hand like a royal staff.
Her harsh face showed no warmth or compassion for the tired older woman.
She looked down at Victoria with pure disgust and cold arrogance.
Evelyn: You are working far too slowly today, Victoria.
Victoria looked up with clear tears forming in her tired eyes.
Victoria: I am moving as fast as my aching knees will allow me, ma'am.
Evelyn raised the wooden broom handle high above her own shoulder.
She slammed the heavy wood down against the bucket with a loud, ringing crash.
Dirty soap water splashed all over the pristine white hallway wall.
Victoria flinched backward and squeezed her wet eyes tightly shut.
Victoria: Please, have mercy on me, Miss Evelyn!
Evelyn: Mercy is something you earn through hard work and silence.
A younger maid named Sarah quickly rushed out from the nearby kitchen area.
Sarah dropped her cleaning rag and knelt beside the crying older woman.
She wrapped her young arms tightly around Victoria to shield her from harm.
Sarah: Please stop this right now, Miss Evelyn!
Sarah: She has been working since four o'clock this morning!
Evelyn laughed softly and held the wooden handle out before her.
Evelyn: Neither of you understand who truly runs this grand home.
Evelyn: I can fire both of you before the sun reaches the roof.
Victoria sobbed quietly while Sarah held her tightly against her chest.
The air inside the luxury hallway felt freezing cold despite the bright morning sun.
Evelyn raised her chin high and pointed toward the dirty water on the wall.
Evelyn: Clean that mess up before my husband comes through those doors.
Sarah stared up at Evelyn with deep anger burning in her eyes.
Sarah: He will see how you treat the staff who care for this place.
Evelyn: He does not care about poor workers like you.
The heavy front doors suddenly began to unlock with a heavy metallic click.