Richard Sterling stopped dead in his tracks as he looked across the grand white marble floor.
He carried a dark leather briefcase in his right hand after his long morning business flight.
His eyes widened in shock as he saw Elena kneeling on the ground in deep distress.
Victoria immediately started crying loudly from the top of the sweeping wooden staircase.
Victoria: Richard, thank goodness you are home right now to witness this awful moment!
Richard: What on earth is going on inside my house right now?
Victoria: She pushed past me and tried to drop the delicate family heirloom bundle down!
Victoria rushed down the steps while wiping away artificial tears with her slender gold sleeve.
She pointed her finger straight at Elena who was still sitting shaking on the floor.
Elena: That is not true, Mr. Sterling! I caught it when it fell!
Victoria: She is lying to you because she wants to hide her careless mistake!
Richard walked quickly across the room with a firm expression on his weathered face.
He looked down at the caught bundle and then looked up at his emotional wife.
The air inside the vast foyer felt tense and heavy as everyone waited for his response.
Elena struggled to stand up while keeping a firm grip on the thick soft blanket.
Elena: I would never do anything to harm this house or your family possessions, sir.
Victoria: Fire her immediately before she ruins anything else in our beautiful home!
Richard held up his hand to silence the sharp shouting coming from his angry wife.
He glanced up toward the top balcony where the silver railing gleamed under the lights.
Richard: I was standing near the side window outside before I unlocked the main front doors.
Victoria froze in place as the color quickly drained away from her pale face.
Victoria: What do you mean you were standing by the side glass window outside?
Richard: I saw you throw that bundle over the edge with your own hands, Victoria.
Elena: You saw what really happened up there on the balcony floor?
Richard: I saw everything very clearly through the large clear glass panels near the door.
Victoria backed away slightly as her carefully crafted story began to fall completely apart.
She adjusted her heavy gold dress and tried to change her defensive tone immediately.
Victoria: You must have misseen the angle because of the bright sunlight reflecting outside!
Richard: How dare you accuse my loyal staff in my own home when you lied!
Victoria: How dare you talk to me like this in front of the house maid!
Richard stepped closer to Victoria with a cold steady glare that shook her confidence.
He took a deep breath as his disappointment turned into firm righteous authority.
Richard: I have given you everything you ever asked for since the day we married.
Victoria: I was only trying to test her loyalty to this household, Richard!
Richard: You tried to frame an innocent hard working woman to get her fired today!
Elena stood back quietly while listening to the powerful man defend her honor.
She felt a huge wave of relief wash over her after minutes of intense terrifying panic.
Richard pointed his finger straight toward the double doors leading out to the driveway.
Richard: Get out of my house right now before I call the city police!