Elena walked down the long marble hallway with a heavy silver tray held firmly in her hands.
The bright morning sun streamed through the large windows of the grand estate.
Everything in the mansion always looked clean and perfect on the outside.
Elena had worked as a housekeeper for the Sterling family for nearly three years.
She knew every corner of the house and every quiet rule.
She placed two expensive crystal glasses onto the side table near the main staircase.
A very large painting of the original estate hung on the wall nearby.
Elena paused as she heard a very soft thumping noise coming from the wall.
She stopped breathing for a second and leaned her ear closer to the frame.
The sound came again like a small hand tapping against piece of dry wood.
Elena: Is someone behind there?
Her voice sounded small against the high ceilings of the empty hallway.
She stepped closer and noticed a tiny gap along the bottom edge of the frame.
The heavy gold frame was actually mounted on a hidden metal hinge.
Elena pulled gently on the side of the wooden frame with both hands.
The heavy painting swung forward with a low creaking sound.
A small dark space sat carved deep inside the thick house wall.
Elena gasped out loud and nearly dropped her cleaning cloth onto the floor.
A tiny girl sat huddled on the wooden floor inside the secret opening.
Her little hands were bound tight with soft gray cloth ribbons.
A wide strip of gray tape covered her small mouth entirely.
Tears had dried in pale lines across the little girl's dusty cheeks.
Elena: Oh my goodness, sweet child!
Elena dropped straight to her knees on the cold white marble floor.
She reached into the tight space and peeled the soft tape away gently.
The little girl took a deep, trembling breath and started to sob softly.
Lily: Please help me get out of here!
Elena: I am going to get you out right now, do not worry.
Elena quickly untied the cloth ribbons wrapped around the little girl's small wrists.
The child wrapped her arms around Elena's neck and held on very tight.
Elena pulled the light child out into the bright morning sunshine of the hallway.
Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the top of the polished grand staircase.
Victoria Sterling stood at the top step wearing an elegant velvet gown.
Her cold blue eyes widened in sudden anger as she saw Elena kneeling there.
Victoria: What do you think you are doing down there, Elena?
Elena: You hid a small child inside the wall!
Victoria rushed down the marble stairs with fast, sharp steps.
She reached the bottom step and pointed her long finger straight at the open door.
Victoria: Put that painting back right now and walk away!
Elena: I will never put this frame back over a child!
Victoria grabbed Elena by the shoulder with a tight grip.
Elena turned around quickly and knocked Victoria's cold hand away with force.
The crystal glass on the small table slid off and shattered on the marble floor.
Elena: You are a monster for doing this to her!
Victoria: You do not understand what this child means to my family legal estate!
Elena: No money in the world makes this right!
Elena pulled her mobile phone out from her black apron pocket quickly.
She snapped a fast photograph of the open secret compartment inside the wall.
Victoria lunged forward to grab the small black phone from Elena's hands.
Elena stepped back sharply and pulled the child close behind her back.
Elena: Stay away from us or I will call emergency services immediately!
Victoria: If you speak a word of this, you will lose your job today!
Elena: I do not care about this job anymore!
The small girl clung to Elena's black apron and hid her face silently.
Elena held the child securely and kept her eye on Victoria's angry face.