Arthur walked into his private home office and shut the heavy wooden door tight.
He picked up his phone and dialed the regional director of the staffing firm.
The phone rang four times before a smooth voice answered on the line.
Director Vance: Good evening, Mr. Sterling. Is everything fine with your maid service?
Arthur: No, Vance, things are not fine at all in my household tonight.
Director Vance: Did she break something valuable in your luxury dining room area?
Arthur: She is currently eating scraps because her earnings are being stolen away.
There was a long silence on the other end of the telephone call.
Director Vance: I assure you our accounting department pays every single worker properly.
Arthur: I am looking at my bank statement showing four thousand paid monthly.
Director Vance: That total includes administrative fees and corporate insurance costs for staff.
Arthur pressed his thumb firmly against the edge of his mahogany office desk.
Arthur: Over sixty percent of that money is vanishing into unknown hands.
Director Vance: We follow all local business regulations regarding third-party contractor pay.
Arthur: Send your chief financial manager to my office tomorrow morning at eight.
Director Vance: That seems unnecessary for a simple home maid pay dispute, sir.
Arthur: If he is not here, I will cancel every corporate contract.
Arthur hung up the phone before the agency owner could offer more excuses.
He walked back out to the kitchen where Elena sat waiting very quietly.
He poured a warm glass of water and set it down before her.
Arthur: Do you have copies of your signed employment pay stubs, Elena?
Elena: They only give me paper receipts without any formal company headers.
Arthur: Who hands those receipts to you at the end of each month?
Elena: A man named Mr. Miller gives us cash envelopes at night.
Arthur made a quick note of that name on his personal notepad.
Arthur: He is taking advantage of your hard work and desperate life situation.
Elena: I was afraid to ask questions because I need to support my child.
Arthur looked at the young mother and felt a strong sense of purpose.
Arthur: We are going to get every single dollar back to you, Elena.