Elena stood in the long bright hallway of the massive Sterling estate with a fresh basket of laundry.
The sunlight poured through the tall arched windows and reflected softly off the polished white marble floor.
She had worked as a housemaid for the wealthy Sterling family for nearly two whole years now.
Everything about the mansion always seemed completely perfect and quiet on the surface to outside visitors.
Yet Elena knew that the massive house held many strange quiet corners that nobody ever visited.
As she walked past a large oil painting, a tiny sound suddenly made her stop in her tracks.
She leaned closer toward the heavy gold frame hanging neatly against the spotless white wall.
It sounded like a faint helpless whimper coming directly from somewhere inside the thick plaster structure.
Her heart started beating faster as the soft crying sound echoed again in the quiet hallway.
She set her heavy plastic laundry basket down on the cold floor without making a sound.
She carefully placed her hands along the wooden edges of the massive antique portrait hanging there.
The frame shifted surprisingly easily under her gentle touch with a small metallic clicking sound.
Behind the heavy canvas frame rested a tiny concealed latch built directly into the smooth wall.
Elena pressed her thumb firmly against the hidden metal button to see what would happen next.
A small secret door suddenly popped open right in front of her shocked eyes.
She stared into the dark square space with complete disbelief and rising terror in her heart.
Sitting on a small folded blanket inside the wall was a tiny terrified baby whimpering softly.
The little child looked up at Elena with bright blue eyes full of genuine fear.
Elena gasped loudly as tears instantly filled her own eyes at the awful sight before her.
Elena: Oh my goodness, sweet baby, how did you get in there?
She reached both of her arms forward into the narrow hidden compartment without hesitation.
Before her hands could lift the baby, loud sharp footsteps echoed rapidly down the long hallway.
Victoria Sterling rushed around the corner with an extremely tense and furious look upon her face.
Victoria: Step away from there right now!
Elena: What is the meaning of this cruelty?
Victoria: Don't touch that opening or you are fired!
Elena: You locked an innocent child inside a wall!
Victoria marched forward rapidly while her expensive silk dress rustled loudly with every urgent step.
She tried to grab Elena's arm to pull her away from the secret compartment door.
Elena turned around instantly and shoved Victoria away with all of her remaining physical strength.
Elena: Do not touch me!
Victoria stumbled back against the white wall and held her hand over her chest in shock.
Elena quickly pulled the small crying baby into her warm protective arms and held him tight.
Victoria: You have made a huge mistake taking that child!
Elena: You are a monster for keeping a baby hidden!
Elena held the helpless little boy against her shoulder while he slowly stopped his soft whimpering.
The mistress glared at her maid with total hatred and fear burning deep inside her eyes.
Elena knew right then that her life was about to change forever after this terrible discovery.