Elena did not hesitate for even a single fraction of a second when she saw the sudden danger unfolding.
She kicked off her heavy black maid shoes and sprinted fast across the slick marble floor toward the landing zone.
Her grey dress swished in the cold morning air as she threw her whole body forward across the floor.
The distance felt like a hundred miles, but her eyes stayed focused entirely on the falling white soft blanket bundle.
She slid hard onto her knees across the polished stone surface, stretching her tired arms out as far as possible.
Her hands caught the soft fabric right before it touched the cold hard floor under the tall glass chandelier.
Elena tumbled onto her side on the stone tile, pulling the small infant tightly into her warm gray apron front.
The heavy air in the foyer went completely still for one brief moment after the loud sliding sound stopped cold.
Elena let out a long breath of pure relief and began to weep tears of pure exhaustion and terror.
She sat up slowly on her knees and cradled the small child, checking its tiny arms and small legs carefully.
The baby gave a loud cry of surprise, but its little body was totally unharmed from the sudden quick drop.
Elena held the small head gently against her shoulder, rocking back and forth on the smooth cold stone floor.
Up on the high second-story balcony, Clarissa let out a sharp gasp and gripped the top marble railing tight.
Her eyes were wide with shock, and her pale hands shook as she stared down at the trembling maid below.
Tears began to spill down Clarissa's cheeks as she gripped the cold stone ledge with both of her hands.
She looked down at Elena on the ground floor, but her mouth could not form any clear words right then.
The massive front doors of the mansion suddenly swung wide open with a heavy thud against the tall frame.
Richard stepped inside the bright sunlight, wearing a sharp black suit and carrying a dark leather executive briefcase.
He stopped dead in his tracks on the threshold when he heard the baby crying loudly across the room.
His stern face turned pale as he took in the strange scene unfolding right inside his sunny front hall.
He saw his faithful maid kneeling on the hard floor with his young baby wrapped in a gray apron.
He saw his wife standing high on the second-story ledge with a look of total horror on her face.
Richard set his heavy leather briefcase down on the floor and walked quickly into the center of the room.
His heavy shoes clicked loudly on the marble tiles as his dark eyes moved from the floor up high.
Elena looked up from her knees, her eyes red from crying as she held the young child very close.
Elena: Sir, you need to call an ambulance right now!
Richard: What on earth happened in this house while I was away?
Elena: She dropped the baby over the upper railing, sir!
Clarissa: That is a complete lie from a simple maid!
Richard: Silence, both of you, until I get to the bottom of this!