Arthur Sterling stepped through the thick crowd of guests, his heavy leather shoes thudding loudly against the clean marble floor. He was an elderly man with short white hair, sharp blue eyes, and a stern face that made even tough businessmen nervous. He wore a tailor-made black tuxedo with a crisp red bow tie, looking completely in command of his home. Arthur was not a man who enjoyed chaotic scenes at his personal events, especially when his close legal advisors and estate lawyers were present. He looked at Victoria with a tight jaw, then turned his gaze down to young Clara, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Arthur had built his fortune from nothing, starting as a poor construction worker before building an empire, so he knew the value of hard work.
Arthur: What is the meaning of all this noise in my house?
Victoria: Arthur! Thank goodness you are here! I caught your maid stealing my personal purse!
Arthur: Is this true, Clara? Speak up clearly right now.
Clara: No, Mr. Sterling! I promise on my mother's memory, I never touched her bag!
Victoria: She is lying straight to your face! Look, the clutch was right in her hands!
Arthur: Give that bag to me immediately.
Arthur reached out his weathered, hand and pulled the glittering silver clutch away from Victoria’s tight grip. The whole room went completely silent, so quiet that you could hear the soft hum of the air conditioner overhead. Arthur held the small bag up in front of the large framed American flag artwork hanging on the crisp white wall. Clara wiped her wet eyes with the sleeve of her grey maid uniform, holding her breath in sheer terror. She knew that if anything valuable was inside that purse, her life would be totally ruined forever. She would lose her job, end up in prison, and her sick brother would have nobody to take care of him.
Victoria: Unzip it, Arthur! Show everyone what kind of snake you hired!
Clara: Please, Mr. Sterling, I don't know what is inside there!
Arthur: Silence, both of you. We will see the truth right now.
Arthur slowly grabbed the tiny metal zipper of the silver clutch and began to pull it back. The sound of the zipper opening echoed loudly across the still room like a small explosion. Arthur reached his thick fingers deep inside the satin lining of the purse while everyone leaned forward to get a better view. Clara felt her heart beating so fast against her ribs that she thought she might pass out right onto the floor. She had never felt such deep fear in her entire life. She looked up at the ceiling, silently pleading for help while Victoria stood by with a cruel, victorious smile on her face.
Victoria: Go on, pull it out! Don't be shy!
Clara: I am innocent... please believe me...
Arthur: Let me look carefully.
Arthur pulled his hand out of the purse, and a bright flash of cold light caught the chandelier shine above them. Resting in the palm of his hand was a massive, sparkling diamond necklace that was worth at least two hundred thousand dollars. The clear diamonds clinked softly against each other, casting tiny rainbow sparks across the white walls of the foyer. The crowd of wealthy guests gasped in loud unison, putting their hands over their open mouths in shock. Victoria let out a dramatic breath and pointed her gold-ringed finger back at Clara with ultimate triumph. Clara’s eyes went wide with pure terror as she backed away slowly, shaking her head in complete disbelief.