The sight of the sparkling diamond necklace sent a giant shockwave through the entire crowd of party guests. People began to whisper loudly to each other, shaking their heads at Clara with utter disgust and disappointment. To them, it was an open-and-shut case of a greedy poor worker taking advantage of a wealthy family's trust. Victoria took a step closer to Clara, her gold dress swishing loudly as her face twisted into a smug look of dark satisfaction. Victoria had been trying to find a way to get Arthur to fire Clara for months, mostly because Clara noticed how often Victoria sneaked into Arthur's private office to search through financial documents. Now, Victoria thought she had finally won the battle for good.
Victoria: There it is! My heirloom diamond necklace! You filthy little thief!
Clara: I didn't put that in there! I swear I have never seen that necklace before!
Victoria: Oh, so it just magically flew into your purse by itself?
Clara: Someone put it in my bag! Someone is setting me up!
Victoria: Who would set you up? You are just a maid! You thought you could sell it!
Clara: No! I would never steal! Mr. Sterling, please look at me!
Clara fell to her knees on the cold marble floor, her tears falling fast onto her grey uniform skirts. She grabbed the edge of Arthur’s black suit jacket, her small hands shaking violently as she sobbed. Fresh red scratches were clearly visible on her pale cheek, left behind from when Victoria had shoved her into the sharp edge of the wooden wall cabinet earlier. Clara looked up at Arthur with red, swollen eyes, pleading for just one small grain of mercy. She had dedicated two years of her life to keeping his mansion spotless, working extra hours without complaint, and treating his property with total respect.
Clara: I didn't steal it! I didn't steal it! Please believe me!
Arthur: Stand up, Clara. Getting on your knees does not solve anything.
Victoria: Don't feel sorry for her, Arthur! She belongs behind bars for the rest of her life!
Clara: Mrs. Victoria pushed me earlier today! She threatened to ruin me!
Victoria: How dare you lie about me! I never touched you, you pathetic girl!
Victoria stepped forward as if to strike Clara again, but Arthur immediately raised his hand to stop her in her tracks. His old face was dark and serious, his sharp eyes moving back and forth between Victoria’s angry face and Clara’s weeping form. Arthur was a smart man who had survived decades in the tough corporate world, and he knew that things were rarely as simple as they looked on the surface. He noticed the red marks on Clara’s face and remembered that Victoria was facing huge personal bank debts. He also knew that Victoria stood to gain a massive inheritance if he passed away, provided she remained in his good graces.
Arthur: That is enough shouting in my home!
Victoria: Arthur, why are you waiting? Call the police right now and have her dragged away!
Arthur: I run this house, Victoria, not you. I will decide when the police are called.
Victoria: But the evidence is right in your hand! What more do you need to see?
Arthur: I need to see the truth. And I know exactly how to find it.