Elena squeezed the small baby tight against her shoulder and stood up.
The heavy front doors of the estate suddenly burst wide open.
Mark Vance rushed into the foyer holding his leather briefcase.
He had forgotten his tablet and returned home unexpectedly early.
The sound of his son crying echoed through the high marble hall.
Mark dropped his briefcase directly onto the polished floor.
He saw his maid kneeling beside the overturned stroller base.
His face turned red as he rushed across the wide entrance room.
Mark: What happened here?! Who did this to my son?!
Elena pointed a trembling hand straight up toward the landing.
Elena: She did it! She pushed the stroller over the top step!
Sarah immediately started gasping for air at the top landing.
She clutched her red silk dress and shook her head rapidly.
Sarah: Don't listen to her, Mark! She is lying to you!
Sarah ran down the marble steps while holding the wall rail.
Sarah: I tried to grab it! Elena bumped into the wheels!
Mark looked back and forth between his wife and the maid.
Elena stood her ground while holding the crying child safe.
Elena: I was standing at the bottom wiping the baseboards, sir!
Elena: I saw her hand push the handle with my own eyes!
Sarah took Mark's arm and squeezed it with tight fingers.
Sarah: She has been jealous of me since the day I moved in!
Sarah: She wants you to fire me so she can keep control!
Mark stepped between the two women with his head pounding.
He cared deeply for his baby son and felt totally overwhelmed.
Mark: Both of you quiet down right now before I snap!
Mark took Little Leo gently from Elena's shaking arms.
The baby instantly calmed down as his father held him close.
Mark checked the child's arms and legs for any quick bruises.
The swaddled blanket had protected the child from every bump.
Mark looked at Elena with intense anger in his dark eyes.
Mark: You were supposed to be watching this floor, Elena!
Elena: Sir, I swear on my life I saved him from falling!
Sarah: She is trying to cover up her own terrible mistake!
Mark raised his hand to stop any further shouting match.
Mark: Elena, leave your keys on the table right now!
Elena stepped back as if she had been hit in the face.
Elena: Mr. Vance, please listen to what I am telling you!
Mark: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW!
His voice roared through the empty spaces of the grand foyer.
Elena lowered her eyes and took off her name badge slowly.
She placed her set of house keys on the side table.
Sarah smiled small and wiped a fake tear from her cheek.
Elena turned around and walked out into the bright morning sunlight.
The heavy front doors slammed shut tightly behind her back.