The afternoon brought dark gray clouds over the quiet suburban neighborhood streets.
Mark had to drive downtown to meet his corporate family lawyer about the estate.
He asked Elena to keep the sturdy front doors locked until he returned home.
Elena brought Leo upstairs into his sunny playroom to start his afternoon drawing.
The young boy loved drawing bright colorful houses with green grass and trees.
"Is that bad lady going to take our home away?" Leo asked softly.
Elena knelt down beside his small wooden desk and took his tiny hand.
"Nobody is going to take your home away from you," Elena promised gently.
Downstairs the quiet mansion echoed with the sudden sound of a unlocking side door.
Elena stood up quickly and told Leo to stay near his drawing desk.
She stepped quietly down the carpeted hallway toward the main grand staircase landing.
Victoria was walking down the lower hall toward Mark's locked private home office.
She had snuck in through the kitchen side door using an old spare key.
Elena walked briskly down the wooden stairs to stop the intruding stepmother.
"You are trespassing on private property right now, Victoria," Elena called out loudly.
Victoria turned around quickly with a pair of sharp brass keys in hand.
"I am getting the original trust deed out of that wall safe," Victoria snapped.
"You have no right to open Mark's office or touch his private files," Elena said.
Victoria took a fast step forward with her dark eyes flashing in anger.
"I am taking what belongs to me before Mark hides the legal papers!" Victoria yelled.
Elena stood directly in front of the locked wooden door to block her path.
"You will have to wait for Mark and his lawyer to get back," Elena insisted.
Victoria reached out and shoved Elena roughly back against the office doorframe.
Elena stumbled slightly but held her ground with total firm courage and resolve.
"I am calling the local police right this second," Elena announced firmly.
Victoria gasped sharply as Elena pulled her mobile phone out of her pocket.
"Don't you dare dial that phone, you stubborn servant!" Victoria shrieked loudly.
Upstairs small footsteps patted along the hallway floor toward the loud noise.
Little Leo was standing right at the top landing looking down in clear fear.
Victoria looked up and saw the young boy holding his small drawing paper.
A terrible and cold idea flashed across Victoria's sharp and bitter face.
She turned away from Elena and ran directly up the grand staircase steps.