Victoria paced around the massive glass coffee table while tapping her long red nails against her golden designer phone screen.
She hated the small baby boy because he inherited half of Arthur's vast family fortune through a private trust fund.
If Arthur ever married her without a signed prenuptial agreement, that tiny child would still receive the main estate house.
Victoria wanted every single dollar of the Vance family fortune for herself and her own future luxury life goals.
She poured a glass of cold sparkling water from a silver pitcher that sat on the mahogany side table nearby.
Elena walked down the back hallway carrying a basket of freshly folded white baby blankets for the nursery closet space.
She did not hear Victoria standing quietly behind the arched entryway that led into the bright main dining room area.
Victoria: Stop right there, maid.
Elena froze in her tracks and turned around to face the dangerous woman standing in the long shadowed hallway path.
Elena: Is there something specific you need from me, Miss Victoria?
Victoria: I need you to understand your proper place in this grand house.
Elena placed the laundry basket down on a nearby wooden bench so she could look Victoria straight in the eye.
Elena: I take wonderful care of little Leo, and that is my only job here.
Victoria: You shield that little brat like he is royalty or something special.
Elena: He is an innocent baby who deserves pure love and safety.
Victoria stepped forward and grabbed the top baby blanket right out of the laundry basket with a sharp jerk.
She threw the soft blanket onto the dusty floor and ground her muddy shoe heel right into the clean fabric.
Victoria: Oops, looks like you have more laundry to wash now.
Elena: Why are you being so spiteful toward a helpless infant boy?
Victoria leaned in close so that her heavy perfume drifted right into Elena's face with a thick, suffocating scent.
Victoria: Because that child is standing between me and fifty million dollars in cash investments.
Elena gasped as the dark truth finally came out of Victoria's thin lipstick-covered mouth during the quiet afternoon hour.
Elena: You do not love Arthur at all, do you?
Victoria: I love his deep bank accounts and his vast private real estate holdings.
Elena: I will tell him everything the moment he steps through that front door tonight.
Victoria threw her head back and laughed with a harsh, high-pitched sound that vibrated off the tall hallway walls.
Victoria: Who do you think he will believe over a silly claim?
Elena: Arthur is a good man who cares about the truth above all.
Victoria: He loves me and views you as simple hired help around here.
Elena picked up the soiled blanket from the floor while keeping her head held high in front of her attacker.
Elena: Truth always finds a way out into the light, Miss Victoria.
Victoria stepped back into the grand parlor with a bitter sneer twisting her face into a dark mask of hatred.
She reached into her purse and pulled out a legal document that detailed the pending adoption paper work for little Leo.
Victoria tore the original legal paper directly down the middle with a slow, deliberate tear that sounded like thunder inside.