Elena grinned maliciously as she tilted the wooden box even further over the railing.
The heavy box slipped from her fingers and plunged straight down toward the marble floor.
Maria did not hesitate for a single second when she saw the object falling.
She sprinted across the polished floor with everything she had inside her heart.
She slid down on her knees across the marble, reaching out with both open hands.
The antique box landed firmly into Maria's arms just inches above the hard ground.
The heavy impact knocked the breath right out of Maria's lungs on the floor.
She pulled the precious family box tightly against her chest while catching her breath.
Up on the balcony, Elena gasped loudly in pure shock and visible frustration.
She had not expected the young housemaid to move with such incredible speed.
Elena clutched her face in sudden panic as she looked down at the maid.
Elena: You foolish girl, you were supposed to let that smash on the floor!
Maria held the box securely and looked up at the balcony with trembling lips.
Maria: This belonged to the child's mother and contained her legal trust fund papers!
Elena: Nobody will ever believe a low life maid over the mistress of the house!
Elena hurried down the curved stairs with her green gown fluttering around her legs.
She intended to snatch the wooden box back before anyone else could arrive.
Maria stood up quickly despite her bruised knees and backed away toward the front entry.
She knew she had to protect the child's legal documents from being burned or destroyed.
Elena reached the bottom step and pointed her long fingernail straight at Maria's face.
Elena: Give that box to me right now or I will tell Richard you stole it!
Maria: I will only hand this over to Mr. Vance himself when he returns home.
Elena stepped closer and tried to grab Maria's uniform collar with angry force.
Maria dodged backward and kept the heavy box safe behind her small frame.
The sound of a luxury sports car engine echoed loudly from the front driveway outside.
Elena stopped in her tracks and her face went completely pale with sheer terror.
She realized her husband was returning home much earlier than he usually did.
She quickly changed her facial expression from anger to fake panic and helpless tears.
Elena collapsed onto the bottom stair and began crying out loudly for urgent help.
Elena: Help me, somebody help me, the maid is attacking me in my home!
Maria stood frozen in disbelief as she watched Elena perform her dramatic fake act.