"What is going on here?" Richard demanded in a booming voice.
The powerful executive stepped forward into the brightly lit foyer.
His dark eyes scanned the room with complete shock and fury.
Victoria's entire demeanor transformed in a single split second.
She quickly squeezed out fake tears and gasped for dramatic effect.
"Oh, Richard! Thank goodness you are finally home!" Victoria cried out.
She rushed down the remaining steps toward her wealthy fiancé.
"This clumsy maid dropped little Leo down the stairs!" Victoria lied.
"I tried to catch him, but she was so careless!" she claimed.
Sarah shook her head rapidly in utter disbelief at the lie.
"That is a complete lie, Mr. Sterling!" Sarah shouted back.
Leo lifted his tear-stained face from Sarah's grey shoulder.
He pointed a small shaking finger directly up at Victoria.
"Daddy, she pushed me down the stairs on purpose!" Leo screamed.
"She told me to get out of her life!" the boy sobbed.
Richard's face turned completely red with immediate overwhelming rage.
He looked at his precious son's bruised arm and crying eyes.
Richard charged up the stairs toward Victoria with explosive anger.
Victoria backed up against the heavy wooden railing in total fear.
"Richard, please listen to me! The boy is lying!" Victoria pleaded.
"Do not ever speak about my son again!" Richard roared back.
He grabbed Victoria by her upper arm to stop her movement.
Victoria stumbled back against the grand railing in shock and terror.
She held her breath in absolute silence as Richard towered over her.
The security guards stepped up the stairs right behind their boss.
"Take her away right now! You are going to pay for this!" Richard ordered.
"Mr. Sterling, please! I love you!" Victoria shrieked loudly.
The two tall guards firmly grabbed Victoria by both wrists.
They began escorting her swiftly down toward the front exit.
"You will lose your executive job for this!" Victoria yelled wildly.
Richard ignored her screams and rushed down to his hurt son.
He dropped to both knees on the polished marble floor.
Richard pulled Leo into a fierce, loving fatherly hug.
"I am so sorry, my little man," Richard whispered softly.
Leo wrapped his uninjured arm tightly around his father's neck.
Sarah quietly stepped back to give the family their space.
Richard looked up at Sarah with immense gratitude in his eyes.
"Thank you for protecting him, Sarah," Richard said sincerely.
"I always keep him safe, sir," Sarah replied gently.
Richard looked down at the floor and saw the crumpled drawing.
He picked up the colorful paper and flattened it carefully.
The drawing showed Leo, his father, and Sarah holding hands.
Richard felt a sudden heavy lump form inside his throat.
He realized who really cared for his family all along.