A tall man walked into the bright sunny hallway.
He wore a dark blue suit and a scarf.
He pulled a black rolling suitcase behind his heels.
Julian had finally come home from his business trip.
He looked tired from the long flight back home.
His eyes scanned the bright entrance of his home.
Victoria: Julian, my darling, you are back!
Victoria ran down three steps with a wide smile.
She adjusted her shiny gold dress with quick fingers.
Julian did not smile back at her bright face.
He lowered his black suitcase to the smooth marble.
His gaze fell directly upon Elena on the floor.
Elena tried to hide her face behind her hair.
She looked small and tired on the wet tiles.
Julian's face turned hard and pale in an instant.
Julian: Why are you cleaning on your knees?
Elena did not answer his quick direct question yet.
She kept her eyes fixed on the soapy floor.
Victoria: She is just doing her job, Julian.
Victoria: The maid was lazy while you were away.
Julian: Is that what you think she is?
Julian reached into his dark coat pocket slowly now.
He pulled out his thin black smartphone right away.
A sudden chime sounded from the small dark screen.
He pressed a single button with his right thumb.
A clear video began to play on the glass.
It showed Victoria yelling at Elena yesterday morning clearly.
It showed Victoria throwing heavy clothes at Elena's feet.
It showed Victoria forcing Elena to clean without stopping.
The security cameras had sent the video to Julian.
He had watched every clip during his long flight.
His heart had broken into a thousand tiny pieces.
Julian: How could you treat anyone like this?
Victoria: It is just house discipline, my dear!
Julian: This is pure cruelty inside my house!
Julian walked past Victoria without looking at her face.
He rushed over to where Elena was still kneeling.
He dropped his phone onto the smooth floor nearby.
He dropped to his knees on the cold marble.
He did not care about his expensive dark suit.
He grabbed Elena's small wet hands in his own.
Tears began to fall from Elena's tired eyes.
Julian: Please stop cleaning right now, my love.
Elena: I did not want to cause trouble.
Julian: You are not in any trouble at all.
Victoria stood on the stairs with her mouth open.
She could not believe what she was seeing now.
The rich home owner was kneeling beside a maid.
She stepped down the stairs with angry heavy steps.
Victoria: What are you doing with the help?