Arthur stepped quickly across the white marble floor toward his family.
His dark eyes moved from his crying son to his angry wife.
The atmosphere inside the high-ceilinged room turned icy cold in a second.
Arthur: Why is my son crying on the stairs, Elena?
Elena stood up slowly while keeping young Leo safely behind her back.
Elena: Mrs. Vance grabbed him and caused him to fall, sir.
Victoria: That is an absolute lie, Arthur!
Victoria rushed down the remaining steps with a gentle, fake smile appearing.
Victoria: The boy was running wildly and nearly tripped down the stairs.
She reached out to touch Arthur's arm, but he pulled back immediately.
Leo: Daddy, she was trying to take mommy's locket and papers!
Leo ran out from behind Elena and threw his arms around his father.
Arthur knelt down instantly and wrapped his big arms around his son.
Arthur: Are you hurt anywhere, Leo?
Leo: My arm hurts where she pulled me, Daddy.
Arthur looked up at Victoria with a look of cold, rising fury.
He gently checked his son's arm and saw a faint red mark.
Victoria took a step back against the carved railing under his sharp stare.
Victoria: He is making up stories to make you hate me!
Arthur: Leo has never lied to me in his entire life.
Victoria: You always take the maid's word over your own wife!
Arthur: Elena has served this family faithfully for over a decade.
Arthur stood up slowly to his full height in front of Victoria.
He gestured firmly to the two security guards standing near the doors.
Arthur: Guards, step closer and secure both main exit doors.
Victoria: What are you doing, Arthur?
Arthur: I am making sure no one leaves this room right now.
Victoria's hands began to shake as she smoothed down her silk gown.
She realized that her carefully planned narrative was rapidly falling apart.
The two guards took up positions on either side of the foyer.
Arthur walked directly up to Victoria until he stood inches away.
Arthur: What papers were you searching for in this mansion today?
Victoria: I was not searching for anything, I swear!
Arthur: Then why were you harassing my eight-year-old child?
The silence in the grand foyer was so heavy you could hear breathing.
Victoria bit her lip and looked away toward the large glass windows.
She knew that Arthur was not a man who could be easily fooled.