The summer heat pounded against the limestone flagstones of the private garden patio, where the sparkling blue waters of the swimming pool rippled quietly.
Seven-year-old Toby backed away from the pool coping in his clean white polo shirt, his sneakers slipping against the wet stone.
Toby: Please, Victoria! Let me go back inside to the living room!
Victoria: Move your feet, you clumsy little stray! I told you not to come near the patio!
Toby: My daddy told me to wait right here by the patio doors! He's just finishing his business call!
Victoria stood over the trembling boy in a vibrant red silk designer dress, her manicured fingers digging deep into his small arm.
Victoria: Maybe this will teach you to obey me!
Toby: No! Help me please!
She dragged him toward the deep edge with a harsh yank and shoved him straight into the water.
The boy crashed into eight feet of water with a loud, violent splash, his frantic screams instantly muffled by chlorine.
Nadia: Hang on, Toby! I've got you!
From the veranda steps, Nadia dropped her tray of fresh iced towels, kicked off her work flats, and dove into the churn.
She broke the surface with a loud gasp, her white maid uniform clinging to her skin as she hoisted the coughing child above her shoulder.
Nadia: I got you! She can't hurt you anymore.
The glass terrace doors flew open with an explosive crash as Julian Sterling sprinted out in his black tuxedo, flanked by his armed security guard.
Julian: What happened to my son?!
Victoria: He fell, she made this up! He was leaning over looking for beetles!
Toby: Daddy she pushed me in!
Nadia: I saw everything, he was terrified.
Julian gathered his dripping son against his wool jacket, but the dark flash drive inside his inner pocket held a secret that was about to turn this entire estate upside down.