High above the grand foyer, a small electronic dome camera sat mounted smoothly.
A tiny red indicator light blinked steadily on its shiny black plastic surface.
The security system had been installed years ago to protect the high-value property.
Victoria had forgotten that the wide-angle camera covered the entire lower front entrance.
She continued to berate Clara while pointing angrily at the damp marble tiles.
Victoria: My friends are coming over for tea this afternoon!
Clara: I will make sure everything is dry and clean.
Victoria: You are the worst maid we have ever hired!
Clara: I do my work carefully every single day.
Victoria: You are lazy and completely ungrateful for this job!
Clara held back her tears and kept her eyes focused on her work.
She noticed the dark shadow of the camera reflection on the wet floor.
She wondered if anyone ever actually watched the security footage recorded in the house.
Richard Sterling was often away at his corporate office in downtown Dallas all day.
He was known as a stern business man who valued fairness and hard discipline.
Victoria often claimed that Richard hated poor work ethic more than anything else.
She used her husband's name to intimidate the household staff into quiet submission.
Clara wrung out her towel again, her hands shaking from stress and fatigue.
The heavy oak front doors suddenly swung open with a sharp, loud creak.
Richard stepped into the grand foyer, holding his leather briefcase and tablet computer.
He stopped immediately in his tracks as he saw the spilled dirty water.
His sharp eyes moved from Clara on the floor up to his angry wife.
Richard: What on earth is happening in my foyer?
Victoria: Oh, honey, you came home so early today!
Victoria changed her harsh tone instantly, putting on a sweet, bright smile.
She smoothed down her red dress and walked quickly toward her standing husband.
Victoria: This clumsy girl knocked over her bucket of water!
Clara: That is not what happened, Mr. Sterling!
Victoria: Be quiet and let the adults talk, Clara!
Richard looked down at Clara, noticing her red eyes and trembling wet hands.
He saw the wet puddle spreading across the expensive dark wood trim nearby.
His face darkened as he sensed that something was fundamentally wrong here today.
He set his heavy briefcase down on the entry table near the front entrance.
Richard: I received an automated alert on my phone moments ago.
Victoria: An alert about what, my love?
Richard: The front security system sent me a disturbance notification.
Victoria's sweet expression faltered slightly as her eyes glanced up toward the ceiling.