Clara hurried across the bright floor until she stood directly between Victoria and the small front exit.
Clara: Please stop right there, ma'am!
Victoria: Move out of my way immediately, Clara!
Clara: You are pulling his small arm far too hard!
Victoria: He is my responsibility, not yours!
Victoria glared with deep anger at the humble woman standing in her path.
She grabbed the toddler's small sweater with even more force than before.
Little Leo let out a loud, sad cry that echoed off the high ceiling.
Clara reached down and gently placed her hands around the boy's tiny torso.
Clara: I will not let you hurt him anymore!
Victoria: You are just a hired maid in this house!
Victoria: I can fire you and throw you onto the street today!
Clara: Fire me if you must, but leave this child alone!
Victoria lifted her right hand and shoved Clara back toward the wooden staircase railing.
Clara stumbled slightly but quickly regained her footing on the shiny floor.
She stepped back into Victoria's path with complete determination in her brown eyes.
She pulled little Leo safely out of Victoria's harsh grip and held him tight against her chest.
The toddler buried his small face into the collar of Clara's uniform shirt.
Victoria gasped with disbelief as her cheeks turned red with intense anger.
She reached out aggressively to grab the toddler back from Clara's warm arms.
Clara shifted her shoulder quickly to protect the weeping child from another harsh push.
Clara: He is only fourteen months old, you heartless woman!
Victoria: You have made the biggest mistake of your life!
The loud shouting echoed clear down the long hallways toward the private home offices.
Neither woman noticed the large black vehicle parking rapidly in the circular driveway outside.