Elena wiped the sweat from her forehead using the sleeve of her faded cotton shirt.
She looked down at the bright marble tile beneath her tired hands.
The white stone felt cold against her aching knees during the long afternoon.
Every single corner of the vast entrance hall needed to look clean.
Her employer Victoria Vance stood nearby with her arms crossed tightly.
Victoria watched every single movement Elena made across the floor.
Elena worked twelve long hours every day to earn her small paycheck.
She needed every dollar to pay for her daughter's rising medical expenses.
The small baby slept peacefully in a wooden crib near the staircase.
Victoria raised her chin and pointed toward a tiny spot on the tile.
Victoria: You missed a spot right there, Elena.
Elena: I am sorry, ma'am. I will scrub it again immediately.
Elena pressed the heavy brush down onto the cold stone floor.
Her hands felt stiff and sore after hours of nonstop housework.
She did not complain because she needed this job to survive.
The Vance family owned three large companies in the city center.
They lived in a huge white house behind tall iron security gates.
Julian Vance was the chief executive officer of a huge shipping firm.
He spent most of his days in long meetings downtown.
Victoria stayed home and managed the large staff of home workers.
She treated the workers with great harshness every single day.
Elena tried her absolute best to stay quiet and avoid any trouble.
Suddenly the small baby in the crib started to cry loudly.
The soft sound echoes across the high ceiling of the foyer.
Elena stopped her work and looked up at the tiny crying baby.
Victoria: Do not stop scrubbing until I tell you to stop.
Elena: The baby is crying, ma'am. May I check on him?
Victoria: The baby is fine. Focus on your work right now.
Elena lowered her head and kept scrubbing the smooth marble tile.
Her heart felt heavy as she listened to the infant's sad cries.
She knew that something was deeply wrong in this wealthy house.
Victoria picked up her expensive silver phone from the nearby table.
She walked toward the kitchen while talking loudly to a friend.
Elena glanced over her shoulder to make sure Victoria was gone.
She stood up quickly and walked toward the small wooden crib.
The little boy reached his tiny arms out toward Elena's face.
Elena smiled gently and wiped a single tear from his cheek.
Elena: It is okay, sweet little boy. I am right here.
She noticed a small dark mark on the baby's left arm.
Her breath caught in her throat as she looked much closer.
It looked like a dark mark from a tight grasp.
Elena gasped softly and touched the baby's soft warm hand.
She knew that Julian Vance loved his infant son very much.
Julian worked long hours but always came home before bedtime.
He always carried the baby in his arms around the house.
Elena wondered if Julian knew what was happening in his absence.
She heard heavy footsteps echoing down the grand hallway above.
Victoria was coming back toward the main entrance hall right now.
Elena quickly stepped away from the crib and dropped to her knees.
She grabbed the scrub brush again and stared at the floor.
Her heart beat very fast against her ribs in total fear.
She knew that she had to find a way to tell Julian.
If she spoke up, she might lose her only job today.
If she stayed silent, the innocent baby might remain in danger.
The front door handle turned with a sudden sharp metallic click.
Elena held her breath as the heavy wooden doors swung open.