Julian: Toby? What happened here?
Julian walked down the high-key hallway, his heavy dress shoes tapping against the polished marble floor[cite: 1]. The bright natural daylight streaming through the tall arched windows lit up the scratch on Elena's cheek, making the thin red line stand out clearly against her fair skin[cite: 1].
Elena: It was an accident, Mr. Sterling. The pedestal was top-heavy, and it tipped when Toby reached for the wall display.
Toby: Dad, don't yell at her! She was trying to catch it so it wouldn't hit me!
Julian: I'm not going to yell at anyone, son. Are you hurt? Did any metal touch your hands?
Toby: No... Elena blocked it. She took the hit for me.
Julian dropped to one knee on the cold marble, looking at his son, who was still holding onto the maid's blue-and-white uniform sleeve[cite: 1]. For thirty-six months, Julian had hired the most qualified child psychologists, high-end private nannies, and behavioral specialists in Texas to help Toby process his grief. Every single one of them had been driven out of the mansion within a week, met with screaming, thrown toys, and complete emotional shutdown.
Julian: You... you let her hold you, Toby.
Toby: She didn't get mad at me, Dad. Everyone else yells when I break things.
Julian: Nobody is yelling today, Toby. Go up to your room with the nurse so she can clean your hands, okay? I need to speak with Elena.
Toby: Don't fire her, Dad! Please! If you fire her, I won't eat my dinner!
Elena: I'm not going anywhere, Toby. I promise. I'll be right here when you come back down.
Toby hesitated, looking back and forth between his father and the maid, before slowly letting go of her sleeve and walking up the grand staircase with the family nurse[cite: 1]. Once the child was out of earshot, Julian turned to face Elena, his blue eyes intense and focused.
Julian: Your cheek is bleeding, Elena. We have a medical kit in the foyer cabinet.
Elena: It's just a scratch, Mr. Sterling. It looks worse than it feels.
Julian: That bronze statue weighs over forty pounds. If it had hit Toby's head, he would be in the emergency room right now.
Elena: I saw it falling, sir. I didn't think about the weight. I just saw a little boy who was scared.
Julian: You've only been working in this house for four days. Do you have any idea how Toby usually reacts to staff members?
Elena: I've heard the rumors among the housekeepers, sir. They said he was uncontrollable and mean.
Julian: And what do you think now?
Elena: I think he's a lonely child who feels like everyone is walking on eggshells around his pain. He doesn't need rules right now, Mr. Sterling. He needs someone who isn't afraid of his tears.
Julian stared at her in silence, his throat tightening as her words hit him like a physical blow. He reached into his suit pocket, pulling out a clean white silk handkerchief and handing it to her.
Julian: Press this against your cheek. I'm calling the family doctor to take a look at that cut.
Elena: That's really not necessary, sir. I can clean it in the staff room.
Julian: I insist, Elena. You protected my son's life today. A handkerchief is the bare minimum I owe you.
Elena: Thank you, Mr. Sterling.
As Elena placed the soft silk against her cheek, the heavy double front doors of the foyer swung open[cite: 1]. High-heeled footsteps clicked sharply against the marble floor as Victoria Vance, Julian's wealthy socialite fiancée, stepped into the hallway wearing a designer champagne dress and large black sunglasses.
Victoria: Julian, darling! What on earth is that atrocious noise?! I could hear a crash from the driveway!
Julian: Victoria. It was just an accident in the hallway.
Victoria: An accident?! Look at the floor! That bronze horse is a fifty-thousand-dollar antique from my family's estate collection!
Victoria's sharp voice echoed off the white walls as she marched toward them, her eyes locking onto the maid kneeling near the fallen sculpture[cite: 1].
Victoria: You! Clumsy girl! Did you drop this masterpiece while dusting?!
Elena: No, ma'am. I was trying to secure the pedestal.
Victoria: Don't talk back to me! Julian, fire this incompetent woman immediately!