The grand entry room of the tall city mansion was always bright and quiet in the warm morning light.
Elena adjusted her grey maid uniform while holding a soft dusting cloth in her small hands.
She had worked for the rich family for three long years without making any big mistakes.
The owner of the house was a kind businessman named Mark who loved his sweet young daughter, Lily.
Mark had recently married a new woman named Victoria, who wore expensive gold dresses around the large house.
Victoria did not like the quiet maid and often made her clean the same clean floor twice.
Elena: Good morning, Victoria. Would you like me to prepare your warm tea now?
Victoria looked down from the high balcony with a very mean look on her painted face.
Victoria: Do not speak to me unless I ask you a question first, Elena.
Elena: I am sorry, ma'am. I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.
Victoria: Just clean the white stairs and stay out of my personal sight today.
Elena nodded her head politely and stepped back toward the big wooden door of the kitchen.
She knew that Victoria was hiding something secret from Mark, but she never said a single word.
Little Lily walked into the wide hall carrying her small smartphone in her pink jacket pocket.
Lily: Good morning, Elena! Did you see where my father went this early morning?
Elena: Your dad is inside his private office reading some important business papers, sweetie.
Lily: Thank you! I am going to play with my small camera near the staircase balcony.
Elena smiled softly at the happy girl who always treated the household staff with great kindness.
The mansion was very quiet, but a dark feeling sat heavily inside the warm morning air.
Victoria smoothed down the shining metallic gold dress she loved to wear around the marble halls.
She was planning to ask Mark for a huge monthly allowance of money later that same afternoon.
Victoria wanted total control of the family estate and all the money inside the bank accounts.
She viewed little Lily and the innocent new baby girl as obstacles in her private way.
Victoria: Why are you still standing there staring at me, Elena?
Elena: I am finishing the polished floor right now as you asked me earlier.
Victoria: Make sure it shines, or I will tell Mark to fire you before tonight.
Elena kept her mouth closed and continued working hard on the cold white marble floor below.
She knew that keeping her job was very important to help pay her own family bills.
Lily sat quietly near the top of the grand stairs, holding her phone up to record video clips.
The little girl liked making videos of the high balcony and the big bright glass chandelier hanging above.
Nobody noticed that the small camera lens was pointing straight at the top of the dark stairs.