Sarah gasped in deep shock as everyone looked at her pockets.
She reached down with shaking hands into her white canvas apron.
Her fingers touched a cold hard object hidden deep inside there.
She pulled out a small black velvet box with pale shaking fingers.
Sarah: I did not put this here!
Tears welled up quickly in her honest eyes as she panicked.
Sarah: I swear on my life!
Victoria crossed her arms over her gold dress with smug victory.
Victoria: See who the real thief is?
Richard looked at the black box in Sarah's small hand.
He set Maya down gently onto the soft brown leather armchair.
Richard: Give that box to me.
Sarah handed the small velvet box to him without any delay.
Richard opened the small lid with his thick right thumb.
Inside sat a brilliant diamond ring that sparkled under office lights.
Richard: This is my mother's ring.
He looked up into Sarah's eyes with a calm steady gaze.
Richard: Why would you hide this here?
Sarah: I didn't hide it, sir!
Sarah: Victoria was in my room earlier!
Victoria took a quick angry step toward the humble young maid.
Victoria: How dare you accuse me!
Richard: Stop shouting in this room!
Richard raised his hand to quiet both women in his study.
He walked over to his heavy oak desk in the center.
He reached under the heavy desk ledge for a hidden button.
Richard: I installed new security cameras.
Victoria stopped speaking immediately as her pale face turned white.
Victoria: What security cameras do you mean?
Richard: The ones I put in last week.
He pulled a slim black laptop from his middle desk drawer.
He logged into the security feed with swift confident key taps.
Richard: Let us see who opened this.
Victoria took two fast steps back toward the study door.
Victoria: This is completely absurd, Richard!
Richard: Sit down right now, Victoria.
His voice was ice cold as he watched the laptop screen.