The cold marble wall of the Dallas estate pressed against Sadie's spine as her knuckles turned white around the phone.

She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the wave of hot tears that threatened to blur her vision completely.

Sadie: Please... leave him alone. He is only ten years old. He has nothing to do with any of this!

A cold, sneering chuckle came through the phone receiver, sharp and metallic against her ear.

Caller: You have forty minutes, Sadie. Get into Sterling's private safe, take the bearer bonds, and bring them to the dock.

Sadie: I don't know the combination to the master safe! I only clean the rooms! Mr. Sterling will send me to federal prison!

Caller: Then your little brother Toby won't make it to his soccer match tomorrow. Figure it out, little girl.

The line went dead, leaving behind a piercing dial tone that made Sadie's stomach twist into painful knots.

Before she could catch her breath, high heels clicked sharply on the polished hallway tile, echoing off the high ceiling.

Sadie scrambled backward against the wall, trying desperately to slide the cracked phone into the pocket of her apron.

Victoria: Put that cheap toy away and look at me when I enter a room, servant.

Victoria Vance, the heiress engaged to the estate owner, stepped into the light, her designer silk skirt rustling with each sharp step.

Sadie: Miss Vance... please, I was just finishing the floor polishing in the east wing.

Victoria: Don't play dumb with me, Sadie. I saw you sneaking around the master study five minutes ago.

Sadie: I was just emptying the wastebasket! I swear on my life!

Victoria's eyes narrowed, cold and calculating, as she raised her manicured hand.

Victoria: You have something that belongs to this household, and you are going to hand it over right now.

Sadie clutched her apron tightly, shaking her head in sheer terror.

Sadie: I don't have anything! Please, my brother is in danger!

Without warning, Victoria stepped forward and swung her palm with sudden force across Sadie's cheek.

The sharp crack echoed through the quiet corridor, knocking Sadie's phone from her grasp and sending it skittering across the floor.

Sadie cried out, clutching her stinging face as Victoria shoved her down onto the slick floorboards.

Victoria: You insolent little rat! You think you can talk back to me in my future home?!

Sadie fell hard on her side, tears finally spilling over her eyelashes as she looked up at the towering woman.

Sadie: Why are you doing this to me?! What did I ever do to you?!

Victoria: You exist in my way. Now open that desk drawer before I make sure your brother never sees daylight again!

Heavy footsteps suddenly shook the corridor, and a shadow stretched across both women like a looming storm.