Julian Sterling walked into the grand foyer, pulling off his damp suit jacket. His dark eyes scanned the high ceilings and marble floors before settling on the scene in front of him. His briefcase hit the floor with a dull thud.
Julian: What is going on in here? I could hear screaming from the driveway.
Sarah: Sir! Look what she did in our home!
Sarah held up the heavy wool blanket, still holding the bundled pillow inside, her hands shaking violently.
Victoria: Julian! Thank God you're home! Don't listen to this crazy maid!
Victoria rushed down the grand staircase, her blue dress swishing against the wooden steps. Her face was pale, but her eyes were fixed on her brother.
Victoria: She slipped from my hands! I mean—she was handling the baby's blanket, and she tripped! She’s trying to make a scene to get money out of you!
Julian: Shut up, Victoria.
Victoria: What? Julian, I’m your sister! She’s just a servant you hired off some temp agency list!
Julian: I said stop talking.
Julian stepped past his sister and walked directly toward Sarah. He looked at the blanket in her arms, then down at the red, bruised marks on Sarah's knees where she had slid across the hard floor.
Julian: Sarah... are you hurt?
Sarah: My knees are bruised, Mr. Sterling. But that doesn't matter. She stood up on the balcony, screamed that she was dropping the baby, and threw this down at me on purpose!
Victoria: It was a harmless joke! A test! I wanted to see if she was actually paying attention to her duties!
Julian: A test? You threw a heavy weight off a fifteen-foot balcony onto my head housekeeper?
Victoria: She was getting arrogant, Julian! She acts like she runs this estate! She talks to the lawyers, she handles the household accounts, she oversees the staff—she’s acting like she owns the place!
Julian: She manages those things because I hired her to! Because she is honest, capable, and trustworthy! Unlike you, who only shows up when your trust fund allowance runs low!
Victoria: How can you talk to me like that in front of a maid? I am a Sterling!
Julian: Being a Sterling doesn't give you the right to abuse people in my home!
Sarah: Mr. Sterling, this isn't the first time. While you were in New York last week, she demanded access to the family safe. She said she needed cash for her personal accounts.
Victoria: You lying little snake!
Victoria lunged forward, raising her hand toward Sarah’s face, but Julian stepped in between them instantly. He grabbed Victoria’s wrist in mid-air, his face tight with fury.
Julian: Don't you dare touch her.
Victoria: Let go of me! You're choosing a servant over your own sister?
Julian: I’m choosing decency over a bully. You've spent your entire life thinking money excuses your cruelty. Not in this house. Not anymore.
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