Chapter 3 - The Trap Closes
Sarah scrambled to her feet, instinctively pulling Violet behind her legs.
"It is not what it looks like, Ms. Sterling!" Sarah begged, her voice cracking with pure terror.
"My daughter wandered in here by accident, and I just found the safe open like this!"
Ms. Sterling laughed, a harsh, grating sound that held absolutely no humor.
"Do you honestly expect anyone to believe that pathetic story?" she asked.
"You smuggled a dirty child into Mr. Maxwell’s home, broke into his private sanctuary, and raided his safe."
"No, I swear to you, I didn't touch anything!" Sarah cried, tears spilling hot down her cheeks.
"The panel was already open when I walked in to find her!"
Ms. Sterling pulled a sleek silver smartphone from her tailored blazer pocket.
"Save your lies for the police, Sarah," she said, dialing three numbers.
Sarah’s world began to spin out of control.
If the police came, they would arrest her for grand theft.
Violet would be taken away by child protective services and thrown into the foster care system.
The terrifying thought of losing her daughter gave Sarah a sudden rush of adrenaline.
"Please, Ms. Sterling, I will leave right now and never come back!" Sarah pleaded.
"Just let me take my baby and go, I am begging you as a mother!"
Ms. Sterling’s eyes narrowed with cold, unfeeling cruelty.
"You should have thought about being a mother before you decided to rob a billionaire," she snapped.
Suddenly, the heavy footsteps of a man echoed from the gallery hallway behind the house manager.
"Put the phone down, Eleanor," a deep, commanding voice ordered.
May you like
Richard Maxwell stood in the doorway, his presence sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
He wore a custom charcoal suit, and his piercing blue eyes locked directly onto Sarah.
