The pungent aroma of red wine filled the grand living room. On the oriental rug, a dark stain spread like a promise of disaster. On her knees, hands trembling with humiliation, the young maid wiped frantically.
— “Faster! If there’s a stain left, I’ll deduct it from your salary,” spat an arrogant voice.
Standing in a sleek black suit with a glass in hand, the mistress of the house looked down at her with utter contempt.
— “And don’t raise your head when you speak to me!” she added.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A man in a dark suit walked in with firm steps. His eyes swept across the room, stopping at the submissive maid and the cold arrogance of the woman. A surge of controlled anger lit up his eyes.
— “Enough. Stand up,” he ordered in an unquestionable tone.
He stepped forward, gently assisting the young maid to her feet while ignoring the indignant protests of the woman.
— “What are you doing?” the mistress complained, her face distorted. “You’re making a scene over a little wine?”
— “It was never about the wine,” he replied in a low, stern voice. “It’s about what you dare to do when you think no one is watching. You no longer have the right to order employees around.”
He pulled out his phone to make a call. The woman in black paled, trying to maintain her composure, but doubt was already consuming her.
— “There are no cameras here!” she insisted nervously.
It was then that the young maid, hands trembling, handed a yellow envelope to the man.
— “Sir… My former mistress asked me to give you this on the day you returned.”
The man opened the envelope and pulled out an official document along with an old photograph. His eyes widened, and a stern look settled on his face. He held up the photo to the woman in black, whose face instantly lost all color.
— “You’re not alone in this picture,” he said with a ice-cold voice. “Who is the man standing beside you?”
— “You were never supposed to recognize him…” she stammered, completely undone.
The woman stood frozen, defeated, as her reign of terror crumbled into silence.
