The cold marble floor seemed to sink deeper into Lily's knees as minutes turned into half an hour. Her legs felt completely numb, and the friction of the rough white cloth was starting to burn her small palms. Victoria sat back in her velvet chair, taking another long sip of her red wine while watching the child struggle. She tapped her polished fingernails on the armrest, enjoying every single moment of authority she held over Mark's child. Victoria had already signed a prenup before marrying Mark, but she was slowly trying to force Lily out so she could claim full control of Mark's vast estate.
Lily wiped her nose with the sleeve of her maid uniform, her shoulders shaking violently from silent sobs. She looked down at the reflection of her own face in the polished marble surface beneath her hands. Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair messily falling over her forehead as she worked tirelessly on the shoes. Every time she slowed down, Victoria would clear her throat sharply or nudge Lily's shoulder with the tip of her pointed heel to speed her up.
Victoria: Look at me when I speak to you.
Lily: My legs hurt really bad.
Victoria: What will you tell your father tonight?
Lily: That everything is fine.
Victoria: Remember that, or I will make your life much worse.
Lily nodded quickly, wiping away another stray tear that threatened to drop onto Victoria's shoe. She knew that Victoria held immense power in the house when Mark wasn't looking, often threatening to send Lily away to a far boarding school if she ever complained. Mark worked sixteen hours a day managing heavy machinery contracts, trust fund accounts, and real estate investments across the state. He trusted his new wife completely, assuming she was acting as a loving stepmother while he earned money for Lily's future college inheritance.
Victoria swirled the red liquid in her glass, her eyes cold as she looked down at the weeping child. She reached out with her left hand, which bore a massive diamond engagement ring that Mark had bought her three months ago. She grabbed Lily by the chin, forcing the young girl to look straight into her icy gaze. Lily tried to pull back, but Victoria held her firm, her sharp fingernails pressing lightly against the child's soft skin.
Victoria: If you say one word about this, your father leaves.
Lily: He loves me, he won't leave!
Victoria: He loves me now. He will believe whatever I say.
Lily: Please let me get up now.
Victoria: Five more minutes. Keep scrubbing that leather.
Lily dropped her head back down, her small hands continuing to rub the shoe with the stained white cloth. She felt completely helpless, wondering why her father had been gone so long on this particular trip. Mark was supposed to be in Chicago until late Friday evening, dealing with an emergency site inspection for a new high-rise building. Victoria had planned this entire day of humiliation knowing Mark wouldn't return for at least another thirty-six hours, giving her total freedom to torment the child without any risk of getting caught.
The silence in the grand foyer was suffocating, broken only by the sound of Lily's soft whimpering and the rough cloth scrubbing against shoe leather. Victoria checked her gold luxury watch, completely unbothered by the sheer cruelty of her actions. She felt completely secure in her position as the new mistress of the household, unaware that plans could change in an instant when flight schedules were unexpectedly pushed forward.