The morning light poured through the tall windows of the corporate office, illuminating the grand mahogany desk and the heavy velvet curtains. Clara sat shivering in a wheelchair, her hands trembling violently as she tried to pull away from the desk. Her face was pale, marked with purple bruises near her cheekbone from the terrible accident that had left her unable to walk just three weeks prior. Across from her stood Evelyn, her stepmother, holding a dark blue suit jacket neatly tailored to fit her cold, rigid frame. Evelyn’s eyes flashed with pure anger as she clutched a thick stack of legal documents in one hand and a small paper cup filled with strange liquid in the other. In the corner of the large room, Maria, the long-time family maid, stood wringing her hands in absolute terror. The whole room smelled of bitter medicine and old paper. Clara looked up at her stepmother, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to keep her hands from shaking.
Clara: Please, Evelyn, just let me go back to my room. I am too sick to read these legal papers today.
Evelyn: You are not going anywhere until your name is on that line, Clara. Your father is dead, and I am running this family trust fund now.
Maria: Mrs. Evelyn, please, the doctor said Miss Clara needs complete rest. Her head injury is still very fresh and she cannot handle this stress.
Evelyn: Shut your mouth, Maria! You are paid to clean the floors, not to give me medical advice or interfere with family business!
Evelyn leaned forward over the desk, her shadow falling completely over Clara's frail body. She forcefully tilted back the paper cup, pressing the lip of the cup right against Clara's bruised lips. Clara twisted her head side to side, whimpering as the bitter fluid spattered across her collar. Evelyn grabbed Clara’s chin with a tight, painful grip, forcing her mouth open while trying to spill the liquid down her throat. Clara made muffled struggling sounds, gasping for air while trying to block the cup with her weak arms.
Clara: No... stop! It hurts! I won't drink it!
Evelyn: Swallow it! It will calm you down so you can sign the deed to the estate!
Maria: Stop! She didn't sign! You can't force her like this!
Maria could not watch the abuse any longer. She rushed forward across the thick carpet, her apron fluttering as she reached out and grabbed Evelyn's arm with all her strength. She pulled the older woman back, causing the paper cup to crush violently in Evelyn's hand. Dark liquid spilled across the desk blotter, soaking into important white documents. Evelyn turned around in a fury, her eyes wide with shock that a servant would dare touch her expensive designer clothing. She swung her elbow back hard, striking Maria across the shoulder and sending the poor maid stumbling backward into Clara’s wheelchair. The sudden impact tipped the heavy wheels off balance. Clara let out a terrified scream as the wheelchair flipped sideways over the polished floor, sending Clara, Maria, and hundreds of loose papers crashing down in a chaotic heap right in front of the grand desk.