When the man's daughter, Anne, insists the new maid, Serenna, should be her 'mommy' instead, the maid is unsettled. Roman, the girl's father, coldly clarifies his indifference to women, hinting he can be ruthless when he chooses. The tension grows as Ariana, a woman at the scene, becomes suspicious of Serenna and orders a background check. At breakfast, Ariana openly demeans Serenna as a 'lowly maid' and a 'plaything', forcing Serenna to question her place in the household as the line between caretaker and target blurs.