Sarah slowly let go of her daughter, ensuring the little girl was sitting safely against the soft velvet chair cushion. She pushed herself up off the hardwood oak floor, her black dress rustling in the dead silent room. She stood tall, her posture completely changing from a terrified victim to a furious protector. Richard smirked, expecting her to start crying and begging for his forgiveness as she usually did during their arguments.
Instead, Sarah took a fast step forward and delivered a sharp, powerful kick directly to Richard's midsection with her heavy high-heeled shoe. The sudden impact knocked the wind right out of his lungs with a loud gasp. Richard stumbled back three large steps, his arms flailing wildly before he caught his balance against the mahogany banister.
The entire room gasped loudly in total shock. Several guests took a step back, astonished to see a soft-spoken woman physically strike one of the most powerful real estate moguls in the city. Richard held his stomach, his face twisting into an expression of utter disbelief and rising fury.
Richard: Have you lost your mind, Sarah? I will ruin you for this!
Sarah: Do not ever talk about ruining us again!
Richard: You are finished! I am throwing you out on the street tonight without a single dollar!
Sarah: You think your money buys you the right to bleed my child?
Sarah stepped close to the towering man, refusing to give him a single inch of space. She stared directly into his furious eyes under the bright daylight bulbs, her own eyes burning with tearful anger. She leaned in so close that her voice was a sharp, dangerous whisper that carried across the frozen foyer.
Sarah: You should review the security camera footage before you dare lay a hand on my daughter!
Richard froze for a split second, his angry expression wavering slightly as her words sank into his mind. He looked up toward the high white crown molding that lined the top of the foyer ceiling. High above them, mounted discreetly in the corner of the wall, sat a sleek white dome security camera. A tiny red light on the front of the device blinked steadily, recording every single second of the room in high definition.
Sarah: Did you forget that you installed those high-tech cameras last month to protect your precious art collection?
Richard: That... that camera only covers the front main door, Sarah.
Sarah: No, Richard. You hired the best security team, and they put a wide-angle lens right there. It sees the entire room. It saw everything you just did.
Richard: It doesn't matter! The camera will just prove that she stole my watch earlier!
Sarah: Then open the live app on your phone right now and show everyone in this room the truth!
Richard reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly despite his desperate attempt to look calm and collected. The guests moved a little closer, curious to see what the digital record would reveal about the missing fifty-thousand-dollar watch. The air in the room grew cold and heavy as Richard unlocked his device.