Victoria stood frozen near the large American flag hanging on the wall.
She gripped her designer purse tightly until her knuckles turned pale white.
Victoria: I am your wife, Julian, you cannot order me out of my own home!
Julian: This house belongs to my family trust, not to you!
Julian reached down and picked up the heavy brown folder from the table.
He pulled out a thick set of legal papers with official state seals on top.
Julian: Do you remember the terms of our marriage settlement agreement?
Victoria's face lost all its color in an instant as she stared at the papers.
Victoria: That was signed five years ago, it has nothing to do with this!
Julian: It states clearly that any public misconduct terminates your monthly allowance!
Clara stepped back slowly, trying to stay out of the fierce argument.
Julian reached out and gently grabbed her hand to keep her beside him.
Julian: Clara, stay right here, you are not going anywhere.
Clara: Sir, I should really go clean up in the kitchen staff room.
Julian: You do not answer to Victoria anymore, you answer directly to me.
The guests leaned in closer, eager to catch every single word of the confrontation.
Victoria looked around the room and saw her high-society friends whispering and point.
Victoria: You are making a huge mistake, Julian!
Julian: The mistake was trusting someone who treats good people like trash.
Julian pulled a black fountain pen from his navy suit jacket pocket.
He laid the legal documents flat on the high table near the flag.
Julian: I am freezing your access to the company accounts effective immediately.
Victoria stepped forward and tried to snatch the papers away from his hand.
Victoria: You cannot do that without my lawyer present in the room!
Julian: I am the primary trustee of the Sterling estate, I can and I will!
Julian signed his name firmly on the bottom line of the first document.
He turned to his chief security guard who was standing near the door.
Julian: Escort Mrs. Sterling to her room and make sure she stays there.
Security Guard: Right away, Mr. Sterling.
The tall guard in a black suit stepped up and motioned toward the exit.
Victoria backed away with her head held high, though her hands were shaking violently.
Victoria: This is not over, Julian, you will regret treating me like this!
She turned on her heel and marched out of the grand ballroom in silence.
The heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind her, leaving a heavy quiet in the room.
Julian turned his full attention back to the wet, trembling maid beside him.