The crystal chandeliers in the Dallas luxury gala ballroom reflected full daylight, illuminating white marble and pristine white walls decorated with a framed American flag.
Mindy: Get out of my way!
A loud slap rang out through the hall, freezing hundreds of wealthy guests in place.
The redhead in the bright yellow dress drew back her hand, breathing heavily with arrogant anger. Across from her stood a fair-skinned woman wearing a tailored white tuxedo and a black bow tie. The blow had forced her head to the side, leaving a fresh red scratch mark across her left cheek.
Mindy: You heard me! Move!
The woman in the white suit didn't flinch or cry out. She slowly turned her head back, her eyes cold as ice.
She raised a black leather gloved hand, gently touching the fresh mark on her cheek.
Victoria: How dare you...
Mindy: How dare I? Do you know who my father is? I own people like you!
Mindy stepped closer, yelling directly into her face. She raised her hand to strike a second time, expecting the woman in the tuxedo to cower like everyone else in Dallas.
Instead, the woman in the white suit moved with lightning speed. She pivoted on her heel and threw a powerful spin kick, her boot striking Mindy square in the chest. Mindy flew backward through the air, crashing onto the marble floor with a heavy thud.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as four burly security guards in dark suits stepped up behind the woman in the white tuxedo.
Mindy gasped for air on the floor, clutching her chest in shock.
Mindy: You... you kicked me! Guards, arrest her! Kill her!
The woman in the tuxedo didn't run. She stood tall in the high-key natural light, calmly raising her gloved hand to adjust her lapel collar.
Victoria: You don't know who I am.
Mindy scrambled backward on her elbows, looking at the security team standing behind the woman in white, only to realize the guards were not looking at her for orders. They were waiting for a single command from the woman she had just slapped, and the true nightmare for the Sterling family was only just beginning.