Clara: But your daughter's terrible attitude isn't the only reason I am standing in this hall tonight, Marcus.
Marcus: What do you mean, Ms. Sterling? The quarterly financial reports were emailed to your legal team last week.
Clara: Yes, I received them. And my forensic auditors spent the last forty-eight hours dissecting every single transaction line by line.
Marcus swallowed hard, his hands beginning to tremble as he adjusted his bow tie.
Marcus: There must be some mistake... our chief financial officer verified those numbers personally.
Clara: Your chief financial officer is your brother-in-law, Marcus. And together, the two of you have been siphoning money from the staff pension fund to pay for Chloe's personal expenses.
Guest 1: Stealing from the staff pension fund?! Is that true?!
Guest 2: That's a federal crime! They're using the employees' retirement money to fund their luxury lifestyle!
Chloe: That's a lie! My father bought me my designer clothes and my sports car with his own salary!
Clara: Your father hasn't drawn a legitimate salary from Vance Capital in over a year, Chloe. Every dollar spent on your apartment, your jewelry, and that navy satin dress came directly from the server and kitchen staff benefit pool.
Chloe looked up at her father, her eyes wide with shock as she saw the sheer panic on his face.
Chloe: Dad... tell her she's lying. Tell her you didn't take that money!
Marcus: Ms. Sterling... please, let's step into the private executive office and discuss this like reasonable business partners.
Clara: We aren't business partners, Marcus. As of five minutes ago, the board of directors voted unanimously to remove you from your position as CEO.
Marcus: You can't do that! The annual meeting isn't until tomorrow morning!
Clara: I own ninety percent of the voting shares. The meeting took place five minutes ago in my pocket via an emergency digital proxy vote.
Marcus: You ruined me... You came here dressed as a server just to set me up!
Clara: You ruined yourself the moment you decided to steal from the hard-working men and women who keep this venue running every single day.
The heavy oak double doors at the back of the ballroom swung open, and four uniformed police officers marched down the marble aisle toward the catering station.
Officer Hayes: Marcus Vance? I am Detective Hayes with the Financial Crimes Division. We have a warrant for your arrest.