Before anyone in the crowd could move or utter a word of caution, Victoria lunged forward with sudden physical rage. Her hands grabbed the lapels of Clara's black suit jacket, yanking the smaller woman forward with force. The delicate silk threading on Clara's lapel made a soft tearing sound under Victoria's grip, but Clara did not scream or lose her balance. She simply planted her feet flat on the ground and stared into Victoria's wide, angry eyes with total composure.
Clara: Take your hands off me right now, Victoria. You have no idea what you are doing.
Victoria: I know exactly what I am doing! I am removing dirty street trash from my family's private hall!
Without another second of hesitation, Victoria drew back her right leather boot and kicked Clara directly in the center of her chest. The heavy leather heel hit Clara with tremendous power. The sharp force knocked the wind right out of Clara's lungs, sending her flying backward onto the hard marble floor. Her own dark heels clattered violently against the stone surface as she fell hard onto her back. Her elbows hit the floor with a loud crack, scraping off skin and sending a wave of burning pain shooting up her arms.
The entire room gasped in total horror. Several elderly donors backed away, their faces turning pale as they watched the physical assault. A thin trickle of dark blood began to leak from the corner of Clara's mouth where her teeth had cut the inside of her lip during the heavy fall. She lay there for a moment, gasping for air as her lungs struggled to rebuild oxygen after the sudden chest impact.
Victoria: Look at you! Laying on the floor like the street rat you really are!
Clara clutched her ribs with one hand, groaning softly in deep pain as she felt the bruised tissue beneath her shirt. Two uniform security guards hired for the party stepped forward quickly, but Victoria raised a manicured hand to halt their movement immediately.
Victoria: Don't touch her! Let her crawl out on her hands and knees like she deserves!
Officer Miller: Ma'am! Is everything alright over here?
An American police officer stationed near the entrance rushed over after hearing the loud crash. He looked at the fallen woman on the floor and then at Victoria, his brow furrowed in total confusion and concern.
Victoria: Everything is completely fine, Officer Miller! Just escorting an uninvited trespasser out of my family's private venue!
Clara raised her trembling right hand to her bloody mouth, wiping the red stain away with the back of her wrist. Her face slowly transformed from pure physical agony to cold, lethal defiance. She pushed herself up from the cold marble floor inch by inch, ignoring the deep ache in her ribs. She stood up tall, straightened her torn jacket, and locked her green eyes onto Victoria's laughing face with unwavering purpose.
Clara: You really think this building belongs to your family?
Victoria: My father owns forty percent of the parent company, you nobody! You are nothing here!
Without warning, Clara leaped forward across the short distance between them. She swung her right hand around and slapped Victoria across the face with every ounce of strength in her body. The sharp smack echoed off the high ceilings like a gunshot. Victoria stumbled back three full steps, clutching her bright red cheek in shock as hot tears flooded her eyes.
Clara stepped in extremely close, leaning toward Victoria's right ear while speaking through blood-stained teeth.
Clara: You just dug your own grave. I am the CEO.