Liam: You hired private security to kick your own son out of the house, Mother?
Evelyn: You are trespassing in a private estate file room and assisting a disgruntled employee in corporate theft!
Liam: This isn't theft. It's evidence of grand larceny and fraud committed by you against Thomas Reed's family.
Security Guard 1: Mr. Sterling, your mother requested that we clear the room. Please step away from the desk.
Liam: Do you know who pays your security firm's contract, officer?
Security Guard 1: Sterling Enterprises, sir.
Liam: And I am the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Enterprises as of last month. Touch me or Sarah, and your firm loses its contract by five o'clock today.
The two security guards paused, exchanging an uncomfortable look before stepping back toward the doorway.
Evelyn: Don't listen to him! I am the head of the family board!
Liam: You were the temporary trustee while I completed my business degree, Mother. My appointment was finalized by the board two weeks ago while I was in Chicago.
Evelyn's hands began to shake as she smoothed down her dark green gown, her strict expression cracking into visible panic.
Evelyn: Liam, think about what you are doing! If this paperwork goes public, our stock price will plunge twenty percent by tomorrow morning!
Liam: Then it plunges. I will not build my career on stolen money that belongs to a sick child.
Sarah: Mrs. Sterling... why did you do it? My dad trusted you. He managed your family's personal taxes for over a decade.
Evelyn: Your father was getting greedy! He wanted a seat on the board of directors!
Sarah: He helped create the company! He earned that seat!
Evelyn: A accountant does not sit on the board of a Dallas oil empire! Your family didn't belong in our circle!
Liam: That is disgusting, Mother. Absolutely disgusting.
Evelyn: I did it to protect our family legacy, Liam! I did it for you!
Liam: Don't you dare use my name to justify your greed. You did it to buy emerald necklaces and host galas for people who don't even like you.
Liam took out his phone, pulling up his contact list and tapping on a name at the top of the screen.
Evelyn: Who are you calling?
Liam: I'm calling Marcus Vance, our senior corporate auditor. I'm ordering an immediate forensic audit of every single bank account associated with the estate.
Evelyn: Liam, no! Stop! We can talk about this like civilized family members!
Liam: We stopped being a civilized family the moment you put Sarah in an apron and made her scrub floors while hiding her sister's medical fund.
Liam placed the phone to his ear, walking over to Sarah and offering her his hand to help her up from the floor.
Liam: Marcus? It's Liam. I need you to assemble the legal team and bring federal auditors to the Dallas estate immediately. We have a major fraud case to report.