Julian: My mother had nothing to do with your father's heart attack, Clara! He was sick for years!
Clara: My father wasn't sick, Julian! He was poisoned with industrial chemicals through his daily prescription medication, arranged by your mother's personal assistant!
A loud gasp ripped through the ballroom. Guests pulled out their own phones, filming the confrontation from every angle while the locked double doors began to shake under heavy pounding from the outside hall.
Julian: That's absurd! You have no proof of such a ridiculous accusation!
Clara: The medical examiner's exhumation report was uploaded to the state prosecutor's server ten minutes ago, along with the pharmacy records your mother tried to burn in her estate incinerator!
Julian: You... you exhumed his body?!
Clara: I did whatever it took to get justice for my family while you were celebrating your corporate merger in this luxury hall!
The heavy iron locks on the grand double doors clicked open with a sharp metallic snap. The heavy wooden doors burst open, and six uniformed state troopers strode into the room, led by Captain Marcus Vance.
Captain Vance: Nobody move! Stay where you are!
Julian: Captain Vance! Thank God you're here! This woman is holding this entire gala hostage with a hacked security lockdown system!
Captain Vance: Shut your mouth, Julian. We aren't here for her. We're here for you.
Captain Vance stepped past Clara, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder for a brief second before pulling out a pair of heavy steel handcuffs from his tactical belt.
Julian: What?! On what grounds are you arresting me?! I am the chief executive officer of Sterling Enterprises!
Captain Vance: You are under arrest for first-degree attempted murder, felony extortion, aggravated physical assault, and corporate fraud. You have the right to remain silent.
Julian: This is a mistake! Call my mother! Call Victoria Sterling right now!
Captain Vance: Victoria Sterling was taken into federal custody twenty minutes ago at her penthouse apartment. Her legal team has already abandoned her case.
Julian's eyes went wide with pure terror. He looked around the room at the hundreds of wealthy executives who used to bow to his family, but every single one of them was staring at him with cold disgust, their phones recording his humiliation.
Julian: Clara... tell them to stop! You can't let them drag me out of here like a common criminal on my company's anniversary!
Clara: You aren't a CEO anymore, Julian. You're just a convict wearing an expensive tuxedo.
Captain Vance grabbed Julian's wrists, forcing them behind his back and snapping the heavy handcuffs tightly over his hands.
Julian: Ow! You're hurting my hands! I'll sue the entire precinct for this!
Captain Vance: Save it for the judge, Sterling. Move it.
The officers dragged Julian down the center aisle of the ballroom toward the open doors while he kicked and screamed, his expensive black tuxedo jacket rumpled and his face pale with tears of desperation.