Three days later, the glass doors of Vance Real Estate Holdings in downtown Dallas swung open violently. Richard Sterling, dressed in a three-piece charcoal suit, marched through the lobby past two startled secretaries.
Secretary: Sir, you can't go back there without an appointment!
Richard: Get out of my way! Gabriel!
Richard slammed open the doors to Gabriel's corner office. Gabriel was sitting behind his mahogany desk, reviewing financial reports with Arthur.
Gabriel: You're making a scene in my lobby, Richard.
Richard: You put my daughter in a county jail cell, Gabriel! She spent forty-eight hours in custody because of a maid!
Gabriel: She spent forty-eight hours in custody because she committed felony assault and burned a defenseless employee on my property.
Richard: She's twenty-four years old! She made a mistake! You could have handled this quietly within the family!
Gabriel: We are not family, Richard. And after what I saw, we were never going to be.
Richard: Do you have any idea what this is doing to our social standing in Dallas?! The press is already asking questions about why the wedding is off!
Gabriel: Then tell them the truth. Tell them your daughter thinks she can physically abuse people because of your bank account.
Richard leaned over the mahogany desk, his face turning bright red with anger.
Richard: I pulled my thirty million dollars from your development project this morning, Gabriel. Your firm is going to take a massive hit!
Gabriel: Arthur already wired your buyout funds two hours ago, Richard. Check your account. You no longer own a single share in my firm or my estate.
Richard blinked, stunned by how fast the financial separation had been executed.
Richard: You... you actually bought me out?
Gabriel: I'd rather take a temporary loss than share a business with people who lack basic humanity. Now get out of my office before I have security escort you out.
Richard: You're making the biggest mistake of your life, Vance!
Gabriel: No, Richard. Taking your daughter's ring off was the smartest decision I ever made.
Richard glared at Gabriel, realizing he had zero leverage left, before turning around and storming out of the office, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him.