Ten minutes later, Julian stood in his father's old oak-paneled study on the ground floor. The room was dark, save for the bright glow of three computer monitors sitting on the large mahogany desk. Marcus stood beside the desk, operating the security footage controls, while Julian's corporate lawyer, Sarah, sat in a leather armchair with a legal pad on her lap.
Sarah: Are you ready to view this, Julian? It's quite graphic.
Julian: Play it, Sarah. I want to see every frame.
Marcus pressed the play button. The video feed showed the grand mansion hall in high-definition clarity. Victoria stood near the bottom of the stairs, holding a bucket of cold water and throwing it over Elena's feet. Then, the video showed Victoria pulling Elena down by her hair, holding the tailor scissors, and making cutting motions near her face while laughing.
Julian: Zoom in on the scissors. Did she deliberately strike her forehead?
Marcus: Yes, sir. Frame forty-two shows Mrs. Victoria Vance lunging forward with the blade pointed downward. It wasn't an accident. She physically assaulted your wife.
Sarah: This is clear evidence of felony assault with a deadly weapon, Julian. Along with unlawful restraint and workplace intimidation.
Julian: What about the audio, Marcus? Is the sound clear?
Marcus adjusted a dial on the soundboard. Victoria's screeching voice filled the study speakers, loud and sharp.
Victoria's Recorded Voice:"Staff who embarrass me do not belong here! I don't care if you're pregnant! You are trash, and you will leave this house bald and penniless!"[cite: 1]
Sarah shook her head in disbelief, rapidly scribbling notes on her yellow legal pad.
Sarah: This audio completely destroys any defense her lawyers might try to build. She admitted on tape that she knew Elena was pregnant, yet she still used physical force and threats.
Julian: I want criminal charges filed before the sun sets today, Sarah.
Sarah: We can file an emergency restraining order immediately, which will legally compel her to vacate the premises within two hours. Once the police review this tape, they will issue an arrest warrant for domestic assault.
Julian: Do it. And contact the bank. I want all joint credit cards under her name frozen immediately.
Sarah: What about her seat on the Vance Charitable Board?
Julian: Remove her. Effective right now. A woman who abuses a pregnant mother has no place on a charity board for women and children.
The study door suddenly flew open with a bang. Victoria stormed into the room, her metallic gold dress rustling loudly as she glared at Marcus and Sarah.
Victoria: Julian! What is the meaning of this?! The security guards at the front gate just told me I'm restricted from taking my car out of the garage!
Julian: That's because the garage belongs to the estate, Mother. And you no longer have driving privileges here.
Victoria: You can't treat your own mother like a prisoner! I demand you fire this security chief at once!
Julian turned around slowly, stepping out from behind the desk. He held up a digital tablet displaying the paused frame of Victoria holding the scissors against Elena's face[cite: 1].
Julian: Look at this screen, Victoria. Look at what you did to my wife[cite: 1].