Julian slammed his thumb down on his phone screen to cut the call off.
He took off his dark trench coat and threw it onto the marble floor.
Julian: My father was manipulated by you from the very beginning.
Clara: I gave up my career to nurse him through three painful surgeries.
Julian: You did it for the money and the mansion!
Clara: I did it because he was a good man who deserved dignity.
Julian pushed past the armchair and walked fast toward the private library downstairs.
Clara stood up carefully so she would not startle Titan.
The giant dog immediately stood up on all four paws and followed right at her hip.
The security guards followed behind Julian but did not draw their hands near their belts.
They could see the deep connection between the young woman and the massive animal.
Julian reached the back of the library where a hidden wall safe sat behind a painting.
He swung the oil portrait aside and began punching numbers into the digital keypad.
Clara: The combination was changed three months ago, Julian.
The keypad beeped three times with a sharp red warning light.
Julian let out an angry yell and struck the heavy metal safe door with his palm.
Julian: Where are the original land deeds and the stock certificates?
Clara: They are locked safely inside a bank vault downtown under legal seal.
Julian turned around with his face twisted in pure rage.
Julian: You think you are so smart hiding behind legal paperwork.
Clara: I am following the exact instructions left by the owner of this house.
Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small set of silver keys.
Julian: I still have full access to the family business accounts and the firm.
Clara: Check your banking app before you make another confident statement.
Julian pulled out his phone again with trembling fingers.
He tapped on his primary private banking application to check his balance.
The screen flashed a bold red notification message across the middle.
ACCOUNT FROZEN PENDING JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ESTATE FUNDS.
Julian almost dropped his phone onto the hardwood library floor.
Julian: How did you freeze my personal lines of credit?
Clara: The corporate board discovered that you took loans against estate assets last year.