Victoria lunged across the corner of the table, snatching the papers out of the chief financial officer’s hands.
Victoria: That cannot be true! Henry loved this family! He would never leave our home to an outsider from the foster system!
Arthur Vance: Henry loved honesty, Victoria. Which is why he was devastated when he discovered you mortgaged the estate’s secondary holdings to fund Julian’s failed luxury car venture in Monaco.
Julian: That venture was an investment! Dad knew about that!
Clara: He didn't know you forged his signature on the personal guarantee, Julian. I sat beside him when the foreclosure notice arrived in the mail.
Julian stepped back, his eyes darting frantically toward Evelyn.
Julian: Evelyn, tell them this doesn't change our merger. Your father’s bankroll can buy out these disputed shares easily.
Evelyn: Julian, don't look at me. My father agreed to merge with the owner of the Sterling family estate, not an unemployed heir with a pending lawsuit.
Victoria: Evelyn, darling, please! We hosted your family for Thanksgiving! We introduced you to the country club committee!
Evelyn: Business is business, Victoria. If Clara controls the commercial assets, your son has nothing to offer my family.
Evelyn picked up her designer bag, walked briskly toward the double doors, and left without looking back once.
Julian: Evelyn! Wait!
Clara: Let her go, Julian. You only wanted her for her family’s money anyway, just like you wanted me because your father refused to release your trust fund allowance unless you were married.
Julian: That is a lie! I loved you, Clara!
Clara: You loved having an unpaid nurse for your father so you could spend weekends drinking in Aspen with people who mocked your background behind your back.
Victoria crumpled the papers against her chest, her fingers shaking with sudden rage.
Victoria: This will never hold up in front of a real probate judge! I will hire the most aggressive litigation firm in New York! I will drag this through appeals until you are bankrupt!
Arthur Vance: With what money, Victoria? The family accounts are currently frozen under a temporary court restraining order issued at eight this morning.
Victoria: You froze my personal accounts? That is illegal!
Arthur Vance: It is entirely legal when an audit reveals over four million dollars transferred out of the company operating fund into offshore accounts under your maiden name.
Julian stared at his mother, his complexion turning ghostly pale.
Julian: Mother... what did you do? You told me Dad’s business accounts were depleted because of his medical treatments!
Victoria: Be quiet, Julian! I was trying to protect our lifestyle!
Clara: You were trying to steal from your own dying husband. But Henry was always three steps ahead of you both.
Arthur Vance checked his pocket watch, clicking the silver lid shut with a crisp snap.
Arthur Vance: The board meeting is officially adjourned. Clara, as the majority trustee, do you have any immediate directives for the corporate officers?
Clara: Yes, Mr. Vance. I have two very specific orders that must be carried out before three this afternoon.