Julian stared at Chloe with absolute hatred, wiping a small drop of red wine that had splashed onto his silk lapel. He adjusted his heavy gold cufflinks and smoothed out his custom tuxedo, trying desperately to regain his composure before any high-profile guests stepped out of the nearby ballroom. His mother was hyperventilating beside him, desperately scrubbing at her ruined designer dress with a silk napkin that only spread the deep red stain further across the expensive fabric.
Julian: You think a glass of wine gives you power, Chloe? You are nothing.
Chloe: Keep talking, Julian. Every word out of your mouth makes this so much easier.
Victoria: She belongs in handcuffs! Call the security guards right now!
Julian: Security is already on their way, Mother. She won't leave this building as a free woman.
Chloe: Go ahead, call them. Let the news cameras outside see the police escort me out right after you struck me.
Julian narrowed his eyes, adjusting his tuxedo jacket with trembling hands as a quiet seed of panic finally began to take root in his mind.
Julian: Nobody saw a thing, Chloe. It's your word against mine, and I own this venue.
Chloe: You own the venue, but you don't own the cameras hidden in the decorative arches.
Victoria: What is she talking about, Julian? What cameras?
Julian: She's bluffing, Mother! She has nothing! Her father's lawyers surrendered three months ago!
Chloe: My father surrendered because you threatened to foreclose on his home while he was in the hospital.
Julian: It was business! Your father signed the papers for the liquidation himself!
Chloe: He signed a loan agreement, Julian! You swapped the signature page with a full asset transfer document!
Victoria: That is standard corporate restructuring! You know nothing about high finance!
Chloe: I know enough about tax fraud and bank wire manipulation to put you both in federal prison for twenty years.
Victoria wiped red wine off her collarbone with a silk napkin, her face growing completely pale with rage as she stared at the young woman who was supposed to be completely broken and broke.
Victoria: You delusional child! You have no evidence, no money, and no support in this city!
Chloe: You really believe I came to this charity gala alone tonight?
Julian: Who else would stand near you? Your family is broke!
Chloe: Look down the hall, Julian.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor as a tall man in a dark tailored suit approached the small group from the far end of the grand corridor. He carried a sleek leather briefcase, his expression entirely calm and professional as he stepped into the light of the chandeliers.
Arthur: Is there a problem here, Mr. Vance?
Julian: Arthur? What are you doing back in New York? You're supposed to be in London!
Arthur: I flew in two hours ago specifically to handle the audit of your father's estate trust fund.
Victoria: Arthur, this girl just assaulted me with red wine! Have her removed immediately!
Arthur: I saw the entire interaction from the balcony, Victoria. I also heard the slap.
Julian's throat tightened instantly as he stared at the senior partner of Vance Enterprises' primary legal team. A sudden cold chill swept over the entire hallway.
Julian: Arthur, listen to me carefully. This is a private family matter.
Arthur: It ceased to be a private matter when you physically assaulted the primary beneficiary of the Sterling Trust.
Julian: Primary beneficiary? What are you talking about?! I am the sole heir!
Chloe: You were the sole heir until six o'clock this evening, Julian.
Victoria: What did you do?! What did she do, Arthur?!
Arthur: Ten minutes ago, the probate court unsealed your late father's final amended will and testament.
Julian: That's impossible! My father left everything to my mother and me!
Arthur: The original draft did. The codicil signed last month tells a completely different story.
Chloe: Your father knew what you were doing behind his back, Julian. He knew you were embezzling from the charitable foundation.
Julian: Shut up! You don't speak about my father!
Chloe: He came to my father's house three weeks before he passed away. He brought all the real financial records with him.
Victoria: Lies! All lies! Julian, tell him she's making this up!
Julian: Arthur, I demand to see those documents right now!
Arthur: They are already being reviewed by federal prosecutors and the state attorney general.