Julian: You set a trap for me! You planned this whole thing before we even walked down the aisle!
Chloe: I didn't set a trap, Julian. I prayed with all my heart that you would prove your father wrong today.
Julian: Prove him wrong?! You knew about this clause and you let me flip the table!
Chloe: I gave you twenty-four hours, Julian. I stood in this dining room hoping you would sit down, hold my hand, and treat me like a human being.
Julian: I was stressed! The market opens in thirty minutes! I have a corporate merger to finalize with Vance Logistics!
Chloe: The merger with Vance Logistics was canceled ten minutes ago, Julian.
Julian stumbled backward, his back hitting the wall right beneath the mounted American flag[cite: 1].
Julian: Canceled?! You don't have the authority to cancel a international corporate merger!
Chloe: As sixty-percent shareholder of Sterling Global, I have absolute authority over every board decision.
Chloe opened the blue legal folder, holding up a white document stamped with a live gold state notary seal[cite: 1].
Chloe: Look at the signature at the bottom, Julian. Read the name of the primary CEO.
Julian took three hesitant steps toward her, his eyes scanning the red-stamped text at the top of the official court paper[cite: 1]. His eyes widened as his hands flew up to cover his face[cite: 1].
Julian: "Chloe Vance Sterling... Primary Trustee and Executive Chairwoman..."
Chloe: Your father knew you were embezzling money from the employee pension fund, Julian.
Julian: That... that was a temporary reallocation! I was going to replace those funds after the New York project cleared!
Chloe: You took twelve million dollars from middle-class workers to pay off your personal gambling debts in Europe!
Julian: How do you know about Europe?! Who told you about Nassau?!
Chloe: Your father hired forensic accountants six months ago, Julian. He spent his final weeks making sure you could never destroy this family's legacy.
The heavy oak double doors of the dining room chimed as Chief Security Officer Vance stepped through, flanked by four tall guards in black suits[cite: 1].
Officer Vance: Good morning, CEO Sterling. Is everything in order?
Chloe: Good morning, Vance. Mr. Sterling just had an emotional episode and broke the estate glassware.
Julian: Vance! You worked for my father for twenty years! Tell this woman to put her hands down!
Officer Vance: My duty is to the primary executive trustee, Mr. Julian. And as of eight o'clock this morning, that is Mrs. Chloe Sterling.
Julian let out a dry, hysterical laugh, pulling at his navy suit collar as sweat broke out across his forehead[cite: 1].
Julian: This is a nightmare... I am dreaming... This can't be happening to me on my wedding day!
Chloe: The nightmare is over for the workers you stole from, Julian. But for you, it is just beginning.