Tiffany: Victoria... Miss Sterling! I... I didn't know it was you!
Victoria: If I were a real security guard, would that have made it okay for you to slap me?
Tiffany: No! Of course not! It was a mistake! I was stressed about the wedding setup!
Victoria: You thought you were above the law because you wore an expensive gown and put a ring on my brother's finger.
Tiffany: Julian! Tell her! Tell her I didn't mean it!
Julian: I told you to stop, Tiffany! I told you three times to leave her alone!
Victoria: Get up off my floor, Tiffany. You are making a mess of my checkers.
Tiffany scrambled to her feet, her hands shaking so hard she could barely smooth down her burgundy gown. She looked around the ballroom, looking for help from the guests she had been boasting to earlier.
The city council members turned their backs. The judges looked away. The corporate directors stepped back, leaving Tiffany completely isolated in the middle of the room.
An older man in a charcoal suit walked out from the crowd holding a thick leather briefcase. It was Marcus Vance, the chief legal counsel for Sterling Enterprises.
Marcus: Good evening, CEO Sterling. I have the updated estate documents you requested.
Victoria: Thank you, Marcus. Is my brother's prenuptial agreement attached?
Marcus: Yes, ma'am. Right on top.
Tiffany: What prenuptial agreement? Julian promised we didn't need one!
Victoria: Julian doesn't own this estate, Tiffany. He owns ten percent of non-voting shares. Every asset in this family is controlled by the master trust fund that I oversee.
Tiffany: Julian, do something! You promised me half the West Wing penthouse!
Julian: I can't do anything, Tiffany! Victoria controls the entire real estate division!
Victoria: Marcus, read clause seven of the family trust agreement aloud for our guest.
Marcus opened his leather folder, pulling out a crisp white document stamped with a gold state seal.
Marcus: Clause seven: Any prospective spouse who engages in physical assault, verbal abuse of staff, or gross misconduct on Sterling property forfeits all rights to family allowance, residence, and marriage trust settlements permanently.
Tiffany: That's not fair! That's a trap!
Victoria: It's not a trap, Tiffany. It's a morality filter. And you failed it within twenty minutes of entering my house.
Tiffany backed away, her high heels clicking nervously against the marble. She clutched her red gown, her chest heaving as tears of embarrassment finally began to run down her face.