Julian: Clara... Clara Sterling? My father’s hidden daughter from London?
Clara: The primary owner of Sterling Global, Julian. The woman who holds eighty percent of the voting shares in this entire enterprise.
Victoria: No! That's impossible! Julian’s father left the company to Eleanor and Julian!
Clara: He left them ten percent non-voting shares, Victoria. Which were contingent on their good behavior toward the rest of the family.
Victoria backed away toward the marble archway, her hands trembling against her burgundy gown as she looked between Eleanor’s pale face and the official legal folder.
Victoria: Eleanor, tell him she’s lying! Tell everyone she’s a fake!
Eleanor: I... I can't, Victoria. The federal judge's seal is stamped on the primary trust deed. The notary mark is from the state supreme court.
Clara: My father sent me to London for my education while your mother tried to hide my existence from the board of directors, Julian.
Julian: Clara... I didn't know! I swear on my life, I had no idea my father had a daughter!
Clara: You didn't care to know. You saw a woman in a simple dress and decided she was beneath your respect.
Clara stepped forward, her high heels clicking firmly against the white marble floor. The surrounding billionaires and judges quickly backed away, clearing a wide path for her as she walked straight toward the head table.
Julian: Clara, please! We can go into the private study and discuss this like family!
Clara: We are not family, Julian. You stood there two minutes ago and told me to get on my knees and apologize to your mother.
Julian: I was defending my fiancée! I didn't know who you were!
Clara: Does wearing a simple dress give you the right to treat a human being like trash?
Julian lowered his head, unable to meet Clara’s cold, piercing gaze. His face burned with intense shame as two senior board members stepped out from the front row of guests.
Board Member Davis: CEO Sterling, we had no idea you were arriving tonight! Welcome back to the main estate!
Board Member Miller: We vote to back CEO Sterling’s authority completely. The board is at your service, ma'am.
Victoria thrashed her arms in desperation, pointing her finger at Board Member Miller.
Victoria: Miller! You were at my engagement dinner last week! You promised my father our families would merge!
Board Member Miller: Your engagement is built on a lie, Miss Vance. You tore the gown of the majority owner of this corporation in front of two hundred high-society guests.
Clara looked down at the torn white fabric of her dress, then turned her cold eyes toward Victoria.
Clara: Assistant Thomas, bring me the secondary legal folder from the briefcase.
Assistant: Right away, CEO Sterling.