Clara: Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice the missing millions, Julian?
Julian: You don't know what you are talking about, Clara. My mother handles the family trust fund, not you.
Clara: The audit cleared yesterday morning. Your mother signed off on three separate offshore transfers from my late father's estate.
Julian: That estate belongs to the family business now! You signed the prenuptial agreement three weeks ago!
Clara: I signed a document drafted by your crooked family lawyer, but I never gave up my controlling interest in the tech infrastructure.
Julian grabbed Clara by the wrist, dragging her toward the dimly lit hallway behind the main banquet hall.
Julian: You are going to sit back down at the head table and smile for the press, or I will make sure you leave this town with nothing.
Clara: Let go of my arm, Julian.
Julian: My mother spent six months planning this charity gala. You will not ruin our public image because of a few financial discrepancies!
Clara: Discrepancies? She drained forty percent of the firm's cash reserves to cover your legal fees from that hit-and-run lawsuit!
Julian pulled her closer, his nails digging into her arm as she fought to pull away.
Julian: Shut your mouth! That settlement was strictly confidential!
Clara: Confidential because you bribed the chief investigator with a brand-new luxury car!
Julian pushed her violently against the decorative brick wall, the rough surface scratching her face and shoulder through her silk dress.
Julian: You need to learn your place, Clara. You were nothing until my family brought you into the boardroom!
Clara: My father built that company from a garage while your mother was spending her third divorce settlement in Paris!
Julian: Your father is dead! His shares belong to this family now, and so do you!
Clara shoved Julian back with all her strength, ripping her dress as she tore herself away from his grip.
Clara: Touch me again and see what happens to your family legacy.
Julian: Is that a threat? You have no power here. Every board member in that room owes my mother their seat!
Clara: Then let's go ask them how they feel about federal fraud charges.
She turned on her heel and marched straight toward the double doors of the brightly lit ballroom, ignoring the blood dripping from her shoulder.
Julian: Get back here!
Clara: Keep watching, Julian. The show is just getting started.
Julian rushed after her, his suit jacket open as his face flushed red with unbridled rage.
Julian: You think those people will believe a word you say over my mother?
Clara: They won't have to believe my word when the servers start dropping off the grid.
Julian: What did you do to the primary network?
Clara: Exactly what I should have done the day your mother tried to buy my silence.
Julian sprinted to cut her off near the center aisle, where dozens of wealthy guests were enjoying champagne.
Julian: Stop right there!
Clara: Move out of my way.
Julian: Don't talk to mother like that! You will apologize to her on your knees!
Clara didn't hesitate for a single second as Julian lunged toward her face.
She planted her weight on her left foot, swung her right leg up, and kicked Julian square in the chest with a terrifying amount of force.
The impact threw Julian backward straight into the towering glass pyramid of high-end champagne flutes.
The glass shattered violently, sending crystal, sparkling wine, and Julian crashing onto the marble floor in front of the entire board of directors.