By eight o'clock the following morning, the video of Arthur Montgomery striking six-year-old Lily had gathered over forty million views across social media platforms. News anchors on every major television network broadcasted the clip on repeat, detailing the billionaire’s catastrophic fall from grace.
Inside the high-security visitation room at the D.C. Central Detention Facility, Arthur sat on a hard metal chair, his grey tuxedo replaced by a bright orange jumpsuit. His hair was messy, and dark circles hung heavy under his bloodshot eyes.
Across the thick glass partition sat his lead corporate defense attorney, Richard Vance.
Arthur: Richard! Thank God you’re here! Get me out on bail! Name whatever price the judge wants!
Richard: There is no bail option, Arthur. The magistrate judge denied your release two hours ago.
Arthur: Denied? On what grounds? It was an assault charge!
Richard: It’s not just assault anymore, Arthur. The District Attorney filed felony child abuse charges, assault with a deadly weapon, and felony hate speech based on the video recordings from the gala.
Arthur: Hate speech? I was drunk!
Richard: You screamed 'that's what happens when you raise a thief' while hitting a six-year-old girl with an iron stand. The jury is going to hate you before trial even begins.
Arthur: What about my real estate firm? Did the stock market open yet?
Richard: Montgomery Holdings stock plummeted eighty-four percent in pre-market trading. The board of directors held an emergency meeting at seven AM and voted unanimously to remove you as CEO.
Arthur: They removed me? I founded that company!
Richard: You don't own the majority shares anymore, Arthur. Nora Vance Sterling bought up thirty-five percent of your distressed debt last night through her private hedge fund.
Arthur: She... she bought my company’s debt?
Richard: She’s executing a forced foreclosure on your Virginia estate, your penthouse in Manhattan, and your private yacht in Miami as of nine o'clock this morning.
Arthur slumped back in his metal chair, his hands shaking violently as he pressed his forehead against the cool glass partition.
Arthur: She’s wiping me out... she’s taking everything I spent thirty years building...
Richard: You brought this on yourself, Arthur. You attacked the daughter of the most powerful corporate litigation attorney in the country.
Arthur: Can't we offer her a settlement? Can't we give her full voting control if she drops the criminal charges?
Richard: The criminal charges are held by the state of Virginia now, Arthur. Nora isn't interested in your money. She wants you in prison.
Arthur: How long am I looking at?
Richard: With your previous financial fraud investigations unsealed, the prosecutor is asking for twelve to fifteen years in state penitentiary.
Arthur let out a dry, hollow sob, realizing that the life of luxury, power, and privilege he had taken for granted was gone forever.