Margaret: Marcus promised me those offshore accounts were untraceable!
Detective Vance: Your financial manager chose a plea bargain over twenty years in federal prison, Mrs. Sterling. Handcuff her, officers.
The second officer stepped behind Margaret, pulling her arms behind her dark navy gown[cite: 1]. The steel cuffs snapped tightly around her wrists, rumpling her expensive designer dress[cite: 1].
Margaret: Get your filthy hands off my dress! Julian! Do something! Call our corporate lawyers!
Julian: Our corporate lawyers resigned twenty minutes ago, Mother! Look at the news feed on the wall screen!
Julian pointed a trembling, blood-stained finger toward the massive digital presentation screen mounted above the US flag[cite: 1]. The screen had switched from the gala presentation to a breaking news broadcast from downtown Chicago[cite: 1].
A sharp news anchor's voice echoed through the high-ceilinged ballroom speaker system[cite: 1].
"Breaking News: Federal agents have seized the headquarters of Sterling Global Logistics following allegations of massive trust fund embezzlement, forged adoption deeds, and felony child endangerment. CEO Julian Sterling and matriarch Margaret Sterling have been taken into custody."
High society guests broke into furious shouting, turning their backs on Margaret and Julian, pulling out their phones to sell their company shares before the market closed[cite: 1].
Board Member Miller: Disgraceful... absolute criminal behavior!
Board Member Davis: We vote to execute the emergency removal of Julian Sterling from the board effective immediately!
Julian: You can't remove me! I own thirty percent of the voting stock!
Clara: You owned those shares under the assumption that there was no primary heir, Julian. Under Clause Fourteen of the Sterling Master Trust, all voting stock transfers automatically to my son upon verified DNA identification.
Detective Vance: Which means Clara holds one hundred percent of corporate voting proxy starting right now.
Julian thrashed thrtough the broken glass as the officers guided him toward the grand double doors of the main entrance[cite: 1]. His bleeding forehead dripped onto his grey suit jacket, his face full of complete, utter despair[cite: 1].
Julian: Clara! Please! Think about our son! Don't ruin his father's life!
Clara: You ruined your own life the second you shoved a mother and her newborn baby onto a marble floor, Julian[cite: 1].