Liam: You bought Uncle Charles's shares? With what money?
Victoria: With the liquid capital resting inside the corporate reserve accounts, of course.
Liam: Those reserve accounts are tied directly to the employees' pension fund!
Victoria: Money is money, Liam. It shifts where it is needed most. And right now, it is needed to consolidate my power.
Maya stepped up beside Liam, her hand trembling as she rested it on his blue blazer sleeve.
Maya: Liam, there are two private security guards standing outside the front gates. They wouldn't let me walk past the driveway yesterday.
Liam: They work for Sterling Security. I hired those men personally three years ago.
Victoria: And I doubled their hourly rate this morning. Guess whose orders they follow now?
Liam: Let's test that theory right now.
Liam held Leo closely with one arm and pulled his phone out with his free hand, pressing speed dial for the head of security.
Liam: Marcus, this is Liam. I need you inside the main kitchen immediately.
Marcus: Mr. Sterling? Sir, Mrs. Sterling told us you were relieved of your executive duties by court order.
Liam: Marcus, you've known me since I was sixteen years old. Do you honestly believe a court order was issued without my knowledge?
Marcus: Sir... she showed us a stamped document from the county clerk.
Liam: Get inside this house right now and bring the gate key logs with you.
Victoria stood up from the marble table, her beige blouse swishing as she smoothed her skirt with perfectly manicured nails.
Victoria: Marcus, if you step into this kitchen, your security contract is terminated instantly!
Liam: Don't listen to her, Marcus. Step inside.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the marble hallway, and Marcus stepped through the archway wearing his black tactical uniform, looking visibly stressed.
Marcus: Mr. Sterling. It's good to see you back, sir.
Liam: Marcus, did you witness my wife being restricted from leaving the estate grounds over the past forty-eight hours?
Marcus: Sir... Mrs. Sterling told us Mrs. Maya was experiencing postpartum mental distress and needed to stay resting inside for her safety.
Maya: That's a complete lie! I begged you to let me call my mother!
Marcus: Mrs. Maya, I... I was told by Mrs. Victoria that your phone was confiscated under medical supervision.
Liam: Medical supervision?! Is there a licensed doctor on this property, Victoria?
Victoria: I am acting as her legal guardian under the temporary emergency conservatorship papers!
Liam: Conservatorship?! She is my wife! You cannot file a conservatorship over a sound adult woman without a full psychological evaluation signed by two court-appointed doctors!
Victoria: Doctor Harrison signed the papers yesterday afternoon over tea in the parlor.
Liam: Doctor Harrison is your personal cosmetic surgeon!