The quiet background music continued to play as guests talked about mortgage rates and real estate.
Julian guided Lily toward a soft velvet sofa near the main entrance of the grand ballroom.
Julian: Stay here for just a minute while I speak with your uncle.
Lily: Please do not get mad at him, Uncle Julian.
Julian: I am just going to ask him a few simple legal questions.
Julian adjusted his dark grey suit coat as he walked back toward the main display stage.
Marcus was showing a slide show of new corporate offices bought with the company's capital.
Victoria, his glamorous fiancee, stood beside him while sipping high-end champagne from a crystal glass.
Julian stepped right in front of the microphone before Marcus could start his main speech.
Julian: You need to tell everyone the truth about the estate fund tonight.
Marcus: Lower your voice, Julian, before I have security throw you outside.
Julian: The probate court never authorized those huge cash withdrawals you made last week.
Marcus: That money was used to cover the maintenance costs on the family mansion.
Several nearby guests stopped their conversations and turned around to watch the unexpected brotherly argument.
Victoria quickly stepped forward with a tight nervous smile plastered on her painted face.
Victoria: Julian, this is hardly the proper venue for private family business discussions.
Julian: Private business? Marcus is draining his own niece's trust fund to buy yachts!
A collective gasp whispered through the crowd of wealthy donors and local business leaders.
Marcus took a menacing step toward Julian with his teeth clenched in sudden dark fury.
Marcus: You are making false legal accusations in front of my primary investors!
Julian: Then prove me wrong by showing us the signed authorization from the court!
Marcus grabbed Julian by the lapels of his grey jacket in a sudden rush of anger.
Julian stood his ground firmly without backing down from his aggressive older brother's glare.
He refused to let Marcus intimidate him the way he had done for several years past.
Marcus: You have ruined your last family dinner, you ungrateful little brother!
Julian: The law is coming for you, Marcus, no matter what you do tonight.
Lily watched the sharp argument from her sofa with tears running down her red cheeks.
She clutched her small teddy bear against her chest while trembling from the loud noise.
Julian saw her distress and immediately pushed Marcus away to break his tight aggressive hold.
He turned his back on his brother to hurry over toward his frightened little niece.
Marcus stumbled slightly on the slick marble floor as the crowd stared at him in shock.
The air in the grand ballroom was heavy with thick tension as everyone waited to see what happened next.