The grand living room of the Sterling mansion was lit by the soft glow of the fireplace. Mr. Henderson, the older butler, stood near the entrance holding a silver tray with hot tea. Sitting on the leather sofa was Arthur Vance, Victoria's corporate bankruptcy attorney, holding his red briefcase tightly on his lap.
Victoria walked down the grand staircase in a fresh white silk robe, her disheveled hair combed back, her red cheek still showing a faint mark from Marcus's slap.
Victoria: Vance! Thank goodness you arrived quickly! Did you bring the revised power of attorney documents?
Vance: I brought them, Victoria. But why did you call me at eight o'clock at night? Where is Mr. Marcus Sterling?
Victoria: Marcus had an emotional outburst upstairs! His daughter is making up wild stories about me pouring wine on her!
Vance: Victoria, we discussed this yesterday. If Marcus finds out about the forged power of attorney stamp, we both face state prison time!
Victoria: Marcus doesn't know anything! He's too busy comforting his pathetic daughter!
Marcus: Is that so, Victoria?
Marcus stepped out from the hallway archway, dressed in a clean black suit, his face completely cold and emotionless. Behind him walked Maya, wearing a cozy grey sweater and jeans, holding the small silver flash drive in her hand.
Victoria: Marcus! What are you doing down here with her?
Vance: Good evening, Mr. Sterling. I was just arriving to discuss the family estate tax structure—
Marcus: Save your lies, Vance. I know exactly why you're in my house tonight.
Vance: Sir, I assure you, my legal services are completely above board!
Marcus: Your legal services involve helping my fiancée forge my digital signature on Maya's inheritance trust fund!
Vance's face turned deathly pale. He stood up from the sofa, holding his red briefcase like a shield in front of his chest.
Vance: Mr. Sterling, Victoria assured me that you gave verbal authorization for those documents while you were in London!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, Vance! Don't say another word!
Maya: He gave no authorization, lawyer Vance! Look at what Victoria did to me thirty minutes ago in the hallway!
Maya stepped forward and pointed toward the wide fifty-inch television screen mounted above the living room fireplace.
Victoria: What is she talking about? Marcus, tell her to leave the room right now!
Marcus: Mr. Henderson, turn on the television screen and connect the master security feed.
Henderson: Right away, Mr. Sterling.
Mr. Henderson pulled a remote control from his pocket and pressed the power button. The wide television screen flickered, displaying the crystal-clear security camera video of the second-floor corridor.
On the screen, Victoria's gold sequined dress sparkled under the hall lights as she held the glass of red wine directly over Maya's head, pouring it down her hair with a cruel smile.
Vance: Good God... Victoria, you told me the girl tripped!
Victoria: That... that video is fake! It's a digital manipulation!
Marcus: It's a live security feed recorded directly to my encrypted cloud server, Victoria! Look at the timestamp on the bottom corner!
The audio from the video echoed through the living room speakers, capturing Victoria's harsh voice loud and clear.
Victoria's Voice: "You really thought your father left you this mansion, didn't you? You're a stain on this estate, just like this wine!"
Victoria stumbled backward against the arm of the sofa, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she watched herself on the screen lying to Marcus when he opened the hallway doors.
Victoria's Voice: "Honey! She spilled it on herself! I was just trying to help her clean it up!"
Vance: I am removing myself as your legal counsel immediately, Victoria! This is assault and evidence tampering!
Victoria: Vance, you coward! You took fifty thousand dollars from my private account yesterday!
Vance: That was a legal retainer for estate planning!
Marcus: Both of you are going to answer to the district attorney tonight. The police are pulling up the front driveway right now.