David: Why do you hate her so much, Evelyn? What did Clara ever do to you?
Evelyn: She reminds me of people who don't know their place in this world.
David: Her place? She's a single mother trying to feed her child! She worked two jobs before I brought her onto the house staff!
Evelyn: She's a nobody from East Dallas! And you treat her like she's a member of this family!
David: She has more dignity in her little finger than you have in your entire body, Evelyn.
Evelyn: Keep insulting me, David. See how far it gets you when the court reviews the maintenance records for this mansion.
David: What maintenance records are you talking about?
Evelyn: I've been signing the operational checks for this property out of my personal account for five months!
David: Out of your personal account? Or out of the estate allowance my father set aside for property taxes?
Evelyn crossed her arms tightly, turning her head toward the pink party balloons floating in the dining room.
Evelyn: It was my money! The allowance was granted to me as the surviving spouse!
David: That allowance was strictly designated for estate upkeep, Evelyn. If you used it for personal luxury expenses, that's embezzlement from the primary trust.
Evelyn: I didn't embezzle anything! Ask Arthur Vance when he gets here!
David: Oh, I will ask Arthur. In fact, I asked him to run a full forensic audit on the house accounts three days ago.
Evelyn turned pale, her fingers clutching the edge of the marble counter.
Evelyn: You had no right to audit my accounts!
David: As co-trustee of the Sterling estate, I have every legal right in the world.
Clara walked back into the bright kitchen, her steps quiet as she looked between David and Evelyn.
Clara: The baby is sleeping peacefully on the sofa, Mr. David. Thank you...
David: Come sit down at the island, Clara. You look pale.
Evelyn: She will not sit at my dining island!
David: Sit down, Clara. Don't listen to her.
Clara hesitated before pulling out a high-backed leather stool and sitting down, resting her tired hands on the cool marble counter.
Clara: Mr. David... I overheard what you said about the audit. Is everything alright with the estate?
David: Everything is fine, Clara. The truth is just finally catching up with people who thought they were above the law.
Evelyn: You insolent little rat! You were eavesdropping on our private conversation!
Clara: I wasn't eavesdropping, Mrs. Evelyn! The hallway echoes right into the library!
Evelyn: I knew hiring you was a mistake! You're nothing but a spy sent by my stepson!
David: Clara didn't spy on anyone, Evelyn. She was just doing her job while you sat there belittling her!
Evelyn: I want her out of this house right now, David! I am calling private security to escort her off the property!
David: Go ahead and call them, Evelyn. Let's see whose name is on the security contract.
Before Evelyn could pull her smartphone from her designer purse, heavy footsteps echoed from the front foyer.
Arthur Vance, a tall attorney in a dark charcoal suit, walked into the kitchen carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Arthur: Good morning, everyone. I see the atmosphere in here is as charming as always.
Evelyn: Arthur! Thank goodness you're here! Tell my stepson to stop harassing me in my own kitchen!
Arthur: I'm afraid I have some urgent legal updates regarding your standing in this house, Evelyn.