David carried Leo down the wide stairs and set him on a soft sofa.
He picked up his heavy leather briefcase from the marble floor near the door.
Victoria stood on the lower step of the grand stairs like a queen.
Her face looked full of anger and her eyes were dark with fury.
David: I visited our family estate lawyer early this morning for a meeting.
Victoria: What lawyer did you see without telling me about it first?
David: The lawyer who manages my late wife's entire million dollar trust fund.
Victoria came down the last step and walked directly toward his space.
Victoria: That trust fund belongs to the family once we are married!
David: That trust fund belongs strictly to Leo until he turns twenty-one.
David unlocked the metal clasps on his dark briefcase with a loud click.
He pulled out a stack of white paper with blue legal stamps on top.
David: You tried to change the beneficiary names on these bank forms last week.
Victoria snapped her head back and tried to snatch the papers away instantly.
Victoria: That signature on the paper was completely authorized by your own office!
David: It was a clumsy fake signature created by your brother's lawyer friend.
Victoria stepped back toward the center of the high marble room silently.
She tried to maintain her calm mask, but her hands began to shake.
David: You knew if Leo was declared neglected, you could claim full legal guardianship.
Victoria: That is a ridiculous lie meant to ruin my legal reputation!
David: I checked the security cameras mounted outside near the upper balcony railing.
Victoria froze in place and her pale face turned completely ghost white.
She looked up at the corner of the high ceiling near the chandelier.
A small red camera light blinked silently near the smooth crown molding.
David: The camera caught you throwing his favorite blanket over the balcony edge.
Victoria: I was just dusting off the dirty cloth over the edge!
David: You were testing if anyone downstairs would notice something heavy falling down.
Victoria's voice turned harsh and loud as she lost her cold composure.
Victoria: You think you are so smart with your hidden security cameras, David!
David: I protect my son from anyone who tries to hurt his future.
Victoria: I deserve half of everything in this massive house right now!
David: You will not get a single dime from my family estate today.
He placed the legal papers back inside his dark briefcase and locked it shut.
Victoria stepped closer to him with her teeth clenched tight in rage.
Victoria: I will take this case straight to a high court judge tomorrow morning!