As they reached the top of the basement stairs, soft music played upstairs.
Claire had turned the main living hall into her personal office space.
Crystal glasses clinked softly from the dining table near the fireplace.
Julian walked down the polished hallway with firm and heavy steps.
Sarah walked proudly beside him with her head held high.
Lily held her father's hand tightly as they approached the doorway.
Claire sat at the head of the oak table with a glass of wine.
A man in a navy suit sat across from her with legal stamp pads.
Claire: Make sure the wire transfer goes directly to the offshore account.
Lawyer: The bank requires one final signature confirmation from the trustee.
Claire lifted a golden pen to sign the top paper on the desk.
Julian pushed the high double doors open with a sharp wooden sound.
The heavy doors swung wide and struck the side walls with force.
Claire dropped her golden pen onto the dark wood of the table.
Her face lost all color as she saw Julian standing in the doorway.
Claire: Julian... you were not supposed to be home until late Friday.
Julian walked into the room without taking his eyes off his sister-in-law.
Julian: My business in London ended earlier than you anticipated, Claire.
The lawyer quickly gathered his folders and stood up from his chair.
Lawyer: Mr. Sterling, we were told you had authorized these transfers.
Julian: Step away from that table if you value your law license, sir.
The lawyer took two steps backward and raised his open hands high.
Claire stood up slowly and tried to regain her calm demeanor.
Claire: This is all a huge misunderstanding about estate maintenance, Julian.
Sarah: Locking me in a damp basement room is not estate maintenance, Claire.
Claire looked at Sarah with a flash of anger in her eyes.
Claire: You were supposed to stay downstairs until the paperwork was cleared.
Julian: You put a padlock on my basement door to steal my family's trust.
Claire pressed her hands against the smooth surface of the oak table.
Claire: Our father built this company, and you gave her everything.
Julian: Sarah is my wife and the legal co-owner of this estate.
Claire: She knows nothing about running a billion-dollar holding firm.
Sarah: I know enough to recognize theft when I see it on paper.
Julian tossed the black briefcase onto the center of the oak table.
The papers slid across the polished wood and stopped near Claire's glass.