The clear, firm voice of Arthur Vance boomed instantly through the phone's speaker.
Arthur: Sweetheart, tell me where you are right now!
Sarah: I am at Julian's estate, and I want everything wiped out immediately!
Julian stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in complete shock and confusion.
The leather belt slipped from his hand and fell onto the red carpet.
Julian: Who is that? Who are you talking to on that phone?
Sarah: Someone who can erase your entire family business in five minutes.
Victoria stopped laughing instantly, her face turning pale as she set down her glass.
She gasped loudly as a heavy, tense atmosphere filled the sunlit living room.
Victoria: Julian, what is she doing? Who is on that line?
Julian: Stop playing games, Sarah! You don't have anyone powerful behind you!
Sarah: My father is Arthur Vance, you arrogant fool.
Julian felt a sudden rush of icy horror wash completely over his body.
Every business deal his firm managed was tied directly to Arthur Vance's subsidiaries.
If Arthur Vance pulled out his funding, Julian's company would go bankrupt immediately.
His phone in his suit pocket suddenly began vibrating uncontrollably with incoming calls.
He pulled it out with trembling fingers and looked at the flashing red screen.
His chief financial officer was calling him frantically from the corporate office downtown.
Julian answered the phone with a shaking hand, holding it to his ear.
CFO: Julian! All our bank accounts just got frozen by federal auditors!
Julian: What are you talking about? That makes no sense at all!
CFO: Our primary investor pulled out every dollar! We are completely ruined!
Julian dropped his smartphone onto the carpet beside the discarded leather belt.
He stumbled back against the grand wooden piano, trembling in absolute terror.