Sarah tapped the glass screen of her tablet, turning it directly toward Laurent and Claire.
On the clear, high-definition screen, a video played showing Laurent standing near his own designer coat rack in the empty side room.
The video clearly captured Laurent taking the silver and diamond watch off his wrist, wrapping it in a silk handkerchief, and slipping it straight into his own inner suit jacket pocket before calling Sophie into the room.
Claire: Look at that, Laurent. You slipped the watch into your own jacket pocket, then called an eight-year-old girl in so you could accuse her of stealing it.
Sophie: Look, Mommy! He put it in his own coat!
Claire: I see it, sweetie. Everyone sees it now.
Laurent stared at the tablet screen, his breath catching in his throat as his face turned pale with embarrassment and shock.
Laurent: This... this video is an edit! It's a deepfake created to destroy my reputation before the board meeting!
Claire: It's the live security feed from the building's main server, Laurent. Stamped with time codes and digital signatures.
Laurent: Sarah, delete that file right now! I will fire you on the spot!
Sarah: You don't have the authority to fire security personnel, Mr. Vance. Only the board president can do that.
Claire: And since you struck my daughter in front of three security cameras, you are no longer eligible to hold any executive position in this company.
Laurent: You can't remove me! My father's will strictly states that a family member must lead the board!
Claire: A family member who hasn't been convicted of felony child abuse and grand larceny, Laurent.
Laurent: Child abuse?! I barely touched her!
Claire: You slapped an eight-year-old child so hard she fell onto a marble floor, leaving a visible handprint on her cheek!
Sophie: It hurt so bad, Uncle Laurent! Why did you do that to me?!
Laurent: Shut up, you little brat!
Claire: DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT!
Claire stepped directly into Laurent's personal space, her green silk dress swishing against the floor as her eyes burned with pure fury.
Claire: You wanted to frame a child so you could steal her late father's estate. You are a miserable, pathetic parasite.
Laurent: I built this company alongside Thomas for fifteen years!
Claire: Thomas built this company while you spent millions on luxury sports cars, private jets, and failed investments in Europe!
Laurent: I deserve my share of the family fortune!
Claire: You got your share years ago, and you gambled it away. Now you're trying to take what belongs to an orphan.