Victoria's face turned completely white as she stepped back into the foyer, her hands shaking in panic.
Victoria: Canceled?! You can't cancel a forty-million-dollar deal over a misunderstanding!
Julian: A misunderstanding is a missed appointment, Victoria. What you did today is felony child abuse.
Victoria: My father is the primary trustee of the merger fund! If you pull out, your company will face a massive stock penalty!
Julian: I own eighty percent of Vance Enterprises, Victoria. I can afford a stock penalty. Can your father afford losing his primary investor?
Victoria swallowed hard, her confidence crumbling into sheer terror.
Victoria: Julian... please! My father's firm is struggling with a ten-million-dollar loan debt!
Julian: Then your father should have taught his daughter basic human decency.
Lily: Daddy... my head hurts...
Julian: Mary! Bring a cold pack to the living room right now!
An elderly housekeeper in a dark blue uniform rushed down the side hallway, holding a clean cloth and a glass of warm water.
Mary: Right away, Mr. Julian! Oh, poor sweet Lily... look at her face!
Victoria: Mary! Tell him! Tell him I was just trying to protect the house!
Mary: Shut your mouth, Miss Victoria! I saw you grab that glass of ice water and throw it right into this innocent child's eyes!
Victoria: You were spying on me?!
Mary: I was cleaning the dining room side table, ma'am! I saw you slap her and kick her while she was crying!
Julian: You saw her kick Lily, Mary?
Mary: Yes, Mr. Julian! The little girl was on her knees holding her bear, and Miss Victoria kicked her right in the ribs!
Julian's knuckles turned white as he clenched his right fist, his eyes burning with intense rage.
Julian: You kicked my daughter while she was on her knees?
Victoria: She was in my way! I was trying to walk toward the terrace!
Julian: She is six years old, Victoria!
Victoria: I lost my temper! Everyone loses their temper sometimes!
Julian: Normal people don't kick small children when they lose their temper. Monsters do.
Victoria backed up toward the outdoor stairs as two heavy security guards in black suits walked into the hall.
Head Guard: Mr. Vance! We heard shouting from the main foyer!
Julian: Chief, hold Miss Victoria right here in the entrance. Do not let her leave the estate grounds.
Victoria: Hold me?! You can't hold me against my will! That's kidnapping!
Head Guard: We are detaining you for law enforcement, ma'am. The police are already at the outer gates.
Victoria's jaw dropped as she looked toward the long driveway, where red and blue lights were flashing through the trees.