The next morning, the bright daylight shone through the tinted glass windows of the Vance Global corporate boardroom on the top floor of the downtown skyscraper.
Twelve wealthy board members in expensive suits sat around the long mahogany table, whispering nervously among themselves.
At the far end of the table sat Victoria's father, Richard Vance, his face red with anger as he slammed his pen against his notebook.
Richard: This is an outrage! Julian had my daughter thrown off the family estate by armed guards yesterday!
Board Member 1: Is that true, Richard? Why would Julian do such a thing?
Richard: Because he has lost his mind! He's letting domestic servants run wild in the mansion!
Board Member 2: Victoria was hysterically crying all night, claiming a maid attacked her!
Richard: Exactly! And I demand that Julian be stripped of his chief executive title today for bringing public disgrace to our family name!
The heavy double doors of the boardroom suddenly swung open.
Julian walked into the room, wearing a sharp navy suit, holding the hand of a radiant young woman in an elegant emerald silk dress.
A small white bandage was neatly placed over her forehead, but her posture was tall, proud, and dignified.
Julian: Good morning, gentlemen.
Richard: Julian! How dare you bring a maid into a corporate board meeting?! Have you lost all sense of propriety?!
Julian: Watch your tone, Richard. You are speaking to the majority owner of this corporation.
Richard: What nonsense are you talking about?! You own forty-eight percent, and the family trust owns the rest!
Julian pulled a thick legal folder from his leather portfolio and tossed it squarely onto the center of the mahogany table.
Julian: Read pages three and four, Richard. Yesterday morning, I transferred my personal shares into my wife's private trust fund.
A collective gasp echoed through the boardroom as the executives leaned forward in shock.
Richard: Your... your wife?! You didn't marry this street beggar!
Julian: Her name is Maya Vance. She is a college graduate with a degree in finance who took a temporary job in my estate while taking care of her sick mother.
Maya: And yesterday, your daughter assaulted me, cut my face, and attempted to shear my hair off because she thought I was powerless.
Richard: You... you are lying! Victoria would never do that!
Julian: We have 4K security camera footage from the mansion foyer, Richard. Would you like me to project it onto the wall screen for the entire board to watch?