Victoria: You think you can just march in here and disrespect me in front of my investors?
Evelyn: Investors? These people aren't investors, Victoria. They are sheep waiting to be slaughtered by your fake financial reports.
Julian: Evelyn, stop talking! You're going to get yourself arrested!
Evelyn: Shut up, Julian. You traded your dignity for a seat at her table, and look at you now. You're trembling like a child.
Evelyn touched the small cut on her cheek where Victoria's ring had clipped her moments earlier in the hallway. The sting was nothing compared to the fire burning in her chest.
Victoria: I am the CEO of Sterling Enterprises! I own this hall! I own the hotel! I own everything you see!
Evelyn: You don't even own the dress on your back.
Victoria: How dare you!
Guest 1: Is she serious? Isn't Victoria Sterling the sole heir to the Sterling estate?
Guest 2: That's what the newspapers said three years ago after the old chairman died!
Guest 3: But look at that girl in black. She speaks like she knows something we don't.
Evelyn pulled a silver USB drive from her small clutch purse and held it high above her head for the crowd to see.
Evelyn: Three years ago, my father's will was forged. I was pushed out of the board, framed for embezzlement, and left with nothing.
Victoria: You were convicted by the court!
Evelyn: I was set up by you and Julian! You paid off the auditors and bought the judge with money stolen from the corporate pension fund!
Julian's face drained of color as he gripped the edge of his table.
Julian: Evelyn... don't do this here. We can talk about this privately.
Evelyn: Privately? You took three years of my life, Julian! You threw me into a cell while you lived in my family's penthouse!
Victoria: Security! I am paying you five thousand dollars each to drag her out of this building right now!
Four tall security guards in black suits stepped forward from the back doors. They moved toward Evelyn, their heavy boots thudding against the carpeted floor.
Evelyn: Touch me and you will lose your licenses by midnight. Check the badge on my purse.
The head security guard paused, glancing down at the tiny gold crest pinned to Evelyn's purse strap. His eyes went wide with sudden fear.
Security Head: Hold on... that's the Chairman's personal seal.
Victoria: I don't care about a stupid badge! Throw her out!
Security Head: Ma'am, if she has the Chairman's seal, she has immunity under the venue charter. We can't touch her.
Evelyn: Smart man. Now step back before I fire you along with her.
Victoria's hands shook with extreme rage as she stared at the security team refusing to move.
Victoria: You're all useless! Every single one of you!
Evelyn: They aren't useless, Victoria. They just know who actually signs their paychecks.
Evelyn walked over to the grand projection screen at the front of the stage, plugging the silver USB drive directly into the master AV console.
Evelyn: Let's show everyone what the Sterling Empire is really built on, shall we?