The bright morning sun shone across the glass facade of Sterling Global Enterprises. Dozens of news camera crews and journalists were packed around the grand front entrance, their microphones ready as black police cruisers pulled up to the curb.
Inside the top-floor executive suite, Marcus stood behind the massive oak desk, frantically stuffing stacks of bearer bonds and passport documents into a leather briefcase.
Marcus: Come on, come on! Why won't the safe open?!
Secretary: Mr. Vance, the police are in the lobby! They have a federal warrant!
Marcus: Lock the elevator doors, you idiot! Tell them I'm not here!
Secretary: I can't lock the doors! The master security system has overridden all executive security codes!
The heavy double doors of the office swung wide open. Victoria walked in, flanked by two armed federal marshals and her lead corporate attorney, David Vance, who had officially switched sides the previous night.
Victoria: Put the briefcase down, Marcus.
Marcus: You... you traitorous snake! You set me up!
Victoria: You set yourself up, Marcus, the moment you put your hands on my shoulder last night and thought I would stay silent like my father did.
Federal Marshal: Marcus Vance, you are under arrest for grand larceny, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Step away from the desk and put your hands behind your back.
Marcus: Get your hands off me! Do you know who my father was?!
Federal Marshal: Your father isn't here, Mr. Vance. Turn around. Now.
The metallic click of handcuffs echoed through the silent office as Marcus's arms were pinned tightly behind his back. His face was pale, his eyes wide with utter shock and disbelief.
Marcus: Victoria, please! We were engaged once! You loved me!
Victoria: I loved the fake man you pretended to be before I found my father's hidden diary, Marcus. I know you helped Eleanor hide his medical records when he was sick.
Marcus: That wasn't me! That was my mother! She forced me to do it!
Victoria: Save it for the judge, Marcus. You're going to have a very long time in state prison to think about your mother.
The marshals dragged Marcus toward the private elevator, his expensive shoes dragging uselessly against the plush carpet as he shouted for mercy.
Victoria walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the bustling city streets below. The nightmare that had ruled her life for three long years was finally over.
David: What are your orders for the board meeting at noon, Miss Sterling?
Victoria: Cancel the liquidation sales, restore all employee pension funds, and release the full audit to the press.
David: Understood. And what about Eleanor Vance?
Victoria: The bank repossessed her jewelry collection two hours ago. Let her live in her cheap motel. The truth is a far worse punishment for her than any prison cell.