Victor: You really think you can survive in this town without my corporate backing, Sarah?
Victor stood outside the threshold of the open penthouse door, adjusting his tailored suit jacket with shaking hands.
Sarah: I managed this estate long before I ever met you, Victor.
Victor: Your father's estate was crumbling until my investment firm stepped in!
Sarah: Your investment firm sucked three million dollars out of my family's trust account last month!
Sarah stepped closer to the doorway, her voice cold and steady.
Sarah: Did you really think I wouldn't notice the wire transfers to your shell company in the Cayman Islands?
Victor: That was a temporary loan for the merger!
Sarah: It was unauthorized embezzlement, and my divorce lawyer already has the bank receipts.
Victor's face turned pale under the hallway lights.
Victor: Divorce lawyer? You brought a lawyer into our family business?
Sarah: You stopped being family the moment you tried to force me to sign away my father's shares.
Victor: I am the CEO of Sterling Holdings! I run this empire!
Sarah: You are an employee appointed by the board, Victor. An employee who is about to be terminated.
Victor: The board answers to me! My father controls thirty percent of the voting stock!
Sarah: And my family controls fifty-five percent. Do the math.
Victor stepped back into the doorway, his eyes narrowing into slit-like glares.
Victor: Your father is in a coma in the hospital, Sarah. He can't sign anything.
Sarah: He gave me full power of attorney three years ago, before his stroke.
Victor: That power of attorney isn't worth the paper it's printed on! My legal team will challenge it in court tomorrow morning!
Sarah: Try it. See how fast the judge freezes your personal bank accounts.
Victor: You little snake... you've been planning this behind my back!
Sarah: I was protecting my father's life work from a greedy fortune hunter.
Sarah reached out and grabbed the edge of the heavy oak door.
Sarah: Now take your cheap threats and get out of my building.
Victor: This isn't over, Sarah! You won't last a week in the boardroom alone!
Sarah: I won't be alone, Victor. The police will be waiting for you downstairs.
Sarah slammed the door shut, locking the brass deadbolt with a sharp metallic click that echoed through the quiet penthouse.