The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the downtown law firm. Claire sat across from Mr. Harrison, dressed in a sharp black tailored suit, sipping hot coffee from a porcelain cup.
Lawyer: We received the forensic audit report on your joint bank accounts twenty minutes ago, Claire.
Claire: What did they find?
Lawyer: Daniel didn't just take out a mortgage on his mother's condo. He transferred four hundred thousand dollars directly into his mistress's account last Tuesday.
Claire: His mistress? You mean Amanda?
Lawyer: Yes. Amanda Reynolds, the senior VP of marketing at your family's firm.
Claire set her cup down slowly, her jaw clenching tightly.
Claire: So that's why she was constantly advising me to step down from the board. They were working together the whole time.
Lawyer: Exactly. They planned to file for corporate foreclosure on your family business once you signed the divorce agreement.
Claire: Where are Daniel and Evelyn staying right now?
Lawyer: A cheap motel near the airport. Their credit cards were declined at the Four Seasons last night when we froze the primary joint accounts.
Claire smiled coldly, leaning back in her leather chair.
Claire: Perfect. Have you called the emergency board meeting for two o'clock?
Lawyer: Yes. Every shareholder has confirmed attendance, including Amanda Reynolds.
Claire: She thinks she's walking into a promotion today, doesn't she?
Lawyer: She has no idea you've already seized the company proxy votes.
The office door opened, and Claire's assistant, Sarah, walked in holding a tablet.
Sarah: Claire, Daniel is downstairs in the lobby right now. He's demanding to see you.
Claire: Is security holding him?
Sarah: Yes, but he's making a massive scene in front of the press.
Claire: Send him up, Sarah.
Lawyer: Are you sure that's wise, Claire?
Claire: I want him to look me in the eye when he realizes he has nothing left.
Two minutes later, the double doors burst open. Daniel marched into the office, his suit wrinkled and his hair unkempt. Two security guards stood right behind him.
Daniel: Claire! Unfreeze my accounts right now!
Claire: You are in my law firm, Daniel. Keep your voice down.
Daniel: My mother is sitting in a motel room with no air conditioning! She doesn't even have money for lunch!
Claire: Maybe she should ask Amanda for some of that four hundred thousand dollars you gave her.
Daniel froze in his tracks, his face draining of all color.
Daniel: How... how do you know about Amanda?
Claire: I know about everything, Daniel. The gambling, the fake divorce papers, the corporate embezzlement, and your pathetic little romance.
Daniel: Claire, listen to me! Amanda manipulated me! She forced me to transfer that money!
Claire: Stop lying, Daniel. You thought you could destroy my life and walk away rich.
Daniel: Please, Claire... just give me fifty thousand dollars so I can pay my bookie! They threatened to break my legs last night!
Claire: You should have thought about your legs before you pushed me on the floor yesterday morning.
Daniel: I'm your husband!
Claire: Not anymore. Security, take him down to the street.
Daniel: Claire! No! Please! CLAIRE!
The guards grabbed Daniel by his arms, dragging him backward out of the glass office as he screamed and pleaded for mercy.