Daniel: Clara, what are you talking about? What assets?
Clara: Standing right there hugging your ex-girlfriend while I sit in broken glass was a big mistake, Daniel.
Daniel: She was startled by the noise! I was just being a gentleman!
Samantha: Yes, Clara! Don't be so dramatic! He was just trying to protect me!
Clara: Protect you from what, Samantha? A drop of champagne on your designer shoes?
Clara stood up slowly, her long white lace train dragging behind her on the wet floor. She didn't flinch even as a small piece of glass cut into her shoe.
Daniel: Look, let's just clean this mess up and get back to the ceremony. Everyone is watching us.
Clara: There is no ceremony, Daniel. There is no marriage, and there is no deal.
Daniel: No deal? Clara, don't do this. My father's firm needs that emergency funding today!
Arthur: The emergency transfer of fifty million dollars has already been canceled, Daniel.
Arthur stepped right next to Clara, his tall presence filling the room as the head of the powerful Sterling Financial Group.
Daniel: Mr. Sterling! Please, wait! You signed the contract yesterday morning!
Arthur: The contract had a morality and family clause, young man. You just violated it in front of three hundred witnesses.
Samantha: Mr. Sterling, please don't let a small misunderstanding ruin a business partnership!
Clara: Misunderstanding? Samantha, you pushed me into that champagne tower on purpose.
The crowd gasped again as several women stepped back from Samantha in disgust.
Samantha: That is a complete lie! I was nowhere near you!
Clara: I have the entire ballroom live-streamed on security video, Samantha. My father owns this hotel.
Daniel’s jaw dropped as he stared at Samantha, his hands trembling violently at his sides.
Daniel: Samantha... did you push her?
Samantha: Daniel, no! She's making up stories because she's jealous that you still care about me!
Clara: I am not jealous, Samantha. I am disgusted. And now, both of you are going to pay for every single dollar you stole from my father's firm.
Daniel: Stole?! We didn't steal anything from you!
Arthur: My corporate auditors found thirty illegal wire transfers from our joint account into Samantha's private offshore account last night, Daniel.
Daniel froze in place, his face turning completely pale as he turned to look at Samantha with wide, terrified eyes.
Daniel: What... what wire transfers...?
Samantha: Daniel, don't listen to him! He's trying to scare you!
Arthur: Federal agents are waiting outside the grand ballroom right now, Daniel. Your father is already being questioned at the main precinct.
Daniel: No... no, this can't be happening! Today was supposed to save my family estate!
Clara: Today was supposed to be my wedding day, Daniel. But you proved where your true loyalty lies.
Clara reached up to her hair, pulling the long silk veil off her head and dropping it directly into the pool of champagne and broken glass at her feet.