The screen behind Chloe shifted to display a detailed breakdown of bank accounts, offshore corporations, and wire transfers dated over the past six months.
Richard Vance: If anyone on the board has doubts about Chloe's leadership, let these documents speak for themselves.
Mr. Harrison: As you can see on screen, over the last ninety days, Victoria Vance transferred one point two million dollars from our primary operational fund to a bank account in the Cayman Islands.
The board members stood up from their seats, leaning closer to examine the screen with outraged expressions.
Board Member 1: One point two million from operations?! That was our employee health fund!
Board Member 2: She was stealing from the workers while Richard was in hospice care!
Chloe: She thought no one was checking the ledger because my father was too ill to sign checks. But my father gave me full power of attorney three weeks ago.
Mr. Harrison: Chloe worked with our forensic accounting team every night after visiting her father. She tracked down every single transfer Victoria made.
Outside the hall, the loud wail of police sirens began to echo in the distance, growing closer by the second.
Victoria's face turned completely ghostly white as two black police cruisers turned into the long driveway of the funeral home, their light bars flashing red and blue against the glass facade.
Victoria: No... no, this can't be happening!
She turned to run toward her luxury sports car parked in the VIP spot, but two state troopers stepped out of the first vehicle, cutting off her path.
State Trooper 1: Victoria Vance?
Victoria: Get out of my way! I have a medical emergency!
State Trooper 1: You are under arrest for grand larceny, wire fraud, and falsification of corporate records.
Victoria: I didn't steal anything! That was my husband's money!
State Trooper 2: Turn around and place your hands behind your back, ma'am.
The trooper pulled Victoria's arms behind her back, snapping heavy silver handcuffs around her wrists before she could resist.
Victoria: Chloe! Chloe, tell them to stop! You can't let them do this to your stepmother!
The glass doors opened, and Chloe walked out onto the steps, flanked by Mr. Harrison and the security team. She looked down at Victoria with cold, unyielding eyes.
Chloe: You aren't my stepmother, Victoria. You are just a thief who got caught.
Victoria: I gave three years of my life to your father!
Chloe: You gave three years to his bank account. And now you're going to give the next ten years to the state prison system.
State Trooper 1: Watch your head, ma'am.
The trooper pushed Victoria into the back seat of the police cruiser, slamming the door shut with a heavy thud that resonated across the sunlit parking lot.
The crowd inside the funeral home broke into loud applause as the police car pulled away down the driveway, carrying Victoria away in handcuffs.
Chloe turned back toward the entrance, taking a deep breath of fresh air as the afternoon sun warmed her face.
Mr. Harrison: You handled that with incredible courage, Chloe. Your father would be so proud of you.
Chloe: My father did all the hard work, Mr. Harrison. I just finished what he started.
Mr. Harrison: The board is waiting inside for your first official statement as corporate chairman.
Chloe: Let's go give them one.