Brandon: What was that noise?
Chloe: Probably just the catering staff being clumsy again.
Maya: That's not the catering staff, Chloe. That's my father.
Brandon: Stop lying! Your father is probably some low-level mechanic or dishwasher!
Maya slowly stood up from the cold floor, brushing off her white silk robe. She didn't look scared anymore. Her eyes were sharp, cold, and fixed entirely on Brandon.
Maya: My father built the foundation of this entire city while you were spending your allowance at private clubs, Brandon.
Chloe: Oh, please! If your father was somebody, why were you working as an entry-level assistant in our regional office last year?
Maya: Because my father wanted me to learn how businesses operate from the bottom up. He wanted me to see how people treated workers when they thought no one was watching.
Brandon: And what did you learn, Maya?
Maya: I learned that you and your bride are ruthless bullies who think money gives you the right to stomp on everyone else.
Brandon took a step toward her, his fists clenched tight at his sides.
Brandon: Watch your tone! You're standing in my venue!
Maya: Is it your venue, Brandon? Are you sure about that?
Groom's Father: Brandon, step back! Let me talk to her.
Brandon's father stood up from his front-row seat, stepping onto the marble aisle with a smug grin on his face.
Groom's Father: Young lady, I don't know who gave you permission to use the penthouse suite, but this hall is leased exclusively by my corporation for today's event.
Maya: Your lease agreement was conditional, Mr. Sterling. Page forty-two, clause nine.
Groom's Father: How do you know about clause nine?!
Maya: Clause nine states that if the management company engages in physical assault or illegal activity on the premises, the master lease is terminated instantly without notice.
Chloe laughed loudly, her tiara tilting slightly on her head.
Chloe: Listen to her trying to sound like a lawyer! You're wearing a bathrobe on my wedding day, you lunatic!
Maya: This bathrobe has the emblem of the Sterling Global Trust embroidered on the chest. Did you even bother to look at it before you kicked me?
Brandon glanced down at the gold stitching on Maya's collar. His heart dropped into his stomach.
Brandon: Wait... Sterling Global? That's the parent company that owns our master franchise!
Groom's Father: Brandon, quiet! Don't let her confuse you!
Maya: He's not confused, Mr. Sterling. He's finally realizing why my last name is Sterling, too.
Chloe's smile vanished. She looked from Maya to Brandon, her eyes wide with sudden doubt.
Chloe: Brandon... what is she talking about? Her last name is Sterling?!
Brandon: No! It's a coincidence! There are thousands of Sterlings in the country!
Maya: There's only one family that owns Sterling Global, Brandon. And my father is the chairman.
Chloe: You're lying! Chairman Harrison Sterling lives in New York! He doesn't have a daughter who walks around in a bathrobe in Chicago!
Maya: He flew in on his private jet two hours ago for my birthday, Chloe. I was getting ready upstairs when your wedding planner locked my suite door from the outside so you could take over the floor!
The entire hall went dead silent. The guests held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Brandon: That's impossible... Chairman Sterling doesn't visit regional halls without giving six months' notice!
Maya: He doesn't need to give notice to visit his own daughter, Brandon.
BANG!
The giant double doors at the back of the hall slammed open with a deafening noise, splintering against the grand marble archway.