Victoria: What are you saying, Eleanor?
Eleanor: I am saying that the Vance Estate is pulling every dollar of emergency funding from your firm as of this exact second.
Victoria: You can't do that! We have a signed agreement!
Eleanor: A conditional agreement, Victoria. Subject to a morality and executive conduct clause.
Victoria: A morality clause over a minor disagreement in a ballroom?!
Eleanor: Child endangerment and physical assault are not minor disagreements.
Serena stepped back from Victoria, slowly putting distance between them.
Victoria: Serena, where are you going?! Stand by me!
Serena: Victoria... my husband's firm cannot be associated with a public assault scandal. I'm sorry.
Victoria: You coward! We were just drinking wine together ten minutes ago!
Serena: That was before you tried to hit a child in front of the board members, Victoria.
Victoria turned back to Eleanor, her voice cracking with desperate panic.
Victoria: Eleanor, please! My family's entire life work is tied up in this merger! If you pull the funding, my mortgage, my house, my company... everything goes into foreclosure!
Eleanor: You should have thought about your house before you terrorized my family.
Victoria: I will apologize! I'll get down on my knees right now and apologize to your daughter!
Eleanor: Keep away from her.
Eleanor stood up gracefully, holding Lily tightly against her gold gown.
Eleanor: An apology from a bully when their wallet is threatened means absolutely nothing.
Victoria: Julian won't let you do this! Julian is the CEO!
Eleanor: Julian works for me, Victoria. I own seventy percent of the voting stock.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the grand marble hallway as Julian Vance himself walked briskly into the ballroom, flanked by two security officers.
Julian: What on earth is going on here? Why is everyone filming?
Victoria: Julian! Thank God you're here! Control your sister! She's destroying our business deal!
Julian looked at his sister, then at his little niece crying against Eleanor's shoulder.
Julian: Eleanor? What happened to Lily?
Eleanor: This woman shoved Lily to the marble floor, called her trash, and raised her hand to slap her across the face.
Julian's expression darkened instantly, his jaw clenching tight.
Julian: Is this true, Victoria?
Victoria: It was a misunderstanding! The girl spilled juice on my dress!
Julian: You tried to strike my niece over a stain on a dress?
Victoria: Julian, listen to reason! The fifty-million-dollar acquisition deal is set to close in two hours!
Julian: Not anymore it isn't.
Victoria: Julian, no! You can't let personal feelings ruin a corporate merger!
Julian: The Vance family doesn't do business with abusers, Victoria. Security, escort Mrs. Sterling off the premises immediately.
Victoria: Escort ME?! I am a VIP guest!
Security Officer: Ma'am, please step this way peacefully, or we will have to place you in restraints until the police arrive.
Victoria: Police?! You called the police on me?!
Eleanor: I did. For the assault on my daughter.