Victoria: Get this man out of here! Security! Arrest him for assault!
Security Guard: Ma'am, please calm down.
Victoria: Calm down?! He just struck me in front of everyone!
David: Touch me and you lose your job before you reach the exit doors.
The security guard stopped dead in his tracks, recognizing David's authoritative tone immediately.
David: Who authorized this woman to harass a child at a charitable gala?
Manager: Mr. Sterling... we didn't realize... she was just talking to the girl.
David: Talking? She offered a fake one-million-dollar wager to humiliate a seven-year-old child.
Lily: She said my dress was trash, mister.
David: Your dress is beautiful, sweetheart. It's the most honest thing in this entire room.
David stood up smoothly, adjusting his jacket as he faced Victoria once again.
Victoria: You can't talk to me like this! My fiancé is Julian Vance! His family owns Vance Holdings!
David: I know who Julian is. He owes my equity firm forty million dollars on a delinquent loan.
Victoria's face turned pale, her eyes darting toward the crowd searching for her partner.
Victoria: That... that's a lie! His family is wealthy!
David: Was wealthy. Until twenty minutes ago when I initiated a foreclosure on his commercial assets.
A tall man in a dark suit pushed his way through the gathering crowd, his forehead dripping with sweat.
Julian: David! Please, don't do this here!
Victoria: Julian! Tell this maniac who we are! Tell him to apologize!
Julian: Shut up, Victoria!
Victoria: What?! Julian, he slapped me!
Julian: I said shut your mouth! Do you have any idea who this man is?! He holds our entire estate in his hands!
David: Not anymore, Julian. I just signed the transfer papers in my limousine outside.
Julian: David, please! She didn't know! It was just a joke!
David: A joke? Look at this child's eyes. Does she look like she's laughing?
Lily clutched David's pant leg, hiding slightly behind his tall frame.
Lily: Mamma is waiting for me outside with the flowers. I was just delivering them.
David: I know, Lily. Your mother works for my private floral decorator.
Victoria: A florist?! She's the daughter of a servant?!
David: She is the daughter of an honest woman who works hard to earn her living. Something you have never done in your life.
Victoria: You can't ruin our lives over a stupid little girl!
David: I can, and I already have. Marcus, clear her off these premises right now.
Two head security officers stepped forward, grabbing Victoria firmly by her elbows.
Victoria: Let go of me! Julian, do something!
Julian: Mr. Sterling, give me one more chance! I'll make her apologize!
David: An apology won't fix your debt, Julian. Leave now before I call the state prosecutors regarding your tax filings.
Julian stumbled backward, his face drained of all color as the security team dragged his screaming fiancée toward the heavy ballroom doors.
The remaining guests stood in complete, stunned silence as the drama unfolded before them.
David turned back down to Lily, his harsh expression melting away completely into a warm, gentle smile.
David: Now, little lady, where is your mother?