The heavy doors of the boardroom closed as the federal agents led Harrison Vance away down the hall.
Victoria remained seated in the large leather chair, her shoulders shaking violently as she sobbed.
Victoria: What am I supposed to do now? I don't have anywhere to go...
Clara: You can start by taking off that blue silk dress.
Victoria: What?
Clara: That gown was purchased using a corporate credit card registered to the Montgomery Foundation. It is company property.
Victoria: You want me to strip in an executive office?!
Clara: There is a set of standard grey hotel staff scrubs in the dressing room behind you. Change into them, or leave in your undergarments.
Victoria stared at Clara in absolute horror, her mouth opening and closing without a sound.
Victoria: You are a monster...
Clara: No, Victoria. A monster is someone who slaps an innocent worker across the face just because her shift was long and her feet hurt.
Victoria: I apologized! I was stressed about the gala!
Clara: You didn't apologize. You screamed that you owned people like me.
Clara walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the flashing red and blue police lights filling the street below.
Clara: You have five minutes to change, Victoria. Then my security staff will escort you out the back alley door.
Victoria: The back door? Like a common criminal?
Clara: Exactly like a criminal. Because that's what your family is.
Victoria stood up slowly, her hands trembling as she unzipped the back of her expensive gown.
She stepped out of the blue silk dress, leaving it in a crumpled heap on the expensive carpet.
She pulled on the oversized grey scrubs, her high-end makeup smeared across her swollen, red cheek.
Victoria: Is this what you wanted? To humiliate me?
Clara: I wanted you to understand what it feels like to have no power, no money, and no choices.
Victoria: You ruined my life in one night...
Clara: Your father ruined your life years ago when he chose to steal instead of work. I just turned on the lights.
The door opened, and two female security guards stepped inside the boardroom.
Guard 1: Miss Montgomery, the alleyway is clear of reporters.
Clara: Take Miss Vance down to the street. Hand her a twenty-dollar bill for subway fare.
Victoria: Keep your money! I'd rather walk!
Clara: It's a long walk to nowhere, Victoria. You'd better take the subway.
The guards took Victoria by the arms, guiding her out of the room as she stared back at Clara one last time with tears falling down her nose.