Vanessa: You... you hit me! You're a salesman and you just laid your hands on a customer!
Marcus: You are not a customer, Miss Vance. You are a trespasser harassing the owner of this establishment.
Vanessa: What are you talking about?! I came here with my fiancé, Richard Vance! His family owns this entire franchise block!
Marcus: Richard Vance does not own this building. His father lost the master commercial lease three days ago.
Vanessa took a step back, her high heels clicking loudly against the tile as her face turned pale.
Vanessa: That's impossible! Richard promised me he was buying me a new sports car for our engagement party tonight!
Marcus: Richard Vance's credit line was officially revoked by our board of directors at eight o'clock this morning.
Leo: He doesn't have any money left, lady.
Leo lowered the driver's side window, looking out at Vanessa with a calm, unimpressed stare.
Vanessa: Shut up, you little brat! You probably stole that key from Richard's jacket while he was in the manager's office!
Marcus: Watch your tone, Miss Vance! You are speaking to Leo Hayes, the sole heir to Hayes Automotive Group!
Vanessa's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted frantically between the young boy sitting in the high-end sports car and the senior employee standing over her.
Vanessa: Hayes...? As in Thomas Hayes? The billionaire founder who died last month?
Marcus: Thomas Hayes was this boy's grandfather. And per his final living trust, young Leo inherited the entire dealership network, including this exact showroom floor.
Vanessa: But... he's just a kid! A kid can't own a multi-million-dollar corporation!
Marcus: The estate is managed by a board of court-appointed trustees until he turns eighteen. And as his primary guardian on site, I have full authority to protect him from abusive individuals like you.
Vanessa: I didn't know! How was I supposed to know a billionaire's grandson would be wearing a ten-dollar t-shirt?!
Leo: My grandpa taught me that real value comes from what you do, not what you wear.
Marcus: A lesson you clearly never learned, Miss Vance.
The heavy glass doors at the front entrance opened, and Richard Vance walked into the showroom wearing an expensive navy suit. He was holding a leather folder, looking around nervously until his eyes landed on Vanessa clutching her red cheek.
Richard: Vanessa! What's going on over here? Why is everyone staring at you?
Vanessa: Richard! Thank God you're here! This crazy salesman just slapped me across the face!
Richard rushed over, his face red with sudden anger as he pointed a finger at Marcus.
Richard: Have you lost your mind, Marcus?! You hit my fiancée in broad daylight?!
Marcus: She put her hands on young Leo, Mr. Vance. I did what was necessary to protect the owner of this firm.
Richard: Owner?! He's a child!
Leo: I'm the child who just canceled your family's corporate account, Richard.
Richard froze in his tracks, dropping the leather folder onto the floor as the papers inside scattered across the polished tiles.
Richard: What... what did you just say?
Leo: You heard me. My grandpa's trust fund isn't paying for your lifestyle anymore.