Veronica: This is a setup! You're making this up!
Clara: Am I, Miss Vance?
Clara: Ask your father who Arthur Mercer was.
Julian: Arthur Mercer... the founder of Mercer Global Logistics?
Clara: Yes, Mr. Sterling. My father.
Julian stared at Clara, his jaw dropping open in utter disbelief.
Julian: You're Arthur Mercer's daughter?
Julian: But... Mercer Logistics was liquidated during the financial crash!
Clara: It wasn't liquidated. It was stolen.
Clara: By Richard Vance, Veronica's father.
Veronica: Shut up! Don't you dare talk about my father like that!
Clara: He forged my father's signature on the transfer documents while my dad was in the hospital.
Clara: He took our company, our house, and our family heirlooms.
Clara: My mother was left with nothing, forced into public housing while your family lived in luxury off our blood and sweat.
Veronica looked around frantically at the surrounding guests, but no one was smiling or supporting her anymore. The crowd was staring at her with cold disgust.
Veronica: You're a liar! Security, throw her out!
Mark: I'm not touching her, Miss Vance.
Veronica: What?! I pay your salary through the event company!
Mark: Mr. Sterling pays my salary. And I'm not putting my hands on Arthur Mercer's daughter.
Clara stepped forward, her voice growing stronger and more powerful with every word.
Clara: I took a job with the catering company three weeks ago for one reason.
Clara: I needed to get close enough to this charity event to deliver legal papers directly to the board members.
Clara: I didn't come here to steal your bracelet, Veronica.
Clara: I came here to take back everything your family stole from mine.
Clara reached into the inner pocket of her server jacket and pulled out a thick envelope stamped with a red seal.
Julian: What is that envelope, Miss Mercer?
Clara: This is a federal subpoena issued by the Southern District of New York.
Clara: It details fifteen years of offshore tax evasion, wire fraud, and grand larceny committed by Vance Enterprises.
Veronica: That's fake! It has to be fake!
Clara: The forensic accountants finished reviewing the stolen ledger two days ago, Veronica.
Clara: Federal marshals are at your father's penthouse right now executing an arrest warrant.
Veronica dropped the gold bracelet onto the floor, her knees buckling as she fell back against the marble pillar.
Veronica: No... no, this can't be happening...
Suddenly, the heavy glass doors at the front entrance of the mansion were pushed open. Four federal agents in dark suits walked briskly into the ballroom, accompanied by local police officers.
The guests quickly parted ways, clearing a path toward the center of the room.
Agent Miller: Veronica Vance?
Veronica: Who... who are you?
Agent Miller: I am Agent Miller with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Agent Miller: You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
Veronica: Arrest?! Me?! I didn't do anything!
Agent Miller pulled out a pair of steel handcuffs, stepping toward Veronica as she backed away in absolute terror.