Victoria: Marcus, stop this right now! You are ruining everything we built!
Marcus: Everything *you* tried to steal, you mean!
Marcus unzipped the inner compartment of the bag, pulling out a heavy brass key attached to a dark leather tag.
Marcus: Is this the key, Ellen?
Ellen: Yes, Mr. Hall! That opens the reinforcement door in the wine cellar lower level!
Victoria: Marcus, listen to me! Evelyn is sick! She had a psychotic episode this morning!
Marcus: A psychotic episode? Or did she find out you were moving forty million dollars out of her estate trust?
Victoria's face turned pale under the bright overhead lights, her jaw tightening in anger.
Victoria: I was securing those funds for our family's future! She was going to waste it on her failed charity board!
Marcus: It was her father's trust fund! Not yours, and not mine!
Maya: Daddy, please go help Mommy. She stopped making noise an hour ago.
Marcus felt a sharp knot of terror form in his stomach. He handed Maya carefully to Ellen.
Marcus: Ellen, take Maya out to the guest house immediately and lock the doors.
Ellen: Yes, Mr. Hall. Come on, sweetie.
Victoria: Nobody is leaving this main house until our private security team arrives!
Marcus: Try to stop them, Victoria. I dare you.
Victoria reached into her coat pocket, pulling out a small black smartphone, her fingers flying across the glass screen.
Victoria: Julian, get the security guards up to the main mansion right now. Mr. Hall is interfering with the arrangement.
Marcus: You hired private guards to occupy my estate?
Victoria: I am protecting the family business from your emotional outbursts, Marcus.
Marcus: This isn't a business! This is my wife's life!
Marcus turned and sprinted down the long hallway toward the heavy oak door leading down to the wine cellar.
Victoria: Marcus! Don't open that door!
High heels clicked fast behind him as Victoria chased him down the narrow wooden stairs into the dark basement cellar.
Marcus slid the heavy brass key into the steel lock of the reinforced door at the end of the stone corridor.
Victoria: If you open that door, the board will freeze your CEO position at the firm by tomorrow morning!
Marcus: I don't care about the firm, Victoria!
The lock clicked heavily. Marcus threw the thick door open, stepping into the cold room.
On the concrete floor near an iron support beam lay Evelyn, her blonde hair matted with dark, dried blood, her hands tied behind her back with thick zip ties.
Marcus: Evelyn! Oh God, Evelyn!
Evelyn: Marcus...? Is that... really you?
Marcus: I'm right here, baby. I'm right here.
Marcus dropped to his knees, pulling a small pocket knife from his trousers and slicing through the plastic ties around her wrists.
Victoria: You should have stayed in London, Marcus. Everything was settled until you showed up early.