Mark: Domestic battery?! Are you out of your minds?! She's my wife!
Officer 2: Turn around and put your hands behind your back, sir.
Mark: Emily! Tell them to stop! Tell them it was an argument!
Emily: An argument is words, Mark. Putting your hands on me and ripping my clothes to hide your theft is a crime.
The officers grabbed Mark's arms, forcing him around and clicking cold metal handcuffs around his wrists. The silver light from the crystal chandeliers reflected off the steel cuffs as the crowd raised their phones to capture the final moment of his public downfall.
Mark: You won't get away with this! My lawyers will have me out by midnight!
Officer 1: Your lawyers can meet you at the station, sir. Move along.
Chloe: Mark! What about my apartment rent?! Who is going to pay my rent?!
Chloe ran back out from the coatroom, holding her swollen stomach as she watched the officers drag Mark toward the main glass doors of the venue. Mark didn't even look back at her as he struggled against the officers' grip.
Mark: Get away from me, Chloe! You're the reason I lost everything!
Chloe: Me?! You told me you loved me! You told me she was going to die of illness!
The entire room gasped once again. Mark's face went completely bright red as the police pushed him out into the cold night air, the heavy double doors swinging shut behind him.
Chloe: Emily, please... I didn't know about the illness lie! He told me you were sick and didn't have much time left!
Emily: You knew he was married, Chloe. You knew he had a wife who was supporting him while you took his gifts.
Chloe: I have a baby coming! What am I supposed to do now?
Emily: I suggest you find a job, Chloe. Just like I had to when I supported Mark through his early career.
Chloe fell back against a velvet chair, sobbing uncontrollably as her father pulled her up by her arm, dragging her out through the side exit away from the flashing phone cameras.
Emily: Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your evening. The open bar is fully paid for... by Mark's personal frozen accounts.
The crowd broke into loud applause and cheers as I walked toward the front exit, holding my silver clutch tightly against my side. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped out onto the granite plaza, where my private driver was waiting with the door open.
Driver: Everything went according to plan, Mrs. Vance?
Emily: It's just Emily now, Thomas. And yes, it went better than planned.
Driver: Where to, ma'am?
Emily: To the board of directors' headquarters. I have a company to run.