Chad: You crazy woman! Do you have any idea who I am?!
Eleanor: I know exactly what you are. You're a coward who trips a child for your own sick amusement.
Chad: He was in my way! This is a high-class charity gala for major corporate investors!
Eleanor: And you are an absolute embarrassment to humanity.
Chad rubbed his burning cheek, his face turning beet red as the crowd gathered closer.
Chad: Security! Get security over here right now! I want this woman arrested for battery!
Security Guard: Sir, we saw what happened on the room's monitoring screen.
Chad: Then arrest her! She just assaulted me in front of everyone!
Security Guard: Mr. Sterling, if we pull the security tapes for the police, they will see you tripping a minor with a disability.
Chad: I don't care about the kid! He shouldn't even be working here!
Eleanor: He is twelve years old, you arrogant fool. Why is he even working catering at a night event?
Leo: My mom is sick, ma'am... I was just trying to help the kitchen staff clean tables so they'd give me extra food to take home.
Eleanor felt a sharp pang in her heart as she looked down at the boy's worn clothing and bruised knee.
Eleanor: What is your name, sweetheart?
Leo: My name is Leo, ma'am. Leo Miller.
Eleanor froze instantly, her hand stopping right on his shoulder.
Eleanor: Did you say... Miller?
Leo: Yes, ma'am. My mom is Sarah Miller. She used to work as a seamstress downtown.
Eleanor: Sarah Miller... from the Westside district?
Leo: Yes! Do you know my mom?
Chad scoffed loudly, stepping forward again with a sneer on his face.
Chad: Great, so you're defending the son of a washed-up temp worker. How fitting for a bleeding-heart nobody.
Carter: Chad, shut up. You're making this ten times worse.
Chad: I don't care! I run the development firm funding this entire building! I can say whatever I want!
Eleanor: You don't run anything, Chad. You are a mid-level manager who got lucky on a contract.
Chad: Oh, and I suppose you run the city?
Eleanor: No. I own the investment group that owns your entire development firm.
Chad paused, a nervous laugh escaping his throat as he looked at her dark evening dress and quiet posture.
Chad: Nice try. The Vance Global Trust owns our firm, and the board is headed by Eleanor Vance herself.
Eleanor: That's correct, Chad. I am Eleanor Vance.
The entire circle of surrounding guests gasped in collective shock.
Chad: You... you're Mrs. Vance? The primary trustee?
Eleanor: The very same woman whose security detail you just threatened to call.
Chad's face drained of all color as his hands began to visibly shake.
Chad: Mrs. Vance... I... I had no idea it was you! I thought you were just a guest's relative!
Eleanor: You thought I was someone unimportant, so you felt comfortable showing your true, disgusting nature.
Chad: It was an accident! I didn't mean to trip the boy! My shoe just slipped!
Eleanor: You deliberately stuck your leg out. I watched you do it with my own eyes.
Leo: He told me I was trash right before he did it, ma'am.
Eleanor: I know, Leo. I heard him.
Chad looked around frantically, looking for support from his corporate colleagues, but every single executive stepped back, avoiding his eyes.
Chad: Mrs. Vance, please! We are scheduled to sign the forty-million-dollar estate funding agreement tomorrow morning!
Eleanor: That agreement is officially dead, Mr. Sterling.
Chad: You can't cancel that deal! My entire career depends on that real estate expansion!
Eleanor: Then your career ends tonight. Right here on this marble floor.
Chad: Please! Give me one chance to apologize! I'll pay for the boy's broken cane!
Eleanor: You won't just pay for his cane, Chad. You're going to pay for a lot more than that before this night is over.