Carter: Harrison, what on earth are you doing addressing her?
Butler: I am delivering the requested update to Miss Brooks, sir.
Carter: She is a guest at my family's table! You don't report to her!
Butler: With all due respect, Mr. Montgomery, my orders come directly from the executive office.
Clara: Thank you, Harrison. Is the legal team ready?
Butler: Yes, ma'am. Mr. Vance and the probate attorneys arrived five minutes ago.
Carter: Legal team? What is she talking about, Harrison?
Butler: That is not my place to explain, sir.
Carter: Clara, stop playing this stupid little game right now!
Carter reached across the white tablecloth, aiming to grab Clara's wrist, but Clara stood up from her chair with explosive force.
She swung her hand with full force, slapping Carter hard across the face with a loud, sharp crack that echoed across the high ceilings.
Carter: Ah!
Carter stumbled back two full steps, clutching his stinging, reddened cheek as his champagne glass tipped over, soaking the linen napkin.
Clara: I CANNOT DO THIS! I AM DONE WITH YOU!
Carter: You... you slapped me in front of my family's board members?!
Clara: You earned every bit of that slap, Carter.
Carter: You're insane! Security is going to throw you out into the street!
Clara: Nobody in this building is throwing me anywhere.
Butler: Here are the final transfer papers, Miss Brooks. The seal was applied ten minutes ago.
The butler reached onto his tray and handed her a sleek black leather folder stamped with gold foil.
Carter stared at the leather cover, his face draining of all color as he recognized the family crest embossed on the front.
Carter: WAIT, PLEASE! FORGIVE ME!
Clara: It's far too late for forgiveness, Carter.
Carter: Clara, listen to me! I was stressed! My mother made me say those things!
Clara: You meant every single word. You always have.
Carter: Please, open the folder! Let's talk about this privately in the back room!
Clara: We have nothing left to talk about.
Clara pulled the folder tight against her ribs, holding her head high with supreme pride as tears glistened in her eyes.
She turned away from the table and began walking down the sunlit marble aisle toward the grand entrance.
Carter stood frozen beside the overturned champagne glass, his face burning red under the stares of fifty prominent high-society guests.
Guest 1: Did you see that? Who is that girl?
Guest 2: She just slapped the Montgomery heir and walked off with the estate folder!
Carter: Shut up! All of you, mind your own business!
Butler: Mr. Montgomery, your presence is requested in the executive boardroom immediately.
Carter: I'm not going anywhere until I find out what she just took!
Butler: Sir, if you do not come willingly, security will escort you from the premises.
Carter: Security?! I am a Montgomery! My grandfather built this estate!
Butler: Your grandfather built it, sir. But he didn't die owning it.