Victoria scoffed nervously. "Leadership? He’s a waiter—well, a manager playing waiter! He’s supposed to bow down when we—"
"When who, Victoria?" Eleanor interrupted, turning her sharp gaze directly onto her daughter-in-law. "When your husband spends company funds on luxury sports cars? When you treat human beings like furniture? Let's talk about ownership, Victoria. You mentioned that your family practically owns this establishment."
Victoria swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "I... I meant..."
"You meant that you feel entitled to the fruits of labor you never planted," Eleanor finished for her. She reached into her leather handbag, pulling out a sleek, modern smartphone and a heavy blue leather folder filled with forensic accounting documents. "For the past six months, my legal and financial teams have been reviewing the corporate expenditures of every branch under the Vance family trust."
Act III: The Audit of Greed
The atmosphere in Le Mirage shifted from tense drama to a courtroom-like stillness. Patrons at surrounding tables had long since stopped eating, entirely captivated by the corporate execution unfolding before their eyes.
"Mom... what is this?" a new voice echoed from the entrance of the dining room.
Julian Vance—Marcus’s estranged brother and Victoria’s husband—walked briskly toward the table. His expensive Italian suit was slightly rumpled, his expression a mix of arrogance and mounting panic as he saw his mother standing there surrounded by silent staff and shattered glass.
"Julian," Eleanor acknowledged without turning her head. "Right on time. I was just reviewing your household's financial contributions to our enterprise—or rather, your catastrophic withdrawals."