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Discovered by a resort call, 24-year-old Chloe uncovers her wealthy father's double life. Arrogant and cruel, he expects his family to submit. But he forgot his docile wife was once the state's most ruthless CPA. Now, mother and daughter are ready to spring the trap.
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Discovered by a resort call, 24-year-old Chloe uncovers her wealthy father's double life. Arrogant and cruel, he expects his family to submit. But he forgot his docile wife was once the state's most ruthless CPA. Now, mother and daughter are ready to spring the trap.
#shortflix #drama #shortsdrama #shortfilm #series #shortfilms #shortdrama #ShortSeries
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Short filmTranscript
00:01SHUT UP!
00:30I picked up the phone from the charger and glanced at the closed bathroom door.
00:33Hello, is this Mr. Sterling?
00:35He's in the shower. I'm his daughter. Who is this?
00:38This is Guest Services at the Grand Elisham Resort.
00:40We're just doing a routine follow-up about your stay in our family suite last weekend.
00:44We just wanted to check in.
00:45Did the three-year-old boy with your party have any more allergic reactions to the peanut-free pastries we
00:49provided?
00:50My stomach dropped. The phone felt like a block of ice in my hand.
00:54My dad is 55. My mom is 52. I am an only child.
00:58I just turned 24.
01:00And last weekend, my dad told my mom he was flying out to San Francisco for a closed-door real
01:06estate summit.
01:08Who was on the phone?
01:10My pulse hammered against my throat.
01:13I shoved my trembling hands into my pockets.
01:15Telemarketer, I hung up.
01:17I forced the words past the lump in my throat.
01:19He walked over to the mirror and casually smoothed some moisturizer over his face.
01:24Where's your mother?
01:26Ran to the butcher for some rib-aise.
01:28She said you had a brutal week traveling and wanted to grill steaks tonight.
01:31I stared at the back of his head.
01:34She always takes good care of me.
01:38Three days of back-to-back meetings in San Francisco really took it out of me.
01:43The Grand Elisham Resort wasn't in San Francisco.
01:46It was a 20-minute drive away, right here in the local coastal hills.
01:51Dad.
01:53Yeah?
01:56Where did you stay in San Francisco?
01:58My company has an off-site there next month.
02:01Thought I'd ask for hotel reps.
02:03His hand froze on his cheek for a fraction of a second.
02:08Just some standard business hotel the organizers booked.
02:11Nothing special.
02:11When you go, I'll book you a five-star place.
02:14Don't stay in those dumps.
02:16He was lying.
02:17I didn't push it.
02:18I turned and walked out of the master bedroom.
02:21Back in my room, I pulled up the statement for the authorized user card on my dad's account.
02:24I majored in finance.
02:26Most of the family's electronic statements were routed to my email.
02:29I opened last month's transaction history and scrolled down line by line.
02:32Last Saturday.
02:33$8,800.
02:35Merchant.
02:36The Grand Elisha Resort Dining and Entertainment.
02:38It wasn't just last week.
02:39On the 14th of last month, Valentine's Day, a charge of $23,000.
02:43Merchant Lumimico Fine Jewelry.
02:45The gift my mom received that day was a $20 bouquet of grocery store carnations.
02:51My legs gave out.
02:52And I collapsed into my desk chair.
02:57Richard!
02:58Chloe!
02:59Come help me with these bags!
03:01Come help me with these bags!
03:04A second later, I heard the front door unlock.
03:07Mom was home with groceries.
03:09I took a deep breath and forced myself out of the room.
03:12Why'd you buy so much?
03:14You're gonna throw your back out.
03:16Next time, wait till I'm home to carry this stuff for you.
03:20Richard had already beaten me to it, taking the heavy paper bags from her hands.
03:24You had a long trip.
03:26Besides, Chloe loves grilled ribeye.
03:30Watching this picture-perfect marriage play out, bile rose in the back of my throat.
03:34I had to look away.
03:36The air in San Francisco is so dry.
03:38I picked up that limited edition fleur-de-lis skincare set you like.
03:42Try it tonight.
03:44Eleanor patted his arm and told him he shouldn't have spent so much.
03:47During dinner, Richard kept refilling my mom's wine glass.
03:50After dinner, Richard went to his home office to check emails.
03:53Using a cup of coffee as an excuse, I pushed open the door to his home office.
03:57I pushed open the door to his home office.
04:00He was typing away at his computer.
04:06Dad, brought you some coffee.
04:09Dad, I saw a crazy story online today.
04:13What kind of story?
04:16Some guy kept a mistress behind his wife's back.
04:19Even had a secret kid.
04:20The wife found out and completely destroyed his life.
04:23Chloe, what is your point?
04:25Secrets don't stay buried forever.
04:27Right, Dad?
04:28I locked eyes with him.
04:29Richard looked up at me.
04:31I didn't back down.
04:34These click-ate brogs love making up this kind of garbage.
04:37You're fresh out of college, Chloe.
04:39Stop reading that internet trash and focus on your career.
04:43But...
04:44His jaw tightened.
04:45Enough!
04:47Adults handle their own business.
04:48You don't get a vote.
04:50Are we clear?
04:51You don't get a vote.
04:53Are we clear?
04:54Crystal clear.
04:55I stared at him.
04:57I muttered.
05:03Saturday morning, Richard claimed he had to head to the office.
05:06The second his car pulled out of the driveway, I called an Uber and headed straight to Grand Elysium Resort.
05:17Hi, I need some information about Richard Sterling's stay here last weekend.
05:21I'm his daughter.
05:22He thinks he may have left something behind in the room.
05:25Then can you at least tell me who else was registered to the room?
05:28I'm sorry, miss.
05:29That would violate guest privacy policy.
05:34Can you at least tell me what the woman with him looked like?
05:38Can you at least tell me what the woman with him looked like?
05:42She was young, late 20s maybe, dressed very bogo chic, like an artist type.
05:48Late 20s.
05:49An artist type.
05:52I walked out through the revolving doors and pulled out my phone, pulling up the address for the Luna Co.
05:58boutique I'd found last night.
06:01I took a cab straight there and flagged down an older sale associate.
06:04Hi, was there a necklace purchase under Richard Sterling on the 14th of last month?
06:09Yes, of course.
06:11Mr. Sterling is one of our VIP clients.
06:13He came in that day with a very charming young woman and purchased our limited edition diamond necklace.
06:19Do you happen to know the woman's name?
06:21Do you happen to know the woman's name?
06:24Serena, I believe.
06:25He kept calling her his sweet Serena.
06:28They were very affectionate.
06:30She kept insisting the necklace was too expensive, but he absolutely refused to take no for an answer.
06:35When I got home, Eleanor was out on the balcony watering her potted hydrangeas.
06:42Hey, Chloe.
06:44What do you want for lunch?
06:45I can whip something up.
06:46Her hair was tied back in a loose bone.
06:57Mom!
06:59What's this?
06:59You're a grown woman and you're still acting like a little kid.
07:05Mom, have you ever thought of getting back out there?
07:07Getting a job?
07:08A job?
07:09I'm in my 50s, honey.
07:11Besides, Richard won't hear of it.
07:13He says he makes enough to take care of us and I should just relax at home.
07:16I stared at the green leaves on the balcony.
07:18My chest felt like someone was sitting on it.
07:20I couldn't just drop the bomb on her.
07:22She had high blood pressure.
07:24A shock like this could put her in the hospital.
07:26I needed hard proof.
07:27I needed to find this Serena.
07:29I needed hard proof.
07:31I needed to find this Serena.
07:32I searched through hashtag after hashtag on pictogram.
07:35Finally, I found an account called Serena slash soul art.
07:39Her grid was a curated gallery of over filtered, aesthetic lifestyle shots.
07:45I started scrolling.
07:46A post from the 14th of last month.
07:48The photo was a tight shot of the Lumina necklace against a woman's colobine.
07:51The caption read,
07:52He says traditional marriage's cage built for the world and I am the only safe harbor his soul has ever
07:56know.
07:56I let out a harsh bark of a laugh.
07:58Sanctuary for his soul?
08:00Swiping my family's credit card for a $23,000 piece of jewelry and you're talking about a fucking soul?
08:06Further down.
08:07A post from last weekend.
08:09Location tag.
08:10The Grand Elysian Resort.
08:13The photo showed a small hand resting on a larger man's hand.
08:17The caption.
08:18A weekend escape from the city with my little guy.
08:21Forever grateful to the man behind the scenes who takes care of everything for us.
08:26I stared at the phone screen.
08:28The carpet pattern in the background was a perfect match for the family suite on the Grand Elysian's website.
08:32And in the corner of the frame, strapped to the man's wrist was a Kronos watch.
08:35It was the same watch I'd bought Richard for his birthday last year with my first internship paycheck.
08:40I screenshot everything and dumped it into an encrypted folder.
08:43Most of her location tags hovered around Oak Roll Estatants.
08:47Houses there started at $10 million.
08:51Richard was just a partner at a real estate firm.
08:55Where was he getting that kind of cash?
08:58How's the job hunt going Chloe?
08:59If nothing's biting, I can set you up with a junior analyst position at the firm.
09:04That night, Richard came home and immediately slipped back into his good husband, good father routine.
09:11No thanks dad, I want to figure it out on my own.
09:15Stubborn.
09:16Just like your mother.
09:18Looking at him, my stomach turned.
09:21Hey dad, I drove past Oak Brook States today.
09:24Those mansions look incredible.
09:29What were you doing over there?
09:34Just driving through.
09:35Heard a lot of indie artists live there.
09:38Must be nice.
09:39Richard slammed his fork down.
09:41The metal scraped against the ceramic with a harsh grating sound.
09:45Chloe, why are you so fixated on this shallow crap all of a sudden?
09:49Always obsessing about how much money other people have.
09:52What about your own life?
09:54I just made a comment.
09:55Why are you snapping at me?
10:01I'm trying to teach you some values.
10:04Keep your feet on the ground.
10:06And don't start acting like some money hungry gold digger.
10:12All right, all right, Richard.
10:14She just made an observation.
10:16Why are you getting so worked up?
10:18Drink this.
10:19Cool off.
10:20Eleanor quickly stepped in.
10:22Richard picked up the glass.
10:23His hand was shaking slightly.
10:25The next day, the next day, I blew off my afternoon plans
10:28and drove straight to Oak Brook Estates.
10:30Security was posted at the front gate,
10:32and there was no way I was getting past it.
10:34So I parked outside a coffee shop across the street,
10:37grabbed a seat by the window,
10:38and watched for three straight hours.
10:40At 2 p.m., a white stallion V8 SUV pulled out of the gates
10:43and parked next to a florist on the corner.
10:45The door opened.
10:46A woman stepped out wearing a linen maxi dress.
10:48She was very thin, with long hair down to her waist.
10:51She definitely had that airy, artistic vibe.
10:53It was Serena, no question.
10:55She went into the shop and came out
10:56holding a massive bouquet of white roses.
10:59I tossed some cash onto the table,
11:00walked out of the coffee shop,
11:02and followed her from half a block behind.
11:04She didn't go back to the SUV.
11:06Instead, she carried the flowers half a block further
11:08and walked into Elite Montessori Academy.
11:1010 minutes later, 10 minutes later,
11:12she walked out holding the hand of a little blonde boy,
11:15maybe three years old.
11:17He was dressed in a tailored prep school uniform,
11:20clutching a toy fire truck.
11:23Mommy, is Daddy coming to see me today?
11:28Daddy's busy making lots of money to buy Leo more toys.
11:31The boy asked, looking up at her.
11:35Serena ruffled his blonde hair.
11:37I stepped right into the middle of the sidewalk, blocking her path.
11:41Serena stopped, a slight frown forming.
11:45Excuse me, can I help you?
11:47You're Serena, right?
11:48I'm Richard Sterling's daughter.
11:50Excuse me, can I help you?
11:52You're Serena, right?
11:53I'm Richard Sterling's daughter.
11:55I don't know any Richard.
11:57Bullshit.
11:58Want me to post the receipts from the Grand Elysium all over Pingram?
12:01Or the purchase receipt for the Lumina Diamond necklace
12:03you're wearing around your neck right now?
12:04What do you want?
12:05A chat.
12:14Let's track me down, I'll play it straight.
12:16Your dad and I?
12:17It's true love.
12:17True love?
12:18Maxing out my family's credit cards and living in a multi-million dollar mansion?
12:21That's your definition of love?
12:23Little girl, what do you know about love?
12:25To your mother, Richard is just a walking ATM.
12:27A tool.
12:28But with me?
12:28He actually feels alive.
12:30I'm his soulmate.
12:31The only one who truly gets him.
12:32You're disgusting.
12:33Fucking pathetic.
12:35Disgusting.
12:35Richard buys me houses.
12:37He buys me cars.
12:38He begs to spend his money on me.
12:39You know why?
12:40Because I make him feel like a king.
12:42While your mother?
12:43She's just a desperate housewife smelling of cheap vanilla extract and cleaner.
12:47Her words twisted like a knife on the butt.
12:49Eleanor made her entire life to build this family.
12:51And this homewrecker had the nerve to reduce her to a punchline.
12:55The Oakmore house?
12:56Richard bought it?
12:57The Oakmore house?
12:59Richard bought it?
13:00Yep.
13:01My name is on the deed.
13:02Paid in full.
13:02Cash.
13:03I stood frozen.
13:05Every muscle in my body shook.
13:08That evening, Richard walked through the front door right at 7pm.
13:12A rarity.
13:14You went to see Serena today?
13:18Yes.
13:21Richard!
13:22Are you insane?
13:24Ask her what she did.
13:25Showing up at an elite private school to cause a scene like some street trash.
13:29You completely humiliated me.
13:31Caused a scene?
13:32Caused a scene?
13:33I just wanted to see what kind of soulmate you stash in a 20 million dollar cash house.
13:38Chloe, what are you talking about?
13:40Shut the hell up, Chloe!
13:41One more word out of your mouth and you can pack your bags and get the fuck out of my
13:44house!
13:44I'm not the one who should get out!
13:46You are!
13:47You're the one keeping a mistress behind our backs!
13:49You even have a fucking three year old bastard child!
13:53Fine.
13:54Since it's out in the open, I won't bother hiding it.
13:57Yes.
13:58Leo is my son.
14:00Serena is my woman.
14:02Eleanor.
14:02I planned to handle this after Chloe got married and moved out.
14:05Since you blew the lid off, let's set the rules.
14:08I'm not filing for divorce.
14:10You'll still be Mrs. Sturdy.
14:12The status quo remains.
14:14I'll keep paying your credit card limits and household expenses.
14:17But moving forward, I'll be spending three nights a week at Oak Grove.
14:19Don't interfere.
14:20Don't cause a scene.
14:21Let's handle this like adults.
14:23And if I refuse.
14:25Refuse.
14:26Then go get a lawyer and file for divorce.
14:28But I promise you, you won't get a dime.
14:30You'll walk away with absolutely nothing.
14:33You're in your fifties with health issues.
14:35Without me, how exactly are you going to survive?
14:38You sick fuck!
14:40You sick fuck!
14:41Chloe, you're off the knife!
14:43Mom!
14:44He doesn't get to treat us like this!
14:47Are you done with the hysterics?
14:49I'm sleeping at Oakwood tonight.
14:50Call me when you're ready to be reasonable.
14:54Mom, I'm sorry.
14:56I'm useless.
14:57I don't know how to help you.
14:59Silly girl, why are you crying?
15:07Mom, why do you have...
15:08Did you think that follow-up call from the concierge was actually random?
15:12What does it mean to them?
15:13I'mpoke.
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