“Why don’t you answer the question for me, hmm?”
The moment the words left my mouth, Daniel—who clearly sensed something was off—stepped forward in a panic.
“Honey, don’t listen to this nonsense,” he said quickly, trying to cover his tracks. “With our company’s reputation, anyone can find those numbers with a simple internet search.”
“I’ve known this bitch for years. She’s dirt poor—she doesn’t have any background. She’s only bluffing because she thinks the $100,000 I gave her wasn’t enough and now she’s trying to milk more out of me.”
I stared at him, trying to keep a straight face. The urge to laugh at his delusion was overwhelming.
“Mr. Murphy, I’m truly sorry to be the bearer of bad news—but your little empire is about to crumble.”
The words hung in the air for a moment before Maggie, who had been holding herself back until now, finally exploded.
“You little bitch! I’ve been way too nice to you!” Her voice thundered through the hall.
“Do you even know where you’re standing right now? This is my turf and you’ve got the guts to lecture my husband here?”
“You said you wanted to bankrupt the Foster Group? I’m right here—show me! Let’s see if you really have what it takes!”
The moment Maggie lost her temper, her loyal pack of yes-men jumped out like hungry dogs defending their bone.
“Where did this little tramp crawl out from? Someone get her a mirror—she clearly forgot to check her face before threatening our President Foster.”
“That’s right. A woman who couldn’t even hold onto her own man thinks she can take down Foster’s Group? She must be high on fairy dust.”
“If I were you, I’d get down and start kowtowing right now. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll get to walk out of here with a shred of dignity.”
I looked at each of their self-important faces—these clowns who had no clue how deep the pit they were standing next to really was. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I laughed—cold, clear and full of contempt.
“Go ahead. While Foster Group still has a heartbeat, feel free to keep licking her boots. Enjoy it while you can.”
With that, I turned my attention to Daniel, who still stood smugly in the center of the stage like he was king of the world.
“Mr. Murphy,” I said sweetly, “do you know what day it is today?”
A flicker of panic crossed his eyes—but only for a second. He scoffed.
“I don’t care what day it is. What’s that got to do with me?”
In front of everyone, I reached for the red thread bracelet tied around my right wrist and slowly removed it.
“Daniel,” I said, voice steady, “remember this moment. Today is the day your dreams come crashing down.”
