Her silence only fed Tom's arrogance.
He slammed his palm on the table and shot to his feet. "Since you already know how Ms. Harding feels, why don't you go pack up your—"
"You're insufferable."
I picked up the chicken's rear with my fingers and fed it straight into his mouth.
I ignored the gasps around the room, ignored even the cold glare Amanda threw my way.
I plucked a napkin from in front of me, wiped my hands, and let a cold smile curl at the corner of my mouth.
"How does the chicken's rear taste?"
I dropped the napkin on the floor. Tom's color rose in an instant.
"Jude Gilbert, you've gone too far."
"How dare you shove something that filthy into Tom's mouth in front of everyone."
"Ugh—"
Tom doubled over, retching, and bolted for the restroom.
But before he ran, he shot me a vicious look, the kind that promised he'd settle the score later.
I settled back into my chair and shed my usual easygoing manner. The coldness in my eyes held Amanda frozen for a few seconds.
"How exactly have I gone too far?"
"Wasn't this chicken's rear the finest delicacy Tom had someone bring over?"
"When I eat it, it's nothing. When Tom eats it, it's a crime. Amanda, you really do have a double standard."
The sound of Tom's retching still drifted out from the restroom. Amanda found herself with nothing to say.
"Jude Gilbert. We'll settle this later."
She rushed into the restroom and tended to Tom the way only a devoted wife would, dabbing his mouth, washing his face, straightening his tie.
So close their noses nearly touched.
Tom deliberately stumbled, his whole body pressing down against hers.
"Ms. Harding, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Didn't you catch me by the waist?"
"Your waist? Oh, right, I forgot. You were wild last night, the way you climbed on top of me—"
He said it loud, terrified I wouldn't hear it from outside.
And then he let the rest of the sentence hang. Clever people always leave the words unfinished, just to make others guess at what comes next.
My hand snapped into a fist. Two seconds later, I let it go.
I pulled out my phone and made a call. "Bring the contract back. I'm canceling the partnership with the Hardings."
I'd done so much for her, and she repaid me with infidelity and a shove out the door.
If I let a useless piece of garbage like Tom walk all over me, I'm not Jude Gilbert.
Amanda and Tom came out pressed close together, just in time to catch those words from my mouth.
Tom sneered on the spot, his face full of contempt.
"Jude Gilbert, you think you're the head of the Gilbert Group?"
"What gives you the right to cancel the deal with the Hardings?"
Every face turned to me with the same doubt. Not one of them believed me.
I leaned back against my chair, watching Tom in the laziest posture I could manage.
He wasn't about to be outdone, staring down at me from above.
"This gives me the right. I am the man in control of the Gilbert Group."
The room went quiet for a few seconds. Then it erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You? In control of the Gilbert Group?"
"Oh, since when?"
"If you're such a big shot, why are you slumming it here at the Hardings?"
"Did a door slam on your head, or do you just not see us as people? You think we're monkeys for you to toy with?"
That one line lit a fire under every executive in the room.
They'd held their tongues before only because Amanda and I were engaged.
Now they could see Amanda clearly favored Tom, and there was more to gain by buttering him up.
"I never treated anyone like a monkey."
"You said it yourself."
"Give it ten more minutes. When the Gilbert people come back, you'll all understand."
"Enough. Stop spouting your nonsense."
