"One word from my husband and the favors your company stands to gain would set you up for life!"
I sat there watching her ugly performance, and a thought crept in.
Twenty years ago, when she threatened my mother to give up her place as Mrs. Butler, had she had this same ugly look on her face?
"I'm sorry. Butler Group's business isn't something I want."
I pressed the intercom on my desk.
"Send up two security guards."
They came quickly and took hold of Alexandra.
Her eyes went wide. She probably never imagined that, given who she was, anyone would dare lay hands on her.
Then the office door slammed open again.
A tall, thin boy came charging in, maybe just past twenty, decked out in designer streetwear.
He jabbed a finger in my face and started cursing.
"Who the hell do you think you are, putting your hands on my mother? I'll have my father shut this junk company of yours down by tomorrow!"
I looked at his hot-blooded young face, at the line of his brow and eyes that was the very image of Ernest Butler.
Another image flashed through my mind.
That rainy night twenty years ago, when I lost two people at once.
The mother who loved me most, and my unborn brother.
If that child had lived, he'd have been just about this age.
"This is your son?"
There was a tremor in my voice I couldn't quite hide.
"Of course. John Butler. Mine and Ernest's son."
I stared hard at the two of them, and then I smiled.
"Good."
I stood and turned to John.
"Go home and tell your father. I'd like to see how he plans to deal with me."
The two of them were soon driven out by security.
I sat back down, picked up the glass of water that had long gone cold, and drank it down in one go.
I knew this was only the beginning.
After they were gone, I gave my assistant another task.
"Look into John Butler. The more detailed, the better."
A file arrived not long after.
John Butler, twenty-one, a college senior, currently interning at the city TV station.
What a coincidence. The TV station?
I stared at the file, hesitated a long while, then made the call.
It was picked up almost at once.
"Eunie? What's got you calling me at this hour? I thought you said you were swamped today."
Hearing Piers Head's voice, I went quiet for a few seconds.
He was my boyfriend, and the star producer at the city TV station.
I didn't want to drag him into this.
But this was something only he could help me with.
"Do you have an intern over there named John Butler?"
His answer came fast.
"Yeah. I heard he's Butler Group's only son. How do you know him?"
I hesitated, then finally asked anyway.
"I don't want to see him. Can you have him fired?"
There was a pause on his end.
He knew me. He knew I was never the type to make trouble for no reason.
"Eunie, what happened?"
"Nothing."
I didn't want him to know about my past. I only said it softly.
"I don't like that Butler family."
Piers didn't press. He just gave a clean, easy reply.
"All right. I'll take care of it."
I let out a breath, and something warm rose up in me.
"I'll come by the station to pick you up tonight."
After work I drove to the city TV station, and the moment I stepped out of the car I saw John Butler being held back by two security guards, still spitting filth.
"Why the hell are you firing me? Because I cursed a few people out during work hours? Let me tell you, my father is Ernest Butler. Cross me and you cross all of Butler Group!"
A man stood beside him, trying to reason with him, looking completely helpless.
