Chapter 2

Before I could say a word, Grace pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then flipped the screen toward me.

"Do you know how many people showed up tonight?" Grace asked.

The group chat was titled "Mrs. Landon's Farewell Party."

It was created three days ago.

There were over fifty messages in the chat. Everyone was RSVPing for tonight.

"Andrew told me to make this group," Grace said.

She slipped her phone away, speaking airily. "He said he wanted to give you a classy farewell."

Three days ago.

That night, Andrew came home from work and brought me a bouquet of flowers.

He said he'd already reserved a spot at The Crest Club and told me to look my best.

I stood there, surrounded by half-eaten food and empty glasses, red wine still dripping from my hair.

This wasn't some last-minute scheme.

He'd been setting this up for three days.

The flowers, the dress, the Starlight Lounge, that line about stepping out to take a call, even draining my phone battery ahead of time. Every single detail was part of his plan.

I used to think Andrew was just caught up with Grace for a bit, taking her side and defending her.

But making a group chat three days ahead so everyone could watch me crash and burn? That wasn't some spur-of-the-moment thing.

He'd been scheming from the start.

A few women crowded around Grace, chattering away.

I recognized one of them. She was Nadia Cowell, Grace's best friend and the executive director at Landon Group.

"Grace, she really left you stranded here in front of all those clients for a whole day and night. That was savage."

"Yeah, seriously, who does she think she is? You were handling business for Mr. Landon, and Charlotte's only mooching off her husband at home. What gives her the right to freeze your card?"

"Women like her need to learn who actually matters around Mr. Landon."

Nadia turned to me, biting her lip and grinning.

"Charlotte, you really think you're so special because you're Mrs. Landon?" Nadia mocked. "Do you have any idea what everyone's been saying about you at the office these last three years?"

I looked at her.

"What are they saying?" I asked.

Nadia answered, "They say you're nothing but a mascot around here.

"Grace is the one keeping all the company relationships together, handling the clients, and running all the business dinners. And you?

"Besides spending money and showing off, what else have you ever done?"

Grace gave Nadia's shoulder a gentle tap.

"Nadia, don't waste your breath on her," Grace said. "She can't even cover a 140 grand tab. After tonight, she's nobody."

She turned to the manager.

"She can't pay the bill. So what's your plan?" Grace asked.

The manager stood off to the side, looking uneasy and unsure what to do.

"According to club policy, if a guest can't settle their bill, we have to hold them here and notify the authorities" the manager said.

"Hold her here?" Grace smiled. "So you're going to treat her like you treated me last time?

"Perfect. Let her stay here for a whole day and night and get a real taste of what it's like."

Andrew sat there in silence, glanced at his watch, then looked over at me.

That look in his eyes suddenly brought something back to me.

Last month, after Grace got stuck here, I saw her coming out of Andrew's office the next day. They looked way too cozy together.

Her eyes were all red, like she'd just been crying.

That night, when Andrew came home, he lost his temper with me for the first time.

He said I'd gone too far.

That was the first time in three years he'd ever snapped at me.

From that day on, the way he treated me started to shift, almost imperceptibly.

Turned out, he'd already taken Grace's side back then.

I simply didn't see it until tonight.

*****

Grace raised her hand, grabbed another glass of wine, and strode over to me.

"What are you standing there for? The manager's asking if you have the money to pay the bill or not?" Grace sneered.

As I was about to speak, Andrew cut in.

"Hold on," he said.

He stood up and handed his suit jacket to Grace.

"Give her a little time," he said.

He unbuttoned his cuffs, walked over to me, and addressed the whole room.

"Let me make myself clear. Anyone who so much as helps her pay a single cent won't be doing business in Harbor City ever again," Andrew said.

Andrew locked eyes with me.

"Didn't you always brag about having your own connections in Harbor City?" Andrew mocked. "Go on, make a call. Let's see if anyone's got the guts to pick up for you now."

Grace tossed his jacket over the chair and flicked her hair.

"Yeah, let her try. Like it'll make a difference," she remarked.

I bent down, picked up the wallet he'd tossed on the floor, and opened it.

There were three bank cards inside, and all together, there was less than 900 dollars left.

Andrew's card was already frozen. As for my own savings, I'd poured nearly every cent into networking and favors for the Landon family over the past three years.

He knew I was broke.

He knew better than anyone.

For three years, I used my own connections to help Landon Group snag the port land in Harbor City and open up several crucial business channels for Andrew.

But none of it ever went through the company books. All those favors and deals were handled off the record, me pulling strings in private.

So to everyone else, Landon Group's success was all Andrew's doing.

Nobody had any idea what I'd actually done.

Andrew never mentioned it to a soul.

"Well?" Grace crouched down, watching me pick up the cards like she was watching a circus act. "All done? Think any of those will actually work?

"If not, just accept you're finished."

She stood up, planted her left hand on her hip, and jabbed her finger right at my face.

"You were acting all high and mighty when you humiliated me last time. What's wrong? Cat got your tongue now?" Grace sneered.

I slowly put the cards back into my wallet, ignoring her.

"Charlotte, I'm talking to you!" Grace snapped.

She reached out, trying to push me.

I tilted my head to avoid her hand and got to my feet.

"Andrew." I locked eyes with him. "Let me use your phone for a call."

The room went quiet for a couple of seconds, then everyone burst out laughing.

"She's actually trying to call for backup?"

"Seriously, who in Harbor City would dare show up for her now? Does Mr. Landon's word not count anymore?"

"Maybe she still thinks she's got some powerful friends."

Andrew looked at me, smiling.

"Who are you planning to call?" he drawled.

"A friend," I answered.

"A friend?" He laughed out loud, then looked around the room. "She says she's got a friend coming to bail her out."

Everyone cracked up again.

Grace grabbed her phone and waved it right in my face.

"Knock yourself out. Call whoever you want," she sneered. "I really want to see if anyone actually dares to walk through that door and bail you out tonight.

"And let me make this clear. If someone really shows up, I'll bow to you in front of everyone here."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked.

"Absolutely. Everyone here heard me say it," Grace shot back.

Andrew leaned back in his chair, swirling his glass of red wine.

"Alright, let her make the call. Half an hour. That's generous enough, don't you think?" Andrew said.

He glanced at the manager.

The manager nodded, got the message.

"If no one shows up to pay in half an hour, we'll handle it by the rules," the manager said.

I picked up the phone Grace had slammed on the table and dialed a number.

The call was answered after two rings.

I said simply, "It's me. I'm at The Crest Club, Starlight Hall."

Then I hung up.

Grace tilted her head, looking at me.

"That's it? You didn't even tell them the bill?" she said. "Are you sure you didn't call for takeout or something?"

Laughter broke out again.