Chapter 3
Molly said with a proud tilt of her chin, "I'm going to be Randy's wife someday, the future lady of Pearson Group.
"Here in Greville, if I want to put someone in their place, who'd dare get in my way?"
She enjoyed seeing me all messed up, her eyes finally landing on my face.
"That face of yours is all you've got to turn heads, isn't it?" she said.
She gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Today, I'm going to ruin it. Let's see how you show off after I'm done with you!"
Smack! Smack!
Two back-to-back, vicious slaps landed right across my face.
My head spun, my vision blurred, and my ears buzzed.
My cheeks burned, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
I lifted my head and stared at her, refusing to back down.
"You'll regret this," I spat.
Molly laughed even louder, slapping her chest in mock fear. "Regret it? Oh, I'm so scared."
Molly's lackies began mocking me.
"You're just a stalker Mr. Pearson can't stand. What could you possibly do to make us regret anything?"
"You think you can use that face of yours, even after I mess it up, to try and hook another guy?"
"You're a disgrace to all women."
"Yeah, why don't you go find a mirror and see just how pathetic you really are!"
Vicious taunts and cruel jeers closed in on me from every direction.
Just then, my phone started ringing.
Molly shot Lily a look, and Lily was quick to snatch my phone out of my pocket.
Sucking up to Molly, Lily handed her the phone. "Molly, it's her call."
Molly took the phone and barely glanced at the screen, her face full of contempt.
"Oh, look at that. Trying to call for help now, huh?" she sneered.
She turned the phone screen toward me, her face lit up with gloating amusement, clearly waiting to see me squirm.
On the screen, the caller ID showed just one word, Dad.
Molly smirked, her face twisted in mockery. "Oh wow, your dad's calling?
"Does he have any idea how low you've sunk, throwing yourself at every guy you see?"
I shot back, "Seriously, don't answer it. You have no idea what kind of mess you'll be in if you do."
Molly scoffed, "I'm not just gonna answer, and I'm putting it on speaker for everyone to hear.
"Let's see what your dad thinks when he hears what kind of trash his precious daughter really is!"
Molly shot me a smug look and hit the answer button without hesitation.
As soon as the call connected, she screeched, "Hello? Is this Louise's dad?
"I'm Randy's fiancée.
"Let me tell you. Your daughter has no shame. She's been openly harassing my fiancé at work.
"If you've got any dignity left, you'd better come get her and stop her from acting crazy out here."
After a moment of silence on the other end, there was the crash of a glass breaking.
Then my dad spoke, his voice tight with barely contained fury. "Who are you? Put Randy on the phone!"
My dad was furious, but Molly was too clueless to notice.
She started cursing him out. "Who do you think you are, old geezer? You think you can just call Randy by his name like you're somebody?
"Listen, if you can't keep your daughter in line, you'd better be ready to come collect her body."
With that, she snapped the call off, slamming the phone shut.
Still fuming, she hurled my phone to the ground and crushed it under her heel.
Staring at the shattered remains of my phone, I finally let out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding.
My dad had dominated the business world for decades. He was a true kingpin, and nobody ever had the guts to talk to him like that.
He'd be there before anyone could blink. No way he'd let this slide.
I fought to keep the smile from spreading across my face.
"What's so funny?" Molly barked at me.
When she saw the smirk tugging at my lips, her anger flared even hotter.
She yanked me by the collar and landed another slap, this one with the back of her hand.
"I just trashed your dad, and you can still smile? Were you born trash or what?" she snarled.
Suddenly, her eyes zeroed in on the bit of necklace showing at my collar.
She grabbed it and yanked it out.
"Oh, so you're not just out here chasing guys, you even wear fake bling trying to act like some high-class lady? Let me see what kind of street stall trash you're showing off," Molly sneered.
"Don't touch it!" I snapped, my face going pale in an instant as panic flashed in my eyes.
Seeing how rattled I got, Molly just got even more aggressive.
She grabbed the pendant and looked it over, her smirk getting even meaner.
"What, getting nervous? Afraid I'll call you out?" she sneered.
Afraid she'd snap it in half, I bit out, "It's real."
Molly snorted, her laughter sharp and mocking. "Real?
"Is your whole outfit even worth one thousand dollars? And you seriously think this is legit?
"Do you even know what this is? It's Boucheron's 'Dancing Butterfly', worth thirty million dollars, girl!
"You think you could ever afford something like that? Stop pretending to be someone you're not!"
The crowd started chiming in, hyping Molly up and making a scene.
"Molly, that's gotta be a knockoff she bought online, just fishing for a sugar daddy!" someone snickered.
"Ugh, disgusting. Women like her should be punished for being so shameless!" another jeered.
Molly flashed a vicious grin and yanked the necklace hard.
There was a loud snap as the chain broke.
The sparkling butterfly pendant tumbled into her palm.
My eyes went red in an instant.
That necklace was my mom's keepsake.
That year, on her birthday, my dad won it at an auction and gave it to her.
After she put it on, she hugged me and told me it was the best present she'd ever received.