Anger surged through me as I stormed up to the stage, grabbing the microphone from the startled host.
“Breaking industry records with a 20% return rate? I’m sure the audience would love to hear how you did it, Laurel,” I said, my voice steady but icy.
Laurel froze, caught off guard by my direct challenge. “I… uh… well…” she stammered, her eyes darting toward Brian for help.
He quickly stepped in, his tone firm but measured. “That’s confidential. We’re not at liberty to disclose it to public.”
I let out a dry laugh, unfazed by his attempt to deflect. “Confidential? Then let me ask you this, Laurel. Do you know what industries Mr. Kumar’s assets are tied to? Do you know his full name? How he built his wealth?”
The rapid-fire questions left her visibly rattled, her confident facade crumbling as she struggled to form a coherent response.
“Y-you…,” she stuttered, her voice trembling, “are you accusing me?”
Before I could respond, she suddenly swayed, collapsing toward me with an exaggerated cry. We tumbled to the ground, a chaotic mess of tangled limbs and fabric. Laurel clutched her ankle, her face contorted in pain.
“Why did you push me, Angie?” she wailed, her voice carrying through the hall. “My ankle… it hurts so much!”
The microphone, now lying at her feet, amplified her words, ensuring everyone heard her accusation loud and clear.
Disdainful murmurs rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned on me. I met their judgmental stares head-on, refusing to flinch.
Brian rushed to the stage, his face a mask of concern. But before he could reach us, the platform beneath us groaned ominously. A second later, it gave way.
Laurel screamed, clutching at the nearest steel beam as debris rained down around us.
“Brian! Save me!” she shrieked, her voice shrill with terror.
Amid the chaos, I glanced at my wrist, now bleeding from a deep gash where a sharp edge had sliced through my skin.
Blood was everywhere.
I’ve been terrified of blood since I was a child and the sight of it now made me freeze in panic. My instinct was to run, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate.
Brian pushed aside a steel beam and crawled toward us. Relief surged through me and I instinctively called out to him for help.
“Brian, I’m here! Help me!”
His focus, however, was entirely on Laurel. He hurriedly picked her up, sparing me only a brief glance.