ke

ending upon a mortal feast. The cheerful lunchtime chatter died down

prepared trays of food with

ounter, poking a piece of roasted chicken with

n' embroidered on his uniform, remained profess

sted container from her ridiculously expensive

a small portion of what looked like

ng a dismissive hand at the food meant for hundreds

p the entire container of caviar into the l

acing a firm hand over the pan, blocking her. His voi

Jaden's voice

have outside food, especially potential allergens, mixed with the general servic

food service. A rule I had helped writ

dea how much this costs?" she sneered, shaking the tub of caviar. "This little snac

food line," Austen said, his tone unwavering. He was a pill

e hissed, her face contorti

ess it took my breath away. She whipped out her phone and hit a

h the panoramic view of the city. He was in the middle of the pitch. The pitc

e instantly transformed into that of a wo

us, softened into one of indulgent concern. "Jad

chef and the general unease in the cafeteria. "But your staff... they're ganging up on me. T

t raised his

brow furrowed. "G

smirk as she held the phone out to A

e. I could hear Connor's voice, no longe

ce crackled through the small speaker. "Let he

due respect, it's a violation of the he

ced with irritation. "I care about Jaden being happy. Now apo

blic execution. Employees stood frozen, trays in

to Jaden. She was practi

she whisper

the silent, watching employees, finally settling on me. I had followed

sob catching in her throat. "It's like they all hate me. That girl from the l

annoyed; he was furious. Furious that this was interrupting his big moment. F

ng across from Connor at the conference table. The investors. He was shaming his own staff, live, in

t a spilled coffee or a tub of caviar anymore. This was about a fundamental flaw i

the phone's speaker. "Every single one of you will apologize to Ms. Juarez. Rig

yes finding mine. "You. The junior develo

g in my ears. He was ordering me, the co-founder of his company, his fiancée, to publicly humiliate myself for this woman

company we were supposed to build to

ld up my red, scalded hand, the skin already starting to blister. The p

I spoke, was da

image. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely, positi