Then… I was free. Sunbathing on yachts the size of skyscrapers. Dinner in Paris, followed by breakfast in Milan. Men, young and old, but all handsome and willing to do whatever I asked. I never wore the same thing twice. Stores and restaurants closed down areas when I came through. My name was whispered with fear and reverence.
The only blip on the radar was Natalia and Max’s breakup. It wasn’t planned. When Natalia ran off, it bruised my son’s ego and started a rage inside of me. Cautiously optimistic, I watched as he channeled his pain into work, taking a renewed interest in the company and becoming Walter’s shadow.
Until he met Sophie. When I saw how everyone in our social strata reacted to her, I had to grudgingly back down. It was obvious she had a way with people—a noticeable difference between her and Nat. People seemed drawn to Sophie, charmed by her simple smile and responses. I just couldn’t understand the girl. She had no ambition, no real vision.
Now, in six short years, she had managed to dismantle everything I had worked for. Ignoring the stares and whispered comments, I headed straight for Maryanne, who was hosting the event.
“Darling, so good to see you. The space looks lovely. Did you have Raphael on staff?” Her eyes widened in surprise as she leaned toward me for her part in the performative air kiss.
“Helen. So happy you could make it.” Lowering her voice, she gave my hand a soft squeeze, confusing me.
“How are you doing? If there’s anything you or your son needs, please let me know.” Sincerity laced her words, and I wanted to punch the smug bitch.
“Oh, it’s all just a big misunderstanding. It will get sorted quickly. I’m not worried. Now, tell me about Janice and Raymond. Is it true they’re getting a divorce? I heard he ran off with the au pair!” Seemingly startled by the change in conversation, Maryanne halfheartedly answered my questions before excusing herself to check on the other guests.
A familiar face caught my attention, seated at a table across the way. Sophie sat demurely next to Judge Lennox, who was watching me with an amused expression.
What is she doing here?We had barely crossed paths before, and now I was seeing her everywhere? I tried not to think about that awful night, the way she had addressed me in front of everyone.
Before I could go over to their table and try to find out what they were up to, Maryanne was at the front of the room, getting everyone’s attention. Turning around, I waited patiently as she called me to join her on stage.
Standing up, I made my way to the podium with all eyes on me. A small smile was pasted on my face, my shoulders back, and head held high. I wouldn’t show any weakness in front of those people. I never had before, and I wasn’t about to start now.
Putting my glass down on the wood stand, I adjusted the mic to a height I was comfortable with. A large screen was behind me, and the small remote to activate the projector was within reach. Taking a deep breath, I looked up, taking in the curious expressions in the crowd.
“Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the opening of the Lake Forest Recreational Center. This is a project that’s very close to my heart, and I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with the community to make sure this project meets their needs.” There was polite applause, but there was also a weightysilence, an anticipation of some kind.
My eyes flicked over to Sophie, who was sitting there, watching me unblinkingly. Her expression gave nothing away, and that scared me more than anything.
“The revamped center has two full-sized basketball courts, a comprehensive fitness center, and an indoor pool.” Grabbing the remote, I pressed play, hoping the glossy photos of the expensive renovations would gather the crowd’s attention. Looking back down at my notes, I continued listing all of the expansions we had made.
“Four floors of activity space, including indoor basketball, volleyball, and a fully equipped fitness center. There are studios for dance, yoga, and aerobics, as well as a swimming complex with lap lanes. Each area—” Gasps rang out as murmurs rose. Fingers were pointed at the screen behind me as the crowd stood up or leaned over to get a better view. Confused, I turned around, only to gasp in horror.
Instead of the carefully curated photos to highlight my charitable ventures, the photos were much more personal. Pictures of me scattered across the city, outside dimly lit hotels and upscale restaurants, caught mid-embrace with men who knew better, men who belonged to someone else.
In horror, I turned back to the crowd, where their wives sat just feet away, watching, their expressions frozen somewhere between disbelief and fury as the photographs told their own stories.
Then, the images shifted. Grainy, intimate, damning. Supposedly discreet encounters with known competitors exposed under harsh light, envelopes slipping from one hand to another, deals negotiated in shadowy corners, never meant to see daylight. Proof of transactions, of secrets bought and sold.
Next came the receipts, my credit card statements, bold and undeniable, all neatly filed under the company’s name. Every indulgence, every luxury, every lie documented in cold, impersonal numbers.
Finally, the last blow: me, leaving the holistic clinic withNatalia in their surveillance videos. Close-ups of the pill bottles in both our purses. Followed by the tox screen for Maxwell, the drugs from the clinic were highlighted in his system.
The images didn’t stop. They looped endlessly, a relentless reel of scandal and betrayal, every secret stripped bare, every misdeed magnified, leaving nowhere to hide and nothing left to deny.
Before I could think of a reply, Maryanne was stalking over to me. The photos of Barry and me were back on the screen as the images looped. Too late, I saw the glass of wine in her hand, it wasn’t until the sticky red liquid was flung at me, drenching my face and clothing, that I realized what had happened. A sharp silence fell over the room as everyone watched the drama unfold.
“You two-faced bitch,” Maryanne said. It wasn’t a yell, but her voice was loud. Angry. Determined.
“You’ve always walked around like you’re better than us, like you are in on some grand secret the rest of us aren’t worthy to hear. But let me make something very clear. We’ve always known exactly who you are, or more specifically what you arenot.” She sneered, looking at me like I was a piece of gum stuck under her shoe. Pointing at me, she continued her tirade.
“You arenot exceptional, and you’re definitelynotuntouchable. You’re nothing but a frightened, greedy woman clawing for importance, putting yourself before anyone else, and calling it ambition.
“You wanted to be remembered, didn’t you? Well, congratulations, you’ll be the example people use when they talk about whatnotto become. But the illusion is gone now. I hear even Walter is done with you.”
My face was flushing, my heart was beating so fast, and there was a dull ringing in my ears.How is this happening? Who did this?Sophie’s pleased expression caught my attention, and I headed straight for her.
“You set me up! You’ve made an embarrassment out of all of us! What were you thinking, you dumb, useless girl?” I yelled, only vaguely aware of the phones out recording us.
