My husband, Lawrence, sent his secretary to “assist” me with a business negotiation at a downtown restaurant. But at the dinner table, she deliberately made things difficult, goading the client into forcing me to drink. I cited a severe alcohol allergy and tried to leave, but she physically blocked my path. “Zoe, you’re just a trophy wife. When you’re told to drink, you drink. Cut the crap.” A small smile touched my lips. I tore the contract in half right there and then, and dialed my husband’s number. “Your secretary seems to think the Vance family doesn’t need me anymore. Is that right?” 01 “You think crying to the big boss is going to help you, you delicate little flower?” Before Lawrence could even speak, the secretary, Wendy, snatched the phone from my hand. “Let me make one thing clear,” she spat, her voice low and menacing. “You’re drinking this tonight, whether you want to or not.” I shot her a look that could freeze fire. “And if I don’t?” “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been threatened before. Congratulations on being the first.” The line was still open. Lawrence’s voice, tinny and annoyed, came through the speaker. “Zoe, can you stop making a scene? Wendy is doing this for the good of the company. Just listen to her.” I almost laughed out loud. Lawrence’s words were a bitter joke. Since when did I, Zoe Clarke, need a mere secretary telling me how to conduct business? Our client, a Mr. Davis, hadn’t even made his demands yet when Wendy proactively offered him a twenty-percent cut of our profits. Even then, he wasn’t satisfied. He insisted I had to down an entire bottle of top-shelf whiskey before he’d sign. Forget for a moment that my life-threatening allergy to alcohol was common knowledge at the company; the deal itself was rotten to the core. I was about to demand an explanation from Lawrence, but Wendy ended the call. “You heard him,” she said with a triumphant smirk. “Even your husband says to listen to me. What more fight have you got in you?” I slowly lifted my head, my voice devoid of all warmth. “He doesn’t get a say in this.” The moment the words left my mouth, Mr. Davis shot to his feet. “If I’m not mistaken, you must be Mr. Vance’s pretty little wife.” He raked his eyes over me, a sneer playing on his lips. “I can see now that some people just aren’t cut out for business.” “All I asked was for you to have a drink with me, and you tear up the contract?” he continued, his voice rising. “If your husband finds out about this, I bet he’ll divorce you on the spot.” Hearing this, a slow, knowing smile spread across my face. “You and Wendy are in this together, aren't you, Mr. Davis?” A businessman’s greatest asset is keen observation. From the moment I walked in, I’d noticed the conspiratorial glances they exchanged. Wendy, the Chairman’s secretary, wasn’t fighting for her company’s interests. She was colluding with the other party to corner one of her own. It was becoming clear this whole dinner was a trap, and I was the target. Mr. Davis’s eyes darted away for a second before he regained his composure. “Of course not! I’m just calling it like I see it. Everyone at this table worked their asses off to get where they are. You’re the only one who’s just a pretty face.” His voice dripped with contempt. “As the client, I’m the one with the power here. I tell you to drink, you drink. Understood?” The table erupted in sycophantic laughter. My gaze swept across the room, cold and sharp. “Mr. Davis, I’ll admit I’ve stayed out of the public eye these past few years. But I’m not fond of the term ‘pretty face.’ I suggest you don’t use it again.” My eyes narrowed, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Because if I get angry… none of you will like the consequences.” At that, Wendy shot up from her seat. “Zoe, I’m standing right here! Who the hell do you think you’re trying to fool?” she snapped. “Others might not know your story, but I do! Lawrence told me everything. You only married into the Vance family because of some old promise between your parents. He never, ever wanted you.” I slowly squinted, my eyes fixed on her. “Oh, really? Is that what Lawrence told you?” Wendy nodded, her face alight with malicious glee. “Of course. He’s been wanting to divorce you for ages. You’re the one who’s been clinging to his family like a leech.” Her words hit me like a physical blow. For a moment, I couldn't tell what was a lie and what was the horrifying truth. But one thing was certain: a mere secretary wouldn’t dare challenge me so openly without someone powerful backing her. I had to get to the bottom of this. I needed to go back to the office and confront Lawrence, face to face. But as I stood up, a heavy hand slammed me back down into my chair. “The party’s not over,” Wendy sneered. “Where do you think you’re going?” 02 I slowly tilted my head back, raising an eyebrow. “Where I go is my business. It’s certainly not for a little secretary to decide.” Wendy let out a short, sharp laugh, her eyes boring into me. “With me here, you’re not going anywhere.” I stared at her, genuinely baffled. Where did this woman get her audacity? “Wendy, consider this your official notice. You’re fired.” My declaration didn’t faze her in the slightest. If anything, it made her bolder. “You? Fire me? Do you even have that authority? You should take a good look at your own position before you start making empty threats.” I shoved her arm away and rose to my feet, my patience worn thin. “You’ve provoked me again and again, Wendy. Do you really think I’m that easy to push around?” The color drained from her face, and in a flash, she grabbed the collar of my dress. “You’re nothing but a dog the Vance family keeps on a leash, you bitch! How dare you raise your voice at me?” she shrieked. “Let me tell you something. No one in the entire Vance Corporation can fire me except Lawrence Vance himself!” If I hadn’t been sober, I would have sworn I was drunk and hearing things. I had never given a damn about the Vance family’s so-called power, and now a secretary was screaming in my face. It seemed my years of living a quiet life had made people forget who I really was. “Wendy, I’m warning you,” I said, my voice dangerously low as I fought to control my fury. “Let go of me right now. If you don’t, no one will be able to save you.” But some people are just too stubborn to listen. Her eyes were bloodshot, fixated on me. “Is that a threat? I’m the Executive Secretary to the Chairman of Vance Corp! Everyone in Auden City shows me respect. Who the hell do you think you are?” Before I could answer, the clients around the table chimed in with their flattery. “She’s right! Everyone in this city knows Vance Corp wouldn’t be where it is today without Wendy’s hard work.” “You’re only here because you married the boss. What’s so special about that?” “Yeah, and she gets mad when you call her a pretty face. Some people…” I finally understood. In their eyes, my position as a director was worth less than that of a secretary. I couldn’t fathom where they found the courage to be so brazen. Wendy basked in their praise, her chin held so high it was a wonder she didn’t trip. “Zoe, if I were you, I’d just drink the damn whiskey. It’ll save you a lot of trouble when you get home.” My gaze was glacial, my tone flat. “Wendy, I’m giving you one last warning. Do not test my limits. The very man you keep hiding behind, your precious Lawrence Vance, only has his position today because of me. The reasons for that are far beyond your comprehension.” I told them this hoping these so-called titans of industry would have the sense to back down. At this point, I was less interested in Wendy’s petty provocations and more focused on unmasking the puppet master behind this whole charade. And if my husband was part of it… well, things were about to get very interesting. I thought back to three years ago. The Vance family was a minor name, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. One day, Lawrence’s father, Arthur Vance, came to me. His first words were a request for me to marry his son, claiming it was a pact our fathers had made before mine passed away—a childhood betrothal. I’ve always been a dutiful daughter. To honor my father’s last wish, I reluctantly agreed. On the surface, I was Mrs. Vance. In reality, I was the silent architect behind the family’s rise to power. But now, it seemed someone had grown wings and decided they were ready to fly solo, by kicking me out of the nest. Wendy glanced around the room and announced, “Did you all hear that? This little flower is claiming the Vance family rose to power because of her.” She let out a derisive laugh. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. The Vances are one of the most powerful families in Auden City, and you’re just a useless housewife who can’t do anything but clean.” She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with venom. “Let’s be honest. The family would probably be doing even better without you. They might have even made it into the big leagues in the Capital by now.” Hearing that, it all clicked into place. This dinner, these "business leaders"—they were all actors in a play she had staged. The goal was to force a divorce between me and Lawrence. Whoever was behind this had to have some serious influence. 03 Despite their relentless provocations, I didn’t lash out. I held back, time and again. These were, after all, influential figures in the business world, and I didn’t want to cause an ugly scene. But my restraint was met only with more derision. “Enough!” I slammed my hands on the table and stood, my eyes sweeping over every person in the room. “It’s clear this deal is dead. So now, I’m giving all of you a choice.” My voice was calm, but it cut through the noise. “The smart ones will get out of my sight right now. Anyone who stays becomes my enemy. And I show no mercy to my enemies.” The room erupted in laughter. “Did you hear her? The little bitch is giving us a choice! That’s rich.” “Zoe, you really think you’re somebody, don’t you?” “Every single person at this table is a millionaire many times over. What are you going to fight us with?” I turned my head slowly, the fire in my chest burning hotter. “Have any of you ever heard the saying, ‘There are always bigger fish in the sea’?” I warned. “I suggest you choose very carefully. You don’t want to live with the regret.” Wendy’s face twisted into a sneer. “What was that? You don’t actually think we’re afraid of you, do you?” She jabbed a finger in my direction. “Don’t think you can throw your weight around just because you’re married to Lawrence Vance. You probably don’t even know, but he’s about to divorce you!” Her words were like a signal. The other businessmen visibly relaxed, their mockery growing louder and more vicious. I looked at their laughing faces, a profound sense of disappointment washing over me. Was this the best Auden City’s business community had to offer? All this, just because I couldn’t drink. They could call me a trophy wife, a delicate flower—I didn’t care. But to be unable to command respect from someone in my own company… was this the price of my quiet life? Because of my unique circumstances, I had spent the last few years at home, avoiding the public eye. On the rare occasions I overheard staff gossiping about me, I would just smile and walk away. I never imagined that my placid demeanor would become the very thing that emboldened them to act so outrageously. Seeing my silence, Wendy seemed to think I had finally broken. She slid a tray of ten shot glasses filled with whiskey in front of me. “Here you go, Zoe. Drink all ten of these, and you can leave,” she said, her voice cloying. “We’ll call it even, and you can go back to being a pretty ornament in your gilded cage. But if you refuse… well, you’re not walking out of this room tonight.” I fought back the urge to scream, my gaze locked on her. “You are truly asking for a death wish. Do you not understand that I am allergic to alcohol?” Wendy glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, her expression one of pure disdain. “A few shots won’t kill you. I’ve laid out my terms. Drink or don’t. The choice is yours.” Her words were so absurd I almost laughed. Not even Lawrence’s father would dare speak to me like that. Where on earth did a mere secretary find such nerve? My curiosity about the power behind her grew. “Wendy, I see there’s no point in talking to you anymore,” I said, my voice turning hard as steel. “Tell the person pulling your strings to come out. What kind of coward hides in the shadows and sends a puppet to do their dirty work? Or are they too afraid to face me themselves?” The second I finished speaking, the suite door swung open. A woman, about my age, walked in with a slow, deliberate grace. “Miss Clarke,” she said, a cool smile on her face. “It seems the rumors of your stupidity were greatly exaggerated.” 04 “Ms. Lowell! What are you doing here?” Wendy’s exclamation was met with a flurry of activity as everyone scrambled to their feet to greet the newcomer, a woman of obvious importance from the Capital. “So, you must be the power behind the secretary,” I said, my voice even. The woman, whom they called Ms. Lowell, ignored the others and sat down directly across from me. “You’re quick,” she acknowledged. “Yes, I’m Wendy’s boss. My name is Victoria Lowell. You can call me Victoria. If the Vance family wants to make it in the Capital, they can’t do it without my support.” Her tone was breathtakingly arrogant, even more so than Wendy’s. I gave her a single, cold glance before looking away. “You’re here for my husband, I presume.” Victoria nodded, a look of faux pity on her face. “Zoe, from what I hear, you’ve been married to Lawrence for three years and you’ve barely even held his hand. What a terrible waste.” A smirk played on her lips. “After today, your husband will belong to my family.” Her words elicited no reaction from me. Instead, a sense of relief washed over me, and I let out a soft laugh. “Oh, is that so? Then I understand.” I waved a dismissive hand. “If you want my husband so badly, you can have him.” My nonchalance clearly surprised her. “Aren’t you even a little bit angry?” “Why would I be angry about this?” I replied with a breezy smile. “In fact, I should thank you, Victoria. If you hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have known how to break the news to the family. But I should warn you… it doesn't matter who you are. Crossing me ends badly for everyone.” Victoria, perhaps unaccustomed to someone being more imperious than she was, flushed with anger. Her face turned a shade of green as she waved a hand dismissively. “Wendy, what are you waiting for? Do it!” Before I could react, Wendy snatched a heavy whiskey bottle from the table and brought it crashing down on my head. The world exploded in a shower of pain and glass. I crumpled to the floor, stunned. Eager to impress her new boss, Wendy lunged at me, her fists and feet a brutal storm of violence. Within moments, my body was a canvas of bruises and cuts. “That’s enough,” Victoria’s voice cut through the haze of pain. “Don’t kill her.” She walked over and crouched down beside me. “You little bitch,” she whispered, her voice a venomous hiss. “Let today’s beating be a lesson to you. Stay out of my sight from now on. If I ever see you again, I’ll show you what real pain is.” I forced myself up, pushing through the agony to meet her gaze. My voice was steady, my dignity intact. “The Lowell family from the Capital… is this all you amount to?” Victoria’s face went black with rage. This time, she grabbed a heavy wooden chair herself, raising it high. Just as she was about to bring it down, the suite door was thrown open again. Everyone in the room turned in unison. “Mr. Vance! You’re here too!”
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