She watched as these people, people she had been prepared to make partners, people she had been ready to make richer than their wildest dreams, revealed the black rot in their souls. And through it all, she held her composure. She didn't scream. She didn't cry. She didn't flee.
She just stood there, a silent observer, letting them show her exactly who they were. Finally, she pulled out her phone. It was time. She needed to check the final details of the merger documents, the very documents that were scheduled to be signed and announced that night. The documents that would inject a life-saving $2.5 billion into the Vancroft's dying empire.
And that's when Blair Vancroft decided it was time for the grand finale. She glided toward Alani, a full glass of deep red Bordeaux in her hand, her face a perfect mask of synthetic sympathy that was worthy of an Oscar. Oh, I feel just awful for you, she cooed, her voice carrying just enough for the nearby guests to appreciate her apparent magnanimity. You look so thirsty after your ordeal. Here, please, let me get you something to drink.
Alani looked up, a flicker of genuine surprise in her eyes. After hours of unremitting cruelty, could this be a single solitary act of human kindness? She reached out a grateful hand for the glass, thinking that maybe, just maybe, there was a shred of decency in this family, after all. But as her fingers were about to close around the stem of the glass, Blair deliberately, with practiced malice, stuck out her silk-clad leg. Alani, caught off guard, tripped and went down hard, crashing onto the unforgiving marble floor.
In the exact same fluid rehearsed motion, Blair accidentally upended the entire glass of red wine onto Alani's white dress, the crimson liquid blooming across the fabric like a fatal stain. Blair immediately launched into her award-winning performance. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in mock horror, her eyes wide with feigned shock. Oh my god, you're so clumsy. I am so so sorry.
I was just trying to help you. Eleanor rushed to the scene, her voice a Clarion call of righteous indignation. This is exactly what I was talking about. This is what happens when these people forget their place. Look at the mess you've made on our floors.
Carter was already filming the scene with his phone, laughing so hard he could barely keep it steady. This is going viral. Somebody call housekeeping. Oh, wait. She is housekeeping.
The room exploded. The laughter was a physical concussive force. Phones shot up from every direction. Instagram stories were being created in real time. Tweets were being fired off.