I have always thought that when you reach rock bottom, the only way left to go is up. That conviction guided me during some of the bleakest times in my life. As I sat in my office, and read the harsh headlines and cutting remarks online, it occurred to me that rock bottom wasn’t a place—it was a state of mind. And Beatrice was resolute in her intention to pull me along.
The rumors circulated widely. They portrayed me as a gold-digger who had blatantly pursued Jack for his money and status. The story circulated rapidly, dragging my name and reputation through the dirt. No matter how much I had created by myself or how diligently I had toiled—Beatrice’s falsehoods overshadowed my reality.
I clenched my fists, glaring at the screen. "Social climber." "Desperate for power." "A calculated m
