Chapter 2
298 Words
Sofia didn't like being ignored. She stepped forward and grabbed my arm.
Her stiletto caught on the thick edge of the carpet. She lost her balance and went down. The crystal glass shattered against the marble edge, and a long shard sliced across her palm.
Blood dripped onto the rug.
The heavy oak door to the conference room swung open. Victor stepped out.
He stopped. Took in the broken glass, the blood, Sofia on the floor.
He walked right past me.
He bent down, grabbed Sofia's arm, and pulled her into his chest.
"Who did this?" he asked.
The bodyguards looked away.
I watched the blood soaking into Victor's shirt. I didn't point at the carpet. I didn't point at her shoe.
"I did," I said. "She had it coming."
Sofia buried her face in Victor's chest, sobbing. "I just wanted to talk to her, Victor. I don't know why she pushed me."
Victor kept his hand on her waist. He looked at me. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his checkbook and pen.
"How much do you want, Elena?" he asked.
"$800,000."
He clicked the pen. Wrote the number. Tore the check off and held it up with two fingers.
"Apologize to Sofia," he said. "Apologize, and it's yours."
I stood still. A burning pain tore through my ribs. I reached into my coat pocket and gripped the crumpled medical bill. $800,000. It would buy me weeks without pain.
Victor held the check steady. Waiting for me to fold.
Slowly, I let go of the bill. Pulled my hand out of my pocket.
I didn't reach for the check.
"Keep it," I said.
I turned and walked toward the elevator.
The doors slid open. I stepped inside and pressed the button for the lobby.
- Writer
