14
I tossed a file on her desk. “Britney, it’s time
to step down.”
She scoffed. “What? You think you can waltz
in here as an investor and take over? Who do
you think you are?!” She swept the file to the
floor.
Hands in my pockets, I stared her down.
“Who I am? I own over 50% of this
company.” I checked my phone. “Oh, the
board meeting should be starting soon. You’ll
find out then.”
“Impossible! Don’t lie! You…” She froze,
scrambling to pick up the scattered papers,
<
scanning them frantically. Minutes later, her
hands dropped, letting them fall again.
“Those companies… buying up the stock… it
was you?” she whispered, her defiance gone.
I checked the time. My friend signaled the
meeting was about to start. I glanced at the
muttering Britney and headed for the door.
Suddenly, footsteps pounded behind me. I
turned to see a face twisted with rage.
She tackled me, choking me. “It’s you! You
took 26 years of my life! You bitch! It’s mine!
It should be mine!”
She screamed, her grip surprisingly strong.
Just as I began to black out, my friend pulled
her off, yelling for security.
“Cough, cough.” I gasped for air, watching as
Britney, still screaming and cursing, was
dragged away. I closed my eyes, trembling.
For a moment, I was back in my past life,
Britney dragging me to the ocean, a stone
<
Britney dragging me to the ocean, a stone
tied to my body. She’d raved about her story,
then pushed me into the depths. I
remembered the feeling of the air leaving my
lungs, the icy water closing in.
Britney was taken away by the police. I
collapsed, waking up in the hospital.
