Investors.
Chefs.
Restaurant executives.
Many of them had known my work long before Brian convinced himself it didn’t matter.
While I spoke, my phone vibrated repeatedly.
Brian.
Eventually, I answered.
His voice had changed completely.
“Samantha, call Pendelton.”
“Why?”
“He’s canceling our supply contracts.”
“That sounds like something you should discuss with him.”
“Harrison is furious too. I didn’t know who he was!”
And that was the problem.
“You never bother learning who people are unless you think they’re useful to you.”
“It was a misunderstanding.”
“You insulted my father and damaged a knife that took almost two years to make.”
Beatrice shouted from somewhere beside him.
“Samantha, stop exaggerating! We still have Charles’s birthday dinner tonight!”
Even with Brian’s business beginning to collapse, Beatrice was still worried about her party.
“No one is doing this to you,” I said.
“You did it yourselves.”
