Chapter 3

At the Monday morning meeting, Braden made me the opening act.

"Let's welcome Liam to share his secrets of success!" He led the applause.

Hardly anyone clapped. Most people just stared at me.

Some looked amused, some looked sympathetic, but most were just numb.

"I..." My throat was completely dry.

"Louder!" Braden banged on the table. "Did you lose your voice?"

A few people snickered.

"Last week... for the company... I put on a performance..." Every word felt like hot coal in my mouth.

"Performance?" Braden cut in. "That’s called demonstrating loyalty! Come on, let's give Liam some encouragement!"

He pulled out his phone and started recording.

"Give us a couple of barks to start the week off right!"

I looked at his camera lens. I thought of the remaining balance for Leo's post-surgery care. I couldn't lose this job.

"Woof."

"Can't hear you!" Chad shouted from the back.

"Woof!"

"No energy!" Braden frowned. "Where's that passion from the party? You get lazy once you get the cash?"

I closed my eyes and screamed.

"WOOF!!!"

The room fell silent for a second, then erupted into hysterical laughter.

Braden stopped recording, looking highly satisfied. "Great! That’s what I like to see!

From now on, Liam will start every Monday morning meeting by pumping us up!"

When I walked off the stage, my knees were shaking.

At noon, I had a lunch meeting to sign a contract with Mr. Miller. I had been nurturing this client for six months.

Once this deal went through, the commission would easily cover Leo's rehabilitation costs.

As I reached the lobby, I saw Chad walking out, his arm draped over Mr. Miller’s shoulder.

"Don't worry, Mr. Miller! I’ll personally handle your account from now on!" Chad was shouting boisterously.

Mr. Miller saw me and looked slightly embarrassed.

"Liam... your boss just told me... you've been reassigned?"

I froze.

Chad grinned. "My uncle said big accounts need to stay within the family.

You should focus on internal training from now on, Liam."

He leaned in close to my ear. "Specifically, training people how to bark."

I stormed straight into Braden’s office.

"Mr. Cole! Mr. Miller's account was mine! I've been working on it for—"

"Oh, that?" Braden leaned back in his leather chair, propping his feet on the desk.

"I gave it to Chad. His aunt is married to Mr. Miller's cousin. They have a family connection, it’s easier to talk business."

"But I worked on this for six months..."

"And what did that get us?" He threw a stack of papers at me. "Look at this!

Chad signed the contract over one dinner last night. Six months of your work can't beat one night of drinking with my nephew."

I picked up the contract. The signature line bore Chad’s name.

"A dog is a dog," Braden sneered, lighting a cigar. "You’re good for guarding the house, but don't think you get to eat the steak."

When I got home, the house was dark. Chloe had texted saying she was staying at her mother's with Leo for a few days.

The fridge was empty. While searching for instant ramen, I noticed a box of expensive cigars in the trash can.

Cohibas. I didn't smoke.

My heart dropped.

I went into the bedroom. The nightstand drawer wasn't fully closed. Inside was an old iPhone that Chloe had stopped using a while ago.

Driven by a dark instinct, I picked it up. It was charged.

I tried our wedding anniversary as the passcode. Incorrect.

I tried Leo's birthday. It unlocked.

The photo gallery was filled with screenshots of Snapchat chats.

Between Chloe and Braden.

“Babe, when are you going to leave that loser and marry me?”

“Once the heat from Liam’s viral video dies down. I can't ruin the company's image right now.”

“He actually thinks Leo is his son. It’s hilarious.”

“Of course he does. I got you pregnant while he was passed out drunk. He never even touched you that night.”

The latest screenshot was a bank transfer from yesterday. Two hundred thousand dollars. The memo read: For my baby's new car.

I sank onto the floor. The hardwood felt ice-cold against my skin.

My phone rang.

"Mr. Miller, when will you be paying the remaining balance for Leo's surgery? Tomorrow is the absolute deadline."

I stared at the screen. Braden's smiling face was saved as my phone wallpaper.

Outside, the sky had turned pitch black.

I opened my laptop and clicked on an encrypted folder.

Inside were all the records of financial fraud, tax evasion, and corporate bribery that Braden had forced me to assist with over the years.

I backed everything up, encrypted the files, and sent them to a secure, anonymous email address.

Then, I dialed a number.

"Mr. Vance? This is Liam. Let’s meet tomorrow."

I looked around the empty apartment. In our wedding photo on the wall, Chloe was still smiling beautifully.

I started to laugh.

I laughed louder and louder, until my ribs ached, and I couldn't stop.