Chapter 3 - The Last Supper
Saturday night arrived. The apartment looked immaculate. I had spent the day preparing a gourmet roast, chilling expensive wine, and setting the dining table with our wedding china.
At 7:00 PM, the doorbell rang.
Landon opened it, wearing a tailored suit bought with my bonus from two years ago. In walked two men I loosely recognized as his "crypto-investor" buddies—essentially, other unemployed men pretending to be tycoons.
And then, she walked in.
Belle.
She was twenty-something, beautiful in an obvious, heavily curated way. She wore a designer dress and carried a Chanel bag. My Chanel bag, I realized instantly. The one that had gone "missing" from my closet last month.
"Karen, this is Belle," Landon said, placing a possessive hand on her lower back. To his credit, he played it cool. "Belle, my wife, Karen."
"So nice to meet you," Belle said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. She looked around my apartment, her eyes lingering on the expensive art and furniture. "Landon talks about you. He says you work in... HR or something?"
"Corporate acquisitions," I corrected gently, taking their coats. "Please, sit. The wine is poured."
Dinner was a masterclass in psychological torture. I served the food, pouring wine while Landon held court. He spun wild tales about his "consulting firm," throwing around buzzwords like synergy, market disruption, and capital leverage.
Belle gazed at him with wide, adoring eyes. Under the table, I could see her foot rubbing against his calf.
"Landon is just brilliant," Belle announced to the table, taking a sip of Pinot Noir. "He’s paying for my entire mentorship program. He’s so generous with his wealth."
"He is," I agreed, wiping my mouth with a linen napkin. "Landon’s financial strategies are truly one of a kind. In fact, I prepared a little presentation tonight. To celebrate his... milestones."
Landon frowned. "A presentation? What are you talking about, Karen?"
May you like
I picked up the TV remote from the sideboard. "Just a little visual aid to show our guests exactly how your business operates."
I pressed the button. The massive 75-inch smart TV on the wall hummed to life.
