“That’s Emily Carter, the owner of Hamilton Global! She signs the checks that pay our salaries! She’s my boss’s boss’s boss!”
Amanda’s face turned ghost white.
Tiffany looked like she might faint.
Rachel covered her mouth in shock.
The woman they had just mocked for being “unsuccessful”… was the reason their husbands had their high-paying jobs.
I looked at the three men calmly.
“So,” I said evenly, “Michael… you’re the Head of Marketing who keeps submitting reports late?”
“I’m so sorry, Ma’am! It won’t happen again!” he said desperately.
Then I turned to Rachel’s husband.
“And you’re the Vice President whose department’s sales have been declining?”
“M-Ma’am, I apologize—”
I raised a hand, stopping him.
Finally I looked at Amanda.
“You said your husband was very close to the company’s owner,” I said with a small smile. “Funny… this is the first time we’ve met.”
She looked like a soaked kitten now.
I leaned slightly closer to her and spoke quietly.
“The truly wealthy never need to announce themselves.”
Then I whispered the last part.
“Only empty barrels make the loudest noise.”
I picked up my bag.
“Michael. Daniel. Thomas.”
“Yes, Ma’am!” the three men answered instantly.