Chapter 9: Breaking Point

Brian laughed, loud and mocking. “Did everyone hear that? He said I’ll have to deal with the consequences. Ooooh, I’m shaking in my boots!”

He leaned in, voice low. “You’re just a guest here, coffee guy. The meeting’ll go on without you.”

He tapped his temple, bringing up my dad. My jaw clenched. The faces around me—once familiar—looked like strangers now. Was this what reunions were for?

Brian sneered, pushing two full bottles of Jack my way. “You want to leave? Drink these first. Otherwise, forget it.” Phones came out, the energy in the room electric.

I stood up, voice cold and clear. “Brian, I’ll warn you one last time. Do you even know who you’re trying to stop tonight? Let me go now, or you’ll be the one regretting it.”

Rachel tried to help: “Brian, we’re all classmates. Why make things so difficult? Just let Eric go. Maybe he really does have something urgent.”

Brian rolled his eyes. “Rachel, what, you got a thing for this little clerk? Used to flirt with him, right?” The room buzzed, gossip flying.

Rachel’s face turned red. “Don’t talk nonsense. We’re all classmates.”

Brian’s sycophants jumped in, keeping the pressure on. I refused to argue further, but Brian’s eyes turned cold and he signaled the waiters to hold me down. “You want to leave without drinking? Not happening.”

I shoved the waiters aside. “Whether you’re a decent person or not is none of my business. Want me to teach you how to behave?”

Brian glared. “Drink it, or I’ll go smash your car.”

I looked him dead in the eye. “I won’t drink, and I don’t believe you have the guts to smash my car.”

The room went dead silent. For the first time all night, Brian didn’t have a comeback.