They still had rights under their current lease, and my company still had contractual obligations.
But renewal was never guaranteed.
And after watching one of the people associated with that business assault a child while displaying the brand’s diamonds and using social status as a weapon, I had no interest in extending the relationship.
The woman apparently understood the distinction perfectly.
“We built that store,” she said.
“You built your business inside property my company manages.”
“Our clients expect that address.”
“Then you should have considered your behavior before treating someone else’s child as if he were beneath you.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“So this is revenge.”
“No.
Revenge would be me trying to hurt you because I’m angry.
This is me deciding I don’t want another long-term business relationship with someone whose judgment I no longer trust.”
The words landed harder than shouting would have.
She glanced around again.
The guests were no longer watching Noah.
They were watching her.
That seemed to bother her more than anything.
She lowered her voice.
“We can talk about this privately.”
“You slapped him publicly.”
Her jaw tightened.
“I said I reacted badly.”
“You didn’t say that.
You said someone had to do something.”
She blinked.
The man with the phone raised it slightly.
The reminder was enough.
Everything she had said was recorded.
My cousin stepped closer to Noah.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
He hid behind my arm.
That small movement finally seemed to change the atmosphere completely.
Whatever fascination the guests had felt about the business revelation disappeared.
They were looking at a frightened five-year-old again.
My cousin’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered to me.
“You didn’t hit him.”
“I invited you here.
I should’ve stopped this sooner.”
I looked around at the people who had laughed when the woman asked who invited me.
“A lot of people should have stopped it sooner.”
Nobody argued.
The band members stood motionless near their instruments.
A server held a tray against his chest.
Even the bride and groom, who had been pulled into the disturbance from across the rooftop, were now watching in stunned silence.
The groom came forward first.
“She needs to leave.”
The woman looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“This isn’t your decision alone.”
He looked toward the bride.
She nodded.
“It is our wedding,” he said.
“And you hit a child at it.
