When the Golden Goose Bites Back

my back, I stood up fr

r a moment," I said, my voi

e. Take your time." He was already talking to Molly a

olished concrete floor. I didn't go for air. I went straight to

, not from fear, but

t; she was one of my closest friends. Her father founded the tech startup InnovateX, and I had just closed the

ring. "Gabby? What's up?

" I said, keeping my voice even. "It's

just done, the public ambush, the p

then she exploded. "He did what? Tha

w, I need a favor. A big one. The final payment for the HQ deal

eduled for tomorr

m there's a documentation review or something. Just don

itation. "I'll call accounting right now. They won't g

arted," I said. "Tha

divorce, remember? This is what friends do. We burn down t

two other key clients, people I' d built strong personal relationships with over years of honest work. A restaurant gr

to ask them twice. They all trusted me.

in full swing. Someone had brought out a cheap bottle of ch

she is! Our hero! Don't worry, Ga

k. "No, thanks. Y

walked out of the office. They were too b

rate. The cloc