The man towered over me. “Take a good look at yourself. Do you still think you have a shot with the World Piano Tour Ensemble? Newsflash, buddy—you were kicked off the international committee a long time ago.”
His words hit me like a bolt of lightning.
My head snapped up, my eyes wide with disbelief. “What… what did you say?”
I turned to Margot, searching her face for answers.
She didn’t flinch. Her icy gaze met mine as she confirmed it without hesitation.
“You’ve been removed,” she said matter-of-factly. “That’s the price you pay for refusing to admit your mistakes.”
“Mistakes?” I shouted, my composure finally breaking. “Margot, I lost everything because of you! My career, my reputation, my life— you destroyed all of it for Steven. And you’re asking me to admit I’m wrong? Tell me, who’s really in the wrong here?”
Her expression hardened, her eyes narrowing in irritation at my outburst.
“You secretly recorded me and Steven. How is that not wrong?” she snapped, her tone sharp and condescending.
Steven, ever the opportunist, slid an arm around her waist, his signature smirk plastered across his face.