My vision blurred red. I lunged forward like a man possessed, dropping to my knees in the grimy puddle, snatching the one thing still left on the desk—a small Blessing Pouch.
My grandmother had sewn it for me by hand. The night before she went into the ICU.
I tore it open with shaking fingers.
The Protection Charm that had been inside was shredded to ribbons.
"Dean Cooley!" My teeth were clenched so hard my jaw ached. My whole body trembled. "If you have a problem with me, take it up with me. You destroyed something my family made. Aren't you afraid that kind of cruelty comes back around?"
Dean didn't flinch. He threw his head back and laughed.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve? What's the matter—your almighty gods can't even protect one little pouch?"
"A fraud is a fraud. A few cheap psychological tricks, and you actually started believing you were some kind of living saint?"
More and more coworkers gathered around us. Not a single one spoke up.
I swallowed the urge to throw him out the window.
"Fine." My voice was low and flat. "Since I'm no longer part of this company, give me back my half of the Sacred Oracle Cup."