“Oh perfect! Our husbands are here!” Amanda called excitedly, waving them over.
The men walked toward us confidently.
“Honey,” Amanda said, grabbing her husband’s arm. “This is Emily—our poor classmate. No husband, no career. Maybe your company has a job opening for her? Even something simple like making coffee?”
Tiffany and Rachel laughed loudly.
Amanda’s husband, Michael, glanced at me casually at first.
Then our eyes met.
The color drained from his face instantly.
His mouth fell open.
Behind him, the other two men froze with the exact same expression.
They looked as if they had just seen a ghost.
Slowly, I stood up and straightened my blouse.
“M-Ma’am… Ms. Carter?!” Michael stammered.
Before anyone could react, he bent forward in a deep bow.
The other two men immediately did the same.
“Good evening, Madam Chairwoman,” they said nervously in unison.
The entire restaurant went silent.
Amanda blinked in confusion.
“Honey… why are you bowing to her?” she asked. “That’s just Emily! Our classmate!”
“Stop talking, Amanda!” Michael snapped, sweat forming on his forehead. “Do you even know who she is?!”
He pointed at me with trembling hands.