Chapter 6- My savoir

Trent’s parents’ voices thundered over the music. Harris’s spit flew as he accused Cassie of theft, his face blotched red, while Taylor jabbed her manicured finger like a dagger in Cassie’s direction.

The crowd stilled. Champagne glasses hovered mid-air. Whispered speculation swelled through the guests—eyes wide, necks craning, mouths covered by jeweled hands.

The humiliation pressed in on Cassie, hot and suffocating, the afternoon sun glaring down on her like an interrogation lamp.

It seemed like Harris and Taylor were not going to stop their rant anytime soon.

Then, like a shark cutting through still waters, Ross Silverwood appeared—tall, sleek in a charcoal suit that caught the light with predatory elegance.

Only a few years older than Trent, yet carrying himself with the smug gravitas of a man who had long perfected the art of deceit. His cologne—expensive, musky, precise—drifted ahead of him.

The same man who embezzled millions from the company and managed to frame her for it.

His name was Ross Silverwood, the most cunning Silverwood.

"Hey, hey, calm down," he said, placing a firm hand on Harris's shoulder. "Let's not make a scene."

Harris and Taylor turned to him still fuming.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I do know that yelling at Cassie isn't going to solve anything," he said calmly.

"Fine," Harris muttered. "But this isn't over."

Daria, Cassie's assistant, looked on with sympathy, but said nothing. She knew Cassie was innocent, but she also knew that speaking up would only escalate the situation. Or get her fired.

Just then, Cora's convertible screeched to a halt right in front of Cassie, Trent's parents, and the stunned party guests.

She leaned casually against the wheel, sunglasses catching the glow of the estate’s lanterns. Cassie didn’t think, didn’t breathe—she hurled the car key she had been clutching onto the grass, heels digging into the driveway gravel as she sprinted toward the convertible. She yanked the door open herself, diving inside.

“Go!” she barked, snapping her seatbelt into place.

Cora grinned and floored it, peeling out and leaving the chaos behind. As they sped away, Cassie caught a glimpse of Trent's parents standing in the driveway, their faces red with rage.

She smiled to herself, letting out a deep sigh. She reached over and took Cora's hand, their fingers intertwining.

"Thank you," Cassie whispered. She leaned over and kissed the back of Cora's hand, "You're a lifesaver," Cassie added, smiling at Cora.

Cora smiled back, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Cassie," she said, squeezing Cassie's hand gently. "I've got your back."

Cora glanced over at Cassie. "You okay?" she asked. Normally Cassie would have started crying by now.

Cassie nodded, still holding Cora's hand. "Yeah, thanks to you," she said, smiling weakly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up."

Cora chuckled. "You'll never have to find out," she said, squeezing Cassie's hand again. "I'll always be there to bail you out."

Cassie laughed. "I'm going to hold you to that," she said, smiling up at Cora.

She turned to Cora, "Trent and his family are a bunch of idiots," she spat, "How could they do this to me?"

Cora's expression turned sympathetic, and she reached out to put a comforting hand on Cassie's arm. "Hey, it's okay," she said softly.

But Cassie was beyond consolation. Tears slowly started to stream down her face, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. "I'm so stupid," she muttered, shaking her head. "I should have seen this coming."

Cora's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her eyes flashing with anger on Cassie's behalf. "You're not stupid, Cassie," she said firmly. "You're just... trusting. And that's not a bad thing."

"And to think Ross had the nerve to stand there and pretend to be innocent. Meanwhile, the sleezy bastard was behind everything!"

Cora's eyes widened in surprise, and she slapped her hand on the steering wheel. "That pretty motherfucker is evil?" she exclaimed, her voice incredulous.

Cassie nodded, a wry smile on her face. "Apparently," she said.

Cora's expression turned thoughtful, and she frowned. "I didn't see that coming," she said. "He seemed so charming and nice."

"The bastard set me up!"

Cora let out a loud, cathartic scream, "Fuck the Silverwoods!" she yelled, her voice carrying through the LA air.

She turned to Cassie, grinning mischievously. "Come on, Cassie, let it out!" she encouraged.

Cassie hesitated for a moment, a smile spreading across her face. Then, she too let out a loud scream, "Fuck the Silverwoods!" she yelled, her voice blending with Cora's.

As they screamed, Cora floored it, the car speeding down the highway. The wind whipped through their hair, and the palm trees blurred together as they passed by.

They just laughed and screamed together.

"I need to go to the office," she said.

Cora raised an eyebrow. "Now? Why?"

"Because I need to get my things," Cassie explained. "And I'm guessing no one will be there to stop me."

Cora's eyes lit up with understanding. "You think everyone's at the Silverwoods'?"

Cassie nodded. "I'm sure of it. And even if they're not, I'm willing to bet that the office is empty."

Cora grinned. "Let's go find out."

Cassie pulled out her phone and dialed the building manager's number. After a brief conversation, she hung up and turned to Cora.

"I was right," she said, "The executives are all at the Silverwoods', and everyone else was given the day off."

Cora let out a whoop of excitement. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get your stuff!"

...

As they pulled up to the office building, the building manager was waiting for them at the entrance. He smiled and handed Cassie a master key.

"You're the boss now," he said with a wink.

"I was a week ago!" she frowned.

"I'm sorry Miss Murphy, I don't believe any of that bullshit on the news."

Cassie pulled out her phone immediately. "News?"

Cassie's eyes widened in outrage as she scrolled through her phone. She was everywhere - on the news, on social media, and even on the Silverwood company website.

The headlines all screamed the same thing: "Cassidy Accused of Embezzlement Scandal".

Cassie's face burned with anger and humiliation. They didn't even bother add her last name, her parents had truly cut her off. She knew the Silverwoods were capable of playing dirty, but this was a new low.

She felt Cora's eyes on her and turned to see a mixture of shock and anger on her face.

"They're really trying to ruin me, aren't they?" Cassie said, her voice shaking with rage. She cupped her face in her palms.

Cora's expression turned grim. "No, no! Cassie we are not doing this. We are not crying today. We'll get through this, Cassie. Together."

"Who's crying?" Cassie pulled her face out of palm cackling maniacally.

"I wanna fuck shit up Cora. They ruined my life!"

"Fuck the Silverwoods?" Cora asked.

"Fuck the Silverwoods!" Cassie said firmly.

Cassie and Cora burst into giggles. They squealed like little girls, their laughter echoing off the walls.

As they made their way to the office, they continued to scream "Fuck the Silverwoods!" at the top of their lungs, reveling in the cathartic release.

The empty halls amplified their voices, making it sound like a chorus of defiance.

They laughed and shouted claiming the office as their own temporary playground.

Cassie tore through the security room, yanking wires, shutting off cameras. Darkness gave them cover. Together they rampaged through the office—papers fluttering like snow, chairs overturned, desks ransacked.

Cassie grabbed a letter opener, her laughter sharp and giddy, slicing through contracts and reports until the air was thick with shredded confetti.

Cora whooped and joined in, kicking files across the floor, scattering years of careful order into chaos.

Cora joined in, laughing maniacally as they destroyed everything in sight.

Finally, they made their way to the underground parking lot. Cassie popped the trunk of her car, revealing Trent's prized autographed golf clubs.

A wicked grin spread across Cassie's face as she reached for the clubs. "Time to give these a new home," she said.

Her fingers curled around the leather grip. The weight steadied her pulse, but adrenaline surged hotter, wilder.

She swung. The glass of Trent’s Corvette exploded in a glittering spray. The metallic groan of dented doors rang like music.

“This car—” Cassie’s breath hitched between cackles—“I bought him this car. And he loved it more than he ever loved me!”

Cora's eyes flashed with anger, but she said nothing, instead handing Cassie another golf club. Together, they continued their destruction, smashing the car's windows and denting its sleek body.

She shoved another club into her hands. “Then let’s give him a new memory.”

Their laughter mingled with the symphony of destruction—shattering glass, tearing metal, the rhythmic pound of vengeance echoing through the garage.

“Stop!” A guard’s shout cracked through the chaos, his footsteps echoing. His hand hovered at his belt.

"Time to go," Cora said, grabbing the box of Cassie's belongings.

They giggled and hopped into Cora's convertible. As they sped away, they tossed the master keys to the building manager.

Just like that, they were gone, disappearing into the Los Angeles traffic like ghosts.The engine roared, smoke and laughter trailing behind them, their voices still echoing, stomachs aching from laughter, tears of release streaking their cheeks

“You know,” Cassie gasped between hysterical giggles, “we could go to prison for this.”

Cora’s laugh was wild, reckless, unstoppable. “I know, baby!”

And the night swallowed them whole.