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I escorted her to the front desk so that she could make her next appointment.
“Imani, I’m about to take a lunch break before my next appointment. If you need anything, please call me.”
“Okay, Dr. Champagne,” Imani replied as she pulled up the calendar on her monitor to schedule Kelly’s next appointment.
I turned back to my office to grab my purse just as I heard a voice behind me.
“Dr. Champagne. Or should I say, future Mrs. Casimir Perez.”
I swiftly turned around with a glare in my eyes as I spotted Bethany walking through the door. With her sky blue cashmereChanel suit and matching purse and those Manolo Blahnik heels, she looked like the billions of dollars that she was worth.
“I hope you’re not here for the marriage counseling. If you are, I’d watch my back, or better yet, your husband,” Bethany stated to a confused Kelly.
I swiftly made my way to Bethany until we stood toe-to-toe. “Would you like a moment of my time, Ms. Huffington-Bradwell?” I hissed.
She sneered, and her eyes flashed with fire.
“Are you afraid?” she hissed back.
“Never that, sweetheart. You can fuck with me, but don’t you dare touch my business or threaten it again,” I hissed.
A clearing throat behind me forced me to straighten the lapels of my jacket before I replied, “Come with me.”
I turned sharply on my heels, headed to my office, and breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of Bethany’s heels clicking on the marble floor behind me. I made a mental note to thank Imani later for sending a subtle reminder that I had a patient.
I didn’t bother to look in Kelly’s or Imani’s direction as I passed the reception desk on the way to my office. When Bethany stepped inside, I closed the door firmly behind her.
“Speak,” I demanded.
“While you were busily brainwashing my husband to leave his marriage and career—”
“Ex-husband,” I replied.
“Either way, I would suggest that you reconsider it. I was not playing when I told you that I would have your license suspended. I have had a formal complaint drawn up, and when I leave your office today, it will be sent to the state Board after I make one phone call to my attorney. It’s completely up to you what the outcome of your future looks like.”
I scoffed. “Are you threatening me, Bethany?”
“I don’t issue threats, only promises. You have the power.”
“And what am I supposed to do to keep you from doing that? I guess you want me to stay away from Casimir.”
She clapped and smiled sweetly. “I knew that you didn’t earn that doctor’s degree by being stupid. You may have made some foolish choices, but you’re a smart woman.”
“Why do you feel threatened by me?”
“I don’t, but you destroyed my marriage.”
“Do you really believe that, Bethany? You do not even love that man.”
“You have no idea how I feel about him.”
“I watched you week after week sit here and ridicule him for his past, denigrate his ideas, and idealize yourself. Nothing about your actions or words spoke of love, Bethany. I’m not sure if you even love yourself.”
“How dare you!”
“Because it’s the truth, and I’m committed to telling that, if nothing else.”
“I don’t know what you did to my husband, if it was in the bedroom or if he was under your desk, but you have him making very foolish decisions. Quitting the company when he did and the news of our divorce being made public were not smart decisions on his part. That information is hitting the company in a very real way, as demonstrated by our falling stock prices this last week. It hit the staff, investors, and consumers in this country. If you care at all about him, you will move him to reconsider his position. It will impact his bottom line too. And when my father retaliates, it will be with a firm and swift hand.”