That last one landed hard. The crowd nearest the stage began backing away. Even his own people — security team and all — began distancing themselves from his physical presence.
“He built his empire through underground fights,” I said, thinking of Ripley. “He manipulated bets, paid men to take falls. He used all of you, as a means to his own ends. He set traps, then destroyed the careers of anyone who didn’t cooperate.”
Full-blown panic erupted now. The crowd, riddled with anxiety, ebbed and flowed.
“He bought people,” I went on. “He paid off families. He lied through his teeth, to influence relationships.”
I scanned the crowd for my dear mother, but couldn’t find her. It was just as well. I didn’t want to see her anyway.
“He gave me this as a wedding present,” I said, holding up the silver locket. “He told me it belonged to his dead sister.”
For a brief moment everything stopped; even the shouts and murmurs. Heads turned. All eyes fell upon the tiny piece of delicate silver, dangling from the chain between my fingers.
“My poor fiancé never had a sister,” I said, my voice edged with sadness. “As with everything else, he uses sentiment to manipulate. To control. To own.”
Theo’s voice crackled softly in my ear again. This time it was almost reverent.
“It’s done.”
I swallowed hard, looking back one last time at the man I once thought I loved. All of a sudden he seemed very small. Very insignificant, and far away.
“Donovan Prescott never really built anything in his life,” I said, spinning back to the crowd. “All he’s ever done is destroy.”
A span of silence followed my last statement. Two or three seconds, that seemed to last forever.
“This is who you called a visionary,” I continued on. “This is who you funded, and lauded, and praised.”
I pointed back at him, while walking pointedly to the edge of the stage.
“Tonight though,” I finished softly, “you get to decide what that says about you.”
Theo cut the connection abruptly, with a loud crackle of static. It was the equivalent of a mic drop.
Almost immediately, the voices started up again.
The stage was high, but now I could see Colson beneath me. Ripley was there too, standing beside him. I lifted my dress and hopped down, into their arms, trusting they’d catch me.
And of course, they did.
Back on the floor, with my lovers’ hands still lingering at my waist, I looked up to the stage. The man who thought he owned everything was staring up at the screen, watching it all disappear. His knees were buckled. His arms dangled helplessly at his sides.
And for the first time in forever, Donovan Prescott stood alone.
