THEY LAUGHED AT ME AT THE REUNION BECAUSE I WAS SINGLE AND NO ONE CAME — BUT WHEN I CAME

THEY LAUGHED AT ME AT THE REUNION BECAUSE I WAS SINGLE AND NO ONE CAME — BUT WHEN THEIR “RICH” WIFES ARRIVED, THEY ALMOST KNEELED IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I WAS THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY THEY WERE INVITING
High School Reunion. The occasion where everyone competes to see who is the most sophisticated.

I was sitting quietly in the corner, drinking juice. I was wearing a simple white blouse and slacks. Not much jewelry. No designer bag.

Bea’s group, the queen bee in high school and still a bully, approached me. She was accompanied by her henchmen Cindy and Karen.

“Oh my gosh, Sarah!” Bea screamed, heard by the entire restaurant. “Is that you? Are you still simple? Are you still single?”

They laughed.

“Yes, of course,” Cindy added, showing the sparkling ring on her finger. “We’re even happier, happily married. My husband is a Senior Manager at the Valdez Group of Companies. His bonus was so big last month that he bought me a Chanel bag.”

“Oh, my husband is even more intense,” Karen interjected. “He’s also the VP of Operations at the Valdez Group. That’s why we’re in the same subdivision together. You, Sarah? What do you do? You look stressed.”

I just smiled sheepishly. “I just do a small business. Consultant sometimes.”

“Consultant?” Bea said sheepishly. “That means you’re jobless but you don’t want to admit it. Oh, Sarah. If you married a rich man like us, I hope you’re not poor. My husband? He’s the Head of Marketing at the Valdez Group. They’re really close with the owner!”

I didn’t move. I let them brag. What they don’t know is that my grandfather bequeathed the Valdez Group of Companies to me last year. I am the Chairman and CEO. But because I don’t like the media, no one knows my face except the top executives and board members.

Time passed. All bragging. All insults to our classmates who didn’t advance much.

After a while, their pick-up arrived. Three men in suits entered the restaurant. They looked tired from work.

“Oh! Our hubbies are here!” Bea shouted. “Boys! Here!”

Their husbands approached. They walked proudly.

“Honey,” Bea said to her husband Mike. “Meet Sarah. Our poor classmate. Single and unemployed. Maybe there’s an opening in your company? Even a janitor or a coffee maker?”

Cindy and Karen laughed.

Mike looked at Sarah, hoping to join in the fun. But when our eyes met, Mike suddenly turned pale. His eyes widened. His jaw dropped.

The same reaction was shown by Cindy and Karen’s husbands who were behind him. It was as if they had seen a ghost.

I slowly stood up. I adjusted my blouse.

“M-Ma’am… Ma’am Sarah?!” Mike stammered.

Mike suddenly bowed almost 90 degrees. The other two men bowed as well. They were trembling with fear.

“G-Good evening, Ma’am Chairman!” they greeted in unison.

The entire restaurant fell silent. The smiles on Bea, Cindy, and Karen’s faces disappeared.

“Honey?” Bea asked, confused. “Why are you calling her Ma’am? That’s just Sarah! Our loser classmate!”

“Bea, shut up!” Mike shouted at his wife, making her sweat profusely. “Don’t you know who this is?! She’s Ms. Sarah Valdez! The owner of the Valdez Group! She’s the one who pays our salaries! She’s the Boss of the Boss of my Boss!”

Bea turned pale. Cindy looked like she was going to faint. Karen covered her mouth.

The woman they were insulting earlier who never got anywhere… is the reason why they have food on the table and luxury on their bodies.

I looked at them one by one.

“So,” I began, calmly but firmly. “Mike, are you the Head of Marketing who is always late to submit reports?”

“S-sorry Ma’am! It won’t happen again!” Mike replied, almost in tears.

“And you,” I turned to Karen’s husband. “VP of Operations? I heard that sales in your department are down. But it looks like you have money for a date here?”

“M-Ma’am, I’m sorry!”

I turned to Bea. The queen bee now looked like a wet chick.

“Bea,” I smiled. “You said earlier, your husband is close to the owner? I just saw you today. And as far as I know, I don’t like employees with poor wives.”

I leaned closer to her ear and whispered.

“The truly rich don’t have to shout to get noticed. Only an empty can makes noise.”

I grabbed my bag.

“Mike, Dave, John,” I called to their husbands.

“Yes, Ma’am?!” they replied immediately.

“Tomorrow morning, I want to see your resignation letter on my desk. If you can’t discipline your wives to be humble, you don’t deserve to be a leader in my company.”

“Ma’am! Don’t! It’s like you’re being pitiful!” they begged.

I didn’t listen to them anymore. I walked out of the restaurant. Outside, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up. The driver opened the door for me.

Before I could

I turned to them one last time. They were still stunned, and the couple was starting to fight.

“It’s your fault, Bea! You’re such a blabbermouth!” I heard Mike shout.

I smiled. The juice was delicious earlier, but this reunion was even better.