With that statement, even those who didn't know me before now recognized me—Grace Wilson.

In business circles, everyone's a seasoned player. No one openly disrespects others. They clinked glasses with me, exchanged polite words, and made empty promises to attend, the kind we all knew might not be kept.

Their words weren't necessarily sincere, and my invitation was just a formality.

But Rachel couldn't let it go. "You know," she started, her voice ...