The Rival I Left Behind

"I only believe what I see." Vera let out a cold laugh. She suddenly reached down and snatched my bag, which had fallen in the scramble.

Everything spilled across the floor. The debt repayment plan, a few crumpled bills, and the box of painkillers I hadn't had time to hide.

Vera stared at the painkillers, then at the debt repayment plan from my bag.

"Apologize. Get on your knees and wipe the water off Cole's shoes, and I’ll let tonight go." A flash of something complex crossed Vera’s eyes.

"Otherwise, I’ll tell Diane to take back her promise immediately."

A crowd of onlookers had already gathered at the restroom door to watch the drama.

Cole leaned into Vera, his voice performatively kind. "Vera, let it go. Mylo probably didn't mean it. He’s clearly going through a lot right now...."

"Struggling isn't an excuse to hurt people." Vera cut him off, her eyes locked on mine. "Mylo. Get down and wipe his shoes clean."

My mind went blank for a second.

Get on my knees?

Back when we were at the same company, I never once bowed my head, even when clients were screaming in my face.

Vera and I fought for seven years. Even at my lowest, when she locked me in that supply closet, I just used a fire extinguisher to smash the door open and charge out.

But now, Diane was still holding my father's ashes as collateral, and I was still twenty thousand dollars short for my surgery.

I looked into Vera’s eyes, which were full of nothing but hatred, and realized that dignity can be a very cheap thing sometimes.

My knees gave way. To the sound of gasps from the crowd, I actually knelt.

Vera’s body visibly stiffened.

I kept my head down, mechanically pulling a tissue from my bag. I carefully wiped the water spots off Cole's shoes. Tears hit the floor in heavy droplets.

Vera, you won.

Vera didn't look satisfied that I was on my knees. Instead, her face went pale, looking almost panicked and ashamed. She suddenly grabbed my arm, her grip so tight I thought she might crush the bone.

"Mylo, are you really this desperate for money? You’d throw away your self-respect for a debt?"

She growled the words into my ear, her voice shaking with rage.

I looked at her, feeling numb. "Isn't this what you wanted, Ms. Quinn? You wanted to see me beg. I'm begging. Are you happy now?"

Vera stared at me. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the surgery notice on the floor.

Panic flared in my chest. I tried to grab it, but she was faster.

Her expression shifted to alarm as she gripped the paper. "Stomach cancer surgery? You're sick?"

Before I could answer, Cole suddenly clamped a hand on my shoulder.

"Is it a fake?" Cole asked with fake concern. "I mean, when Mylo and Vera worked together, he used to pull extreme stunts like this all the time.

"Mylo, I know you want to win, but you shouldn't joke about your health.

"Look at this. A surgery notice, painkillers—it’s all so perfectly prepared. Just like that time you told me to frame Vera.

"Ahh... did I say too much? Sorry, sorry. My bad. I promised I’d keep that a secret."

Cole gave an innocent shrug, looking performatively apologetic. He paused on purpose, making everyone in the room look at me with suspicion.

My head throbbed. Rage surged through me as I shoved Cole’s hand away. "Shut up!"

The next second, Vera grabbed my hand.

She let out a frustrated laugh. "So, Mylo. You’ll do anything with zero boundaries for a bit of profit, right?

"I really underestimated you. I thought these three years had actually humbled you."

"I didn't do it."

Maybe it was the stress, but the pain in my stomach was getting worse. My vision started to blur.