5
Rossa's complexion drained, her disbelief evident. William, standing next to her, balled his hands and shot me an angry look.
"Stop this nonsense! Rossa was only kidding. How could you take her seriously? You can't possibly expect her to bark in front of everyone!"
I arched an eyebrow and surveyed the room.
"She declared it herself—she'd bark if it were genuine. I didn't come up with this idea. What's wrong? Is the respected secretary of Walter Group going to dismiss her own pledge as a mere jest?"
This gathering wasn't just for family. The attendees celebrating my mother-in-law's birthday included Walter Group executives, business associates, and prominent figures from Glasgow's political and corporate spheres.
Moreover, Rossa had provoked me out of envy. Given the situation—both as the rightful matriarch of the Walter Family and as its public face—I had every justification to exert my authority.