“Are you at all familiar with a company called Heron LLC?”

She pales. “No, why should I?”

“So you’ve never heard the name Heron LLC. It’s a company based in the Cayman Islands, a notorious tax haven.”

“Never,” she says haughtily, moving her chin up. “Can we return to the original scope of this interview? Why are we talking about the Cayman Islands? Unless of course it’s to discuss our newest resort collection.” Rebecca lets out a high-pitched laugh.

“In a moment.” Oh, you’re not wiggling out of this one. “But you see, I find it weird the name Heron LLC is unfamiliar to you. According to a former employee of Maison Vanderbilt, your company used to pay millions in management fees to Heron every year.”

“This is nonsense.” Rebecca searches with her eyes for help, looking very much like a trapped animal. No one comes to her aid.

Luck is on my side as her PA seems to have vanished after she made sure the interview was going smoothly, leaving her boss completely at my mercy.

“Mrs. Vanderbilt, isn’t paying management fees to an offshore company one of the easiest means of tax evasion?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Just to be clear, as CEO of Maison Vanderbilt, you’re denying ever committing tax fraud.”

“You’ve no proof of these absurd allegations you’re making.”

“I have the word of a former accountant at your company. Anyway, are you claiming I’ve no proof or that the fact never subsisted?”

Now she stands up. “This interview is over. Over! You silly girl. Dare make public a second of this reckless ambush and you’ll never be able to show your face in Manhattan ever again. I’ll make sure no one ever hires you.”

I stand up as well. “I already have a job, thank you.”

“Not when I sue your little magazine for every cent it has.”

“I’m sure any judge will recognize the truth of our statements, or the IRS will. Mrs. Vanderbilt, I’m afraid it will be you hiding your face around Manhattan when this interview goes live. Because rest assured, it will go live…”

That’s when a composed, supposedly classy, if not very honest woman completely loses it and turns into a bratty child. Screaming and destroying everything in her path.

***

A few days later, everyone in the office has gathered behind my desk to watch the video of the interview on my computer. Well, everyone except for Richard, who, for some reason, has not shown up to work yet. I hate the disappointment I feel at him not being here to witness my success.

Where the hell is the boss?

“Uuuuuhh-uuuuh,” my colleagues cheer as they watch Rebecca Vanderbilt hit the camera.

I’ve uploaded the final footage to YouTube this morning and Hugo, our News Editor, has posted Michael’s supplementary article on our homepage.

“This is my favorite part,” Hugo says. “When she grabs the camera and sends it crashing down.”

“No, no,” Indira says. “You have to wait until the very end.”