As I cling to Zayn, trying to regain my composure, there's commotion outside my office door. It flew open and several employees - Wendy, Jill, and the chef Ricardo - barges in looking pale and shaken.
"Kattie, you're not going to believe this."
Wendy starts, her voice is trembling.
"When the paramedics were examining Mrs. Jones burns, they realized...the hair color I used was over 2 years expired!"
My blood ran cold as the implications hit me. Expired products could have severely augmented the chemical burn reaction.
Then Jill chimes in,
"And that's not all. We discovered the chicken in our caesar salad was bad - the use-by date was over a week ago!"
"What?! How is that possible?"
I clutched Zayn tighter, feeling faint.
Ricardo stepped forward, removing his chef's hat in anguish.
"I'm so sorry, but...it appears someone has been deliberately tampering with product dates all over Lavish Lifestyles. Swapping new stickers for expired ones on everything from hair dye to raw ingredients."
The room started spinning as I pieced it together.
"You mean...we've been sabotaged? On a huge scale?"
They all solemnly nodded in confirmation. After so much hard work building up my dream business, someone had been scheming to tear it all down from the inside out.
The walls are feeling like they are closing in. I turn to Zayn, shaking uncontrollably as burning tears streamed down my cheeks.
"Who could do something so evil? Who hates me that much?"
Zayn just held me tight, quietly rocking me as I broke down. The harsh reality is - my entire life's work at Lavish Lifestyles has been an unsafe, ticking time bomb thanks to the malicious sabotage. And I had no idea where to even begin to set things right.
Zayn holds me tightly as my body shakes with sobs, the reality of the situation setting in. My dream business, Lavish Lifestyles, has been utterly sabotaged from the inside in an unimaginably cruel way.
"At least the customers were taken to the hospital to get proper treatment."
Zayn says, trying to find any shred of positivity. He has been on the phone nonstop with my suppliers, vendors, and partners.
"They all claim the expired products didn't come from their end. Everything they sent over was fresh and properly dated."
He explains his grave expression.
I manage to choke out between cries,
"So it HAS to be an inside job then? One of our own employees is responsible for this?"
Zayn nods solemnly.
"It certainly seems that way. I can't imagine who would want to undermine your business so completely...but we have to get to the bottom of this."
A firm knock at the office door interrupts the heartbreaking moment. Two police officers enter, their faces stone cold.
"Ms. Kattie, I'm afraid we have no choice but to order the immediate closure of all Lavish Lifestyles facilities - the salon, restaurant, and boutique - until every inch has been examined by health and product safety professionals."
The words feel like a punch to the gut. I double over, barely catching my breath as the officers continue.
"This level of product tampering is a serious public safety hazard. We cannot allow Lavish Lifestyles to continue operating until the full extent of the sabotage is uncovered."
Zayn supports my trembling body as I break down again, wails of despair escaping my lips. My entire life's work, the very business that was my pride and joy, is being ripped away due to someone's twisted sabotage scheme.
"Who could do this to me?"
I cry out to no one in particular. As the officers scribble down notes about locking up the premises, Zayn just holds me and strokes my hair, trying to provide any shard of comfort in my darkest moment.
I have to call Emily. We were supposed to meet in a few hours. I would have made her cook for us to taste. I am willing to give her a job either way. Not that I already made up my mind that she cannot cook , but I just want to give her any job available so that she can have an income and make a living for herself.
"Hello Emily, it's Kattie from Lavish Lifestyles."
I manage to say, trying to control the shakiness in my voice.
"I'm so sorry, but I have to cancel our meeting scheduled for this afternoon. Something..."
I have to pause as a new wave of tears threatens to break through. Zayn squeezes my hand reassuringly as I continue.
"Something absolutely terrible has happened. It seems my entire business has been deliberately sabotaged by someone internally tampering with product dates and safety codes. There was an awful accident at the salon where a client was badly burned by expired color. And then a woman had to be rushed to the hospital after eating contaminated food at the restaurant!"
She gasps in horror on the other end.
"Oh my gosh, Kattie, that's just devastating to hear. I'm so incredibly sorry you're going through this nightmare."
I sniffle, barely holding it together.
"The police are shutting everything down until it can be professionally examined from top to bottom. I should have never allowed this to happen under my watch. My whole life's work is crumbling."
"Kattie, please don't lose hope. What happened wasn't your fault at all - you were criminally sabotaged by someone's sick actions. But you aren't alone in this. We may not know each other that well but I am so fond of you , I appreciate your kindness , I'm willing to be your shoulder to cry on."
Her kindness is unexpected, but I cling to it like a lifeline.
"Thank you, Emily. Honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to get through this nightmare and rebuild everything. I've poured my heart and soul into Lavish Lifestyles for years. To have it violated so maliciously just breaks me."
"I understand this is absolutely devastating," Emily says gently. "But you need to be strong for yourself and your employees who are also suffering. The authorities will get to the bottom of who did this unforgivable thing. And when the time comes to restart fresh, I'll be here to help in any way I can - whether that's assisting with the rebuild, passing out job applications, or just being a shoulder to lean on."
Tears stream down my face, but for once they are partially tears of gratitude and hope.
"You're a wonderful person, Emily. I'm ashamed we met under such ugly circumstances with what happened to you initially. Please let me make it up to you when this is all over."
"You focus on yourself right now."
Emily replies with a warmth that soothes my aching heart.
"The road ahead may be long and difficult, but I truly believe goodness will win over evil. You will recover stronger than ever."
"Thank you so much sweetheart."
Zayn sulks because I called Emily a sweetheart, making me laugh at him. He's being such a cute baby.
"I love you."
"I love you too babe. I want to update Candy about everything that has happened."
"Alright honey. Let me grab some of your stuff and take them to the car."
I watch him gathering my things and head out the door. I appreciate the space he's giving me to talk to my bestie.
I take a deep breath and video call Candy, needing the support of my best friend more than ever before. When she answers with a warm smile that quickly turns to concern at the sight of my puffy, tear-stained face, I struggle to find the words.
"Oh Candy...I don't even know where to begin. Everything has fallen apart at Lavish Lifestyles in just a matter of hours."
Candy's eyes widen with worry as I proceed to recount the horror story - the client burned by expired hair color, the woman hospitalized after eating contaminated food, and then the shocking discovery that someone had been maliciously tampering with product dates and safety codes on a massive scale.
"We've been sabotaged, Candy. Sabotaged to the core. The police are shutting everything down indefinitely until professionals can examine every inch of the place. My whole life, my entire business that I've worked so hard for...it's crumbling down in the blink of an eye thanks to someone's twisted vendetta."
Candy's hand covers her mouth in disbelief as I break down again.
"Who could do something so evil? What kind of sick person wants to see me fail this badly?"
Through the video, I can see Candy wipe away her own tears, shaking her head slowly.
"Oh sweetie, I'm so, so sorry. After everything you've been through building your dream...I can't even imagine the pain and betrayal you must feel right now."
She takes a steadying breath before continuing.
"But you can't let this break you, Kattie. The truth will come out about the saboteur and you'll be able to rebuild Lavish Lifestyles even stronger and safer than before. I'm here every step of the way, supporting you with everything I have, okay? We'll get through this awful nightmare together. You're my family. It's time I get back to work."
Her words provide a glimmer of light in the darkness. I clutch the phone tightly, immensely grateful to have someone like Candy in my life.
"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'll need you more than ever now to put the pieces back together, however long it takes."
I need her back here with me.
"I got you baby, stop crying please , I hate seeing you that way. You are making me cry too."
I give her a faint smile , we blow each other kisses and she hangs up. I drag my heavy body to the hallway where I've called yet another meeting. The hardest meeting I've ever had to lead. To tell all these people that we have been shut down.