Chapter 3

3

Here we go again.

Another meeting that served no purpose other than to stroke the boss's ego.

I ignored them and kept packing.

Through the thin walls, I could hear Mr. Lovell's voice.

"I'll keep this brief.

"Some people don't know their place. They think a little bit of luck makes them untouchable! They think they can question my authority! We don't need that kind of poison here.

"Whether I demote or promote someone, you must trust the process! There's a reason for everything. Leo, stand up. Tell them why Raina had to go."

I heard a chair scrape. That was Leo.

"Well… Boss! Raina might look capable, but her attitude is terrible. She leaves the second the clock hits five! It's bad for morale. As employees, we should be willing to bleed for this company!"

"Bravo!"

Cece's solitary cheer was met with a few scattered, half-hearted claps.

It was a classic brainwashing session. They were using me as a scapegoat to scare everyone else into submission.

It was peak corporate greed.

My phone buzzed. My team had started a secret group chat.

"This is disgusting. I can't listen to this anymore."

"If this company focused on actual business instead of kissing the boss's feet, we'd double our revenue. We wouldn't have to rely on Raina to carry us."

"Bleed for the company? For fifteen dollars an hour? He's insane."

"Raina, are you really leaving?"

Mrs. Gable chimed in.

"Raina, dear, the boss is just trying to provoke you. If you quit now, you won't get any severance. Think about it."

I sent a sticker of a dog shaking its head.

"It's fine. I have a plan."

Mrs. Gable sent a sad face. She probably thought I was being naive and didn't realize how hard it is to fight a corporation.

But she didn't know the truth.

The land this office building sat on belonged to my family.

For every dollar they cut from my salary, I was going to add ten to their rent.

As I walked toward the elevator, Cece gave me one last smirk.

"Some people are just born to be losers. Talent means nothing if you don't have the right bloodline."

I didn't even look at her. I just texted my dad. "I quit. I'm coming home."

After hiring movers to take my things to a storage unit, I drove to the outskirts of the city.

I could hear the fireworks from a mile away.

"Hahaha! My girl is finally back!"

My dad ran out of the manor, laughing at the top of his lungs.

One of the reasons I hadn't come home in years was his… eccentric personality.

"I told you to just take over the family business. Why did you have to go suffer with that loser?"

I sighed.

Leo had never been a good student. He was always obsessed with "networking," which mostly meant buying lunch for the student council president or playing golf with professors.

I knew he couldn't cut it at my dad's company.

But I also didn't want to use my connections. I wanted us to earn it. So I went to the Lovell Agency with him.

I wanted to sharpen my skills in a different environment and help him grow.

The plan was to reveal my identity as the Sterling heiress once we were successful enough to take over the family empire.

But Leo never changed. He spent his days sucking up to management instead of learning the business.

While I was out there grinding to close deals, Leo was busy taking the office leads out to dinner.

And now he'd set his sights on Cece.

Did he really think being a trophy boyfriend would be that easy?

"Maybe it's a curse," I joked. "The rich girl has to get betrayed by a loser before she can truly rise. It's a classic plot twist."

"Don't be sad, honey," my dad said, patting my shoulder. "I've got a gift for you. I'm giving you the deed to the Lovell building. You do whatever you want with it. Crush that little cockroach who bullied my daughter."

"Thanks, Dad. That warms my heart."

"Good. Because winter is coming for the Lovells."