Chapter 2

2.

“What?” As the CEO of the city’s top-listed corporation, my twin brother Lucas was stunned, followed by pure rage. “You did all the heavy lifting! If it weren’t for you, that place would still be a shell company. How dare they toss you aside like yesterday’s trash!”

“Don’t you worry. Anyone who bullies my sister will pay the price.”

Hearing my own flesh and blood stand up for me brought a tear to my eye. “Thanks, Lucas, but you are busy enough. I can handle this myself.”

My eyes hardened with resolve.

“I am going to make them realize exactly how big of a mistake they made.”

“Fine, I trust you. Once this is over, come back to our firm. I’ve been trying to get you to join for years, but you wanted to prove yourself. Turns out, the world outside isn't as fair as you thought.”

“If you want your own jewelry design department, I will build you one.”

Lucas and I are twins. He had a natural talent for finance and took over our father’s company after his master’s degree abroad, expanding it into an empire.

I inherited our mother’s love for jewelry design. I dreamed of being a famous designer, but I didn't want to ride my brother’s coattails. I wanted my own success.

I started at a smaller firm filled with passionate people, built my reputation from scratch, and helped that company achieve half of its current prestige.

I had burned out, working day and night until I collapsed from exhaustion. My family was heartbroken, so they reached out to invest in the company.

Seeing my colleagues so excited and full of hope, I couldn’t bear to have them pull the funding.

But Marcus, arrogant enough to think he had landed a whale, decided he didn't need me anymore. He threw me under the bus to coddle his little mistress.

The company owed everything to me.

But they chose to betray me.

They thought they could keep the spoils, but they didn’t realize that the resources they relied on were mine to begin with. I was their biggest patron.

Without a job, I had plenty of free time. I sprawled on my sofa, watched a movie, and idly checked social media. The company’s official account had tagged Heather, wishing her luck in the competition. The comments were full of my former subordinates cheering her on.

Below each comment were replies from Heather, full of gratitude and emojis.

No wonder she was so confident she could replace me. She’d been cultivating her little fan club for a long time.

I closed the app and messaged my bestie, Sophie.

“Want to go to the spa tomorrow morning?”

If I was out of a job, I might as well enjoy the life I had been neglecting.

The next day, Sophie and I were just settling into our massage chairs at the spa when my phone rang.

“Chloe, why aren't you at the venue? Where is your design statement? I can't find it anywhere!” Heather’s voice was laced with panic. I could picture her running around like a headless chicken.

I gave a cold laugh. “I was kicked out of the competition, remember? Why would I be there? As for the design statement, I was planning to improvise. You are an elite talent from abroad; surely you can handle it yourself?”

“Are you kidding me? There is no time to prepare! And because you pulled out, the investors withdrew over thirty million dollars! The whole company is falling apart!” Heather’s voice cracked, full of disbelief.

She had no idea how much I was valued.

“Thirty million? Just earn it back, right? You are so talented, so creative. After all, you look down on us old veterans, don't you?” I was thoroughly enjoying the chaos.

“I didn't mean it like that!” Heather scrambled, terrified for her future. “Just come to the venue. I will talk to the organizers, I will get them to add your name back in, okay?”

“Oh? So now you have pull with the organizers? Why even compete? Just have them hand you the award now.” I rolled my eyes, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“You made your choice, Heather. Now that you’ve crashed and burned, that’s on you. Good luck.”

Realizing she couldn't win, Heather turned nasty. “Chloe, you aren't all that! You just couldn't compete with me, so you’re tucking your tail and running away. You think the company can’t survive without you? You’ll regret this!”

“Laughable, Heather. You think Marcus will protect you forever? Relationships built on sleeping your way to the top don't last long. A word of advice: don't get too comfortable.”

“And by the way, I wasn't fired. I quit. I was tired of that dump.”

“You are just all talk, Chloe. Look at you, no one in the industry will ever hire you again.” Heather screeched. “Even without you, I will finish this competition. I will win, and I will crush you under my heel. Just you wait!”

I hung up, exhausted by her stupidity.

Sophie, lying next to me, had heard the whole thing. Her eyes went wide.

“What is wrong with her? Daring to challenge you? Does she want to get blacklisted in the city?”

“Who knows? It’s not my problem anymore.” I yawned, bored by the drama.

My old company had a decent reputation, but it wasn't the monopoly they thought it was. They were just desperate for new work, and Marcus had been trying to shove his protégés into my department for ages.

I used to think, they are all colleagues, what is the harm? Let them gain some experience. I never imagined they would view my professional demands as tyrannical oppression.

Now that I was gone, they could finally lick Heather’s boots to their heart’s content.

I couldn't wait to see how much Heather would actually get them.