Chapter 2

2

On Wednesday afternoon, I went to one of her boutiques. She was the one who called, saying we should “catch up.”

Her voice on the phone was sickeningly polite. She told me it had been too long and that I should come by for a coffee.

When I arrived, I realized she wasn't alone. She had three new sales reps with her, all girls in their early twenties.

They all looked up at me when I walked in. There was something strange in their eyes.

It wasn't exactly hostility. It was more like curiosity. It was as if they were thinking, “Oh, so this is her.”

Mina was sitting on a velvet sofa, flaunting a fresh manicure while holding a latte. “Sienna! Oh my god, it’s been too long. You’ve lost weight!”

She stood up and hugged me, acting as if I were her own sister. Then, her tone shifted instantly.

“By the way, a few clients weren't happy with their old service, so I stepped in to help. You don't mind, do you?”

Stepped in to help. Seven clients.

That was two-thirds of my core revenue. “Mina, you know exactly what those clients mean to me,” I said coldly.

Her smile faltered for a split second before returning to its fake perfection. She set her coffee down, her voice remaining soft and sweet.

“Sienna, the market is only so big. Clients have the freedom to choose. You can't blame others for stealing your business just because you can't keep them, right?”

The three young sales reps looked down, hiding their smirks. I stood up and walked out.

I didn't close the door, and I didn't look back. But I knew this was only the beginning.

Two days later, I realized she hadn't just taken the clients. My two lead managers, whom I had trained for three years to take over operations, resigned at the same time.

My HR manager told me privately that Mina offered them a thirty percent raise. She even promised them stock options.

Later, anonymous accounts started posting in our industry group chats. “Some old-school suppliers look good on the outside, but their service is trash.” “I heard they’re about to go bankrupt and owe a ton of money to vendors.”

They didn't name me, but the timing was too perfect. Everyone knew who they were talking about.

My business, my team, and my reputation were being dismantled by one person.