Chapter 3

When my assistant brought Chloe in, she gave me a look like she couldn't care less.

She plopped herself down without so much as a hello and said, "Ms. Summers, what do you want?"

"You're fired," I said.

Guess I don't need to ask what happened anymore.

Chloe glared at me, refusing to back down. "And who do you think you are to fire me? Mr. Bennett brought me in himself. You can't just kick me out."

"You messed up our oldest client, the Stellar Enterprises deal. The second you got involved, Summers Corp lost their business. With a blunder like that, who else would I fire if not you?" I said, barely glancing up from my papers.

"Summers Corp is a massive company. Losing Stellar Enterprises isn't a big deal, we've got plenty of other clients. Besides, all that money we lost was Summers Corp's anyway. I was trying to cut costs for the company."

She looked so full of herself, like she was absolutely right. Honestly, it was so ridiculous I couldn't help but laugh.

Dealing with an airhead like her? Not worth the effort.

"Mr. Taylor, take her to process her resignation," I said.

But Chloe refused to leave. "On what grounds are you firing me? Uncle Richard brought me in himself. Does he even know you're kicking me out?"

I shot Assistant Jason Taylor a look. "Get her out of here."

Jason stepped forward to reach for her, but Chloe jerked his hand away.

Chloe sneered, "You have no right to fire me! Don't think I don't see through your little scheme. Your parents are getting divorced and you blame my mom, right?

"Well, newsflash: my mom and Uncle Richard are about to get married, and I'll be his daughter soon. This company will be his, and I'll get half of it too."

I rubbed my forehead in exasperation.

If the daughter's this clueless, the mom can't be a genius either.

What on earth did Richard ever see in Celia?

"What are you standing there for? Call security." I snapped.

Jason looked super awkward after hearing all that rich family drama, so I had to yell at him.

For what we pay him, you'd think he'd have a clue.

Jason immediately called security, but Chloe started causing an even bigger ruckus.

She went so far as to call my dad. "Uncle Richard, hurry. They're trying to kick me out."

Richard showed up in my office even before the security guards could get there.

Wow, he really can't stand to see her suffer.

The moment Richard walked in, Chloe instantly switched to a whole new persona.

She put on her best pitiful act, her voice all soft and sweet. "Uncle Richard, I really don't know what I did to upset Emily. She came in and said she was firing me."

"Don't worry, I'll stand up for you," Richard said, his face full of concern.

Richard's face was full of pity for Chloe, but when he turned to me, his eyes were blazing with anger. "Emily, this is between us adults. Don't drag Chloe into it. She's innocent."

I let out a cold laugh. "Innocent? She got this job through connections and single-handedly wrecked the Stellar Enterprises deal. And you're telling me she's innocent?"

Richard clearly had no idea the Stellar Enterprises deal had gone south, and he shot Chloe a confused look.

Chloe immediately started playing the victim, her voice trembling with fake tears. "Uncle Richard, I swear I didn't mean to. All that discount would've lost you money. I was only trying to help you save."

I snorted. She's probably thinking she'll get half the company one day, so she's saving for herself.

Richard totally bought her act, his tone softening. "Emily, Chloe was trying to help. She's young and doesn't know any better. Let it slide this time, okay? You can show her the rope. She'll get the hang of it."

He actually wants me to teach her?

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Let me remind you two. Summers Corp is Summers, as in Emily Summers. Not Bennett, and definitely not White."