Chapter 4

The next morning, the second I stepped into my office, the receptionist frantically buzzed me. Grant had bypassed security. The Head of Security was already waiting outside my door.

A second later, Grant burst in, dragging Tessa by the wrist. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Claire! You fired Tessa? You’re using the company to settle a personal vendetta?"

Tessa cowered behind him, her eyes swollen from crying, letting out soft, pathetic whimpers. Outside the glass walls, every employee was suddenly very focused on their screens, though no one was actually typing.

I raised a hand, signaling the Head of Security to hold off. I set my bag down, took my seat, and looked up.

"Mr. Mercer, this is Bennett Technologies. I do not report to you when I terminate an incompetent employee."

I pulled up her file. "She’s been here six months. Just as she was supposedly 'improving,' she lost two critical contracts. One of them was a $1.5 million client agreement with Mr. Hale. She has offended three major clients. Last month alone, her data entry errors exposed this company to nearly $300,000 in liability."

I shifted my gaze to Tessa. "Do you want me to pull up the emails, the keycard logs, the expense reports, and the audit trails one by one?"

Tessa’s face drained of color. "I... I didn't mean to. Claire, I know I wasn't good at it, but I was trying, I was really trying..."

I let out a dry laugh. "Fascinating. You couldn't learn how to do your job, but you mastered the art of stabbing me in the back."

"Claire!" Grant barked.

I stood up and walked around the desk, stopping right in front of Tessa.

"I kept you on payroll this long not because you were qualified." I let the silence stretch. "It was because I considered you a friend."

I watched her flinch. "Not anymore."

Tessa’s knees buckled. Grant caught her, glaring at me like he wanted to kill me.

"Fine. You want to play ruthless, Claire? Let’s play." He pulled Tessa tighter against him. "If Bennett won't keep you, I will. Starting today, Tessa is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Mercer Group."

"Suit yourself."

I slid a manila folder across my desk.

Grant glanced at it. The marital settlement agreement, the asset recovery demands, and the draft consent orders for the Family Court. He flipped straight to the financial clauses.

Return of all traceable assets. Forfeiture of all claims to misappropriated funds.

He scoffed. "You’re dreaming."

He ripped the documents in half and threw the pieces onto my desk.

I didn't blink. "I’ll have my lawyers send another copy. If you don't sign it, I’ll see you in court. The asset freeze petition, the charges for Misappropriation of Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition, and the $12 million you’ve been siphoning off—it’s all going on the public record."

Grant stared at me, his jaw tight. "You’re going to regret this."

He turned and marched out, his arm wrapped protectively around Tessa.

The Head of Security, waiting by the door, immediately revoked Grant’s visitor access the second they stepped out of the suite. The glass doors clicked shut.

I sat back down and woke up my computer.

An email popped up.

Official Notice from Mercer Group: Cancellation of all joint development on the CivicGrid Project.

Right on schedule.

Three days later, Grant announced a joint venture with Hale Dynamics to develop CivicGrid.

A week later, Mercer Group held a massive press conference.

The main ballroom of the Seattle Tech & Investment Summit was packed with media, the flashbulbs blinding. Grant stood at the podium in a tailored suit, looking every bit the visionary CEO. Tessa stood beside him in a pristine white skirt suit, her makeup flawless, smiling demurely.

Grant leaned into the microphone, his voice dripping with gravitas. "CivicGrid will be the strategic cornerstone of Mercer Group for the next three years. And all of this is thanks to my Executive Assistant, Tessa Quinn."

The cameras pivoted to Tessa. She looked down, a perfect, modest blush on her cheeks.

Grant wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "She was the one who proposed this disruptive core architecture. Tessa, say a few words."

Tessa took the microphone. "Honestly... I just made a small contribution. It’s mostly because Grant believed in me and gave me the opportunity to shine..."

The room erupted in applause.

It was almost funny.

That was my project. I had stayed up for three days straight, writing that core architecture line by line.

The MC stepped up, his voice booming. "And now, Mr. Mercer and Ms. Quinn will officially launch the CivicGrid Project—"

The heavy mahogany doors at the back of the ballroom swung open.

Every light, every camera, and every head in the room snapped toward the entrance.

I walked in. Black designer dress, stilettos clicking against the marble. I didn't rush. I owned the room.

Dead silence.

Grant’s smile vanished. Tessa dropped the microphone. It hit the stage with a deafening screech.

I walked straight up the steps, onto the stage, and took the spare microphone from the paralyzed MC.

"Mr. Mercer. Ms. Quinn. Congratulations." My voice echoed through the ballroom. "On such a momentous day, I couldn't possibly show up without a gift."

I raised my hand.

The massive LED screen behind them flared to life.