Chapter 4
Early next morning, the professor’s people showed up right on time.
But before I left, I had to swing by the office and grab the photo of me and Mom. No way I was letting Lila get her hands on it.
The moment I walked into the company, my coworkers were giving me weird looks. When I got to my office, I understood why.
Lila was sitting at my desk, staring at me with pure smugness: “Ember, my dear sister. Looks like we’ll be working together from now on, Huh~”
When I didn’t respond, she got even cockier: “Daddy bought into this company. Our family’s the major shareholder now.”
“I’m the new VP, and you? You report to me, sweetie.”
I narrowed my eyes: “Bought in? With what money? The Morrison family doesn’t have nearly enough cash to become the major shareholder here.”
Lila laughed: “Mind your own business. Of cause we have our ways.”
“I really like this office. I’m taking it.”
“From now on, you’ll report to me right here!”
I looked at her and smiled: “Seems like you and your mom both have a thing for taking what belongs to other people.”
“But you’re not as smart as she is. At least she knew how to wait.”
I grabbed Mom’s photo and headed for the door.
Blake appeared just as I was leaving. When he saw me holding Mom’s picture, his face tightened.
“Where are you going?”
“I-”
Lila cut in: “She’s clearing out for me! I want this office.”
Blake grabbed my arm as I headed out.
“No way. This office has always been yours. Nobody can-”
I cut him off: “She wants it? She can have it.”
My resignation was already submitted anyway. All he had to do was approve it and I was gone. And if he didn’t appi Didn’t matter. It was just a courtesy notice.
Kind of like how he didn’t bother telling me before bringing Lila into the company.
Blake just stood there, looking stunned and conflicted.
By the time he snapped out of it, I was already gone.
t?
Blake shoved Lila out of the office while she was humming and packing up, then slapped her hard across the face in front of
Jim M. Oum
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Chapter 4
everyone:
“I warned you you’re here to support Ember’s work. You serve her!”
“She’s the head of R&D. The entire drug project depends on her! What the hell made you think you could disrespect her like
that?!”
Downstairs, Blake’s texts started flooding in:
(If you don’t like Lila, I’ll kick her out of the company.]
[There’s a classical music performance tonight–your favorite. Got us front row seats.]
[We’ll visit your mom first, then have our night together.]
[5 PM at the cemetery. I’ll be waiting.]
I shook my head, pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it in the trash.
Fucking disgusting.
I got in the car they sent for me and headed to the airport.
