Arnold turned to the judges and bowed deeply.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a serious oversight on our part, but Fox Group will take full responsibility. As for Miss Fox here..."
He paused, his expression dripping with contempt.
"Her personal life is rather... complicated. It's likely affected her professional conduct. I'll be recommending that the company take disciplinary action."
Right there, in front of everyone, he validated every rumor that had ever circulated about me.
I watched him calmly. "Arnold, you're going to regret this."
"Regret?" He scoffed, lowering his voice. "You're the one who should be worried. Stacy is the Chairman's daughter. The moment she reveals her identity, the first person getting fired will be a slut like you who slept her way up."
The bid was lost. A fifty-million-dollar project, gone.
The company's stock price plummeted. My father was furious and ordered a full investigation.
Back at the office, Stacy was crying her eyes out, the picture of wounded innocence.
"I didn't know it was Anita's flash drive. I was just curious." She sniffled, clutching Arnold's sleeve. "Arnold, do you think she'll try to hurt me? I'm so scared..."
Arnold pulled her behind him protectively. "Anita, are you satisfied now? Look what you've done to her. A cold-hearted woman like you never deserved me."
The department manager made the announcement in front of everyone: "Anita Fox is suspended pending investigation. Stacy has suffered emotional distress and will receive one week of paid leave."
Whispers rippled through the office.
"Serves her right. Never liked her anyway."
"Can you believe she tried to seduce Arnold? He only has eyes for Stacy."
"Stacy's the real heiress. Who does Anita think she is?"
The day the investigation results were announced, the company held an all-hands meeting.
My father attended personally.
Stacy's cheeks flushed with excitement. She tugged at Arnold's sleeve. "Arnold, do you think Daddy will be upset with me...?"
Arnold squeezed her hand, his gaze tender. "Don't worry, Stacy. I'm here."
My father surveyed the room. His eyes passed over Stacy, then Arnold, before finally settling on me.
He gave me a slight nod, then spoke. "Regarding the failed bid, I've reached my conclusion."
Stacy shot to her feet, tears glistening in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.
"Daddy, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I was so stupid—I grabbed the wrong flash drive. But I didn't mean to! I only wanted to help Anita. I'll take full responsibility. Just please don't blame Arnold. He's innocent..."
She swayed weakly, and Arnold rushed to steady her. The two of them put on quite the performance of devoted love.
The room erupted in murmurs.
It was a masterful move—admitting fault while hiding behind her ditzy persona, all while showing off their relationship.
My father raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, who are you?"
Stacy froze. "I'm Stacy... your daughter..."
Arnold went rigid. "Chairman, you don't recognize Stacy?"
My father's expression turned icy.
"Why should I? She's a receptionist who got in through connections. She tampered with critical company files, caused a fifty-million-dollar loss, and spread malicious rumors about a colleague." His voice cut through the silence. "That takes some nerve."
Arnold's face drained of color.
"Stacy Pruitt... isn't your daughter?"
With trembling hands, he pulled out the family photo Stacy had shown him.
My father took it, glanced at it once, and tore it to pieces.
"Nice Photoshop work. But my daughter's name isn't Stacy Pruitt."
His gaze shifted to me.
I rose from my seat, smoothed down my blazer, and walked up to the stage to stand beside him.
"Her name is Anita Fox." My father took my hand, his voice resonating through the room. "The sole heir to Fox Group. Three months ago, I sent her to work at the ground level to gain experience—and to test a certain toad who thought he could eat swan meat."
Every last trace of color vanished from Arnold's face.
He looked at me, trembling, his lips quivering:
"Anita, you..."
I smiled faintly, leaned in, and whispered in his ear:
"Arnold, you bet on the wrong horse."
"For Stacy's sake, you stepped on me, humiliated me, destroyed my reputation, and even framed me for that fifty-million-dollar loss."
"It's time we settled this score."
