I smiled faintly. “Alright. I’ll wait.”
Quietly, I packed up my things and walked out of the company I’d fought for a whole year.
Every ounce of my passion and smarts had gone into this company. I didn’t lean on connections or favors; I built it up on my own.
And this was what I got in return: fired. My heart felt like it’d rolled over on an ice blade—cold, sharp, and aching.
Colleagues came up one by one to see me out, muttering words of comfort.
Meg, tears in her eyes, said, “Phoebe, you’re amazing. You’ll shine anywhere. Don’t let what Sadie said get to you; you’ll find another job for sure.”
I smiled but said nothing. Sadie? She wasn’t capable of understanding.
Once outside, my phone buzzed. It was my uncle, who had been out of touch for half a month.
“Phoebe, dear, I’m signing the contract with your company next week. I’ll be in Russia for inspections. Can’t make it in person.”
I frowned. “Uncle… I quit.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Trouble at work? Do you need me to step in?”
“No need. I want to go back to the company and take charge of this project.”
I hung up and let a small smile curl on my lips.
No rush; this is just the opening act.
At the signing ceremony, my appearance left everyone at my old company stunned.
Especially Cody and Sadie. The way they looked at me was like they wanted to slice me with their eyes.
Sadie sneered. “What are you doing here? You’ve been fired. You have no right to be part of this signing!”
I cast her side-eye. “So just because I’m not an employee of your company, I can’t be here? Ever thought I might be on the other side of the table—representing CipherLux Innovations?”
She laughed, disgusted. “Girl, don’t be ridiculous. The head of CipherLux Innovations is my dad. I am the client here; I can sign on his behalf anytime!
“Bold words, calling yourself the client. A cheap gold-digger like you isn’t even worthy of cleaning for CipherLux Innovations!”
Her words shot out, instantly drawing dozens of eyes.
“Oh, she’s Wesley Modine’s daughter! No wonder she carries herself like that.”
“She dares to offend Wesley Modine’s daughter? She must not want to survive in California.”
“Look at her—definitely a little slut, probably a habitual flirt!”
“Not at all what I’d expect from Mr. Modine’s daughter. She’s clearly a proper lady.”
Sadie, used to being worshiped and admired wherever she went, was floating on a cloud from all the flattery.
But when she saw me smiling wider and wider, she snapped at the security guards.
“Kick this trash out! Right now! We need to proceed with the signing!”
A few guards moved toward me, but I stayed calm. Slowly, I pulled out a seal and raised it above my head.
“Sadie… how are you going to sign without this?”
The room froze. All eyes locked on the seal in my hand.
“Isn’t that Mr. Modine’s personal crystal seal? Worth a fortune. Only he has it… He’s never given it to anyone. How did she get it?”
I walked past a stunned Sadie and straight up to the podium, grabbing the microphone.
“Effective immediately, CipherLux Innovations will cancel the cooperation contract with Godlock Company.”
Cody’s eyes narrowed to slits, glaring daggers at me in disbelief. “Phoebe! Who the hell do you think you are—representing Wesley Modine?”
I looked at him calmly. “Didn’t I just tell you? I’m the client.”
Sadie’s face went pale, disbelief written all over her. “Phoebe… how do you even have my dad’s seal? Who do you think you are, huh? On what authority are you making decisions for him?”
I fixed her with a steady gaze, speaking slowly, each word deliberate.
“Because… he’s my uncle.”
