Chapter 4

“What do you mean, you’re giving it to Bianca?”

My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to.

“I’ve handled that account for six months.”

Adrian leans back in his chair.

“And now you won’t.”

“That’s it?”

I can feel my temper rising.

He knows how many nights I stayed at Russo Holdings until midnight.

He knows I built that client relationship from nothing.

Adrian stands.

“Bianca is more careful than you. Her résumé is stronger, and she has more experience.”

His eyes stay on mine.

“So tell me, Claire. Why should I leave the account with you?”

The words hit harder than they should.

The first baby immediately panics.

“Oh no. This is where Mom flips the whole office.”

The second voice follows.

“Then she hits Bianca. Dad shoves her away, and she crashes into a glass table.”

My fingers go cold.

I look at Bianca.

Then Adrian.

In another life, maybe I screamed.

This time, I force myself to breathe.

“You’re the boss,” I say. “You’ve already decided.”

Something changes in Adrian’s expression.

But before he can say anything, he turns to my manager.

“Bianca takes Claire’s position in Business Development.”

My stomach drops.

“And Claire is being moved back to a junior role.”

For a second, I think I misheard him. It took me three years to earn that position. Bianca gets it in one morning.

Bianca loops her arm through Adrian’s.

“Thank you. I won’t disappoint you.”

Then she smiles.

“And thank you for last night too.”

Adrian glances at me before resting a hand briefly on her shoulder.

“You’ll do fine.”

I leave before either of them can see my eyes burn.

By noon, I’ve lost my private office too. I carry my things to a dusty desk in the corner of the department.

My phone rings.

Mom.

The second I answer, she starts praising Bianca.

“She came by yesterday with gifts for your father and me. Such a thoughtful girl.”

I stare at my new desk.

I buy them things all the time, only to watch half of it sit unopened until it expires. Bianca shows up once with gifts, and suddenly she’s perfect.

After five minutes, I hang up.

Then I open a blank document.

For the first time today, my hands don’t shake.

I type two words.

My resignation.