Chapter 3

"You want justice? Then go find yourself a powerful father who can fight for you."

Bianca didn't bother hiding the contempt on her face.

"Too bad you don't have one."

She lifted her chin proudly.

"But I do. I'm Wesley Modine's daughter, the only daughter of the man who controls the Modine Family. That name alone is enough to crush you so badly you'll never get back up."

I stared at her, genuinely wondering where she got that kind of confidence.

For a moment, I even started doubting my own uncle.

Had he somehow fathered a secret daughter without anyone in our family knowing?

Then a thought occurred to me.

"I heard Mr. Modine has a niece he treats like his own daughter."

I looked Bianca straight in the eye.

"Tell me, Miss Moretti Rising Star. Have you ever met her?"

Bianca's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second.

Then she gave me a disdainful look.

"Of course I have. She's my cousin."

She crossed her arms.

"But she's lived overseas for years and hardly ever comes back. Even I rarely see her. Someone like you, some nobody off the street, shouldn't even dream of meeting her."

I let out a short laugh.

"Is that so?"

My gaze dropped to the insignia she'd been given at the ceremony.

"If you're so far above nobodies like me, why did you have to steal someone else's promotion and cut?"

I paused deliberately.

"Unless, of course, you're not really a Modine at all."

"Bitch!"

Bianca's face darkened instantly.

"Phoebe, don't push your luck. You lost your position because you didn't deserve it. Everything I got, I earned with my own ability."

"Ability?"

I stepped closer.

"You mean the ability to sit around the estate playing on your phone all day?"

I held her gaze.

"Or disappearing for two hours at lunch and leaving the second dinner is served?"

My lips curled slightly.

"Maybe you mean the day Cody asked you to prepare a territory report, and eight hours later you'd managed to write nothing but the title."

I didn't raise my voice, but every word made her face grow uglier.

Bianca opened her mouth, yet nothing came out.

Finally, she turned desperately toward Cody.

The look he gave her practically screamed that he couldn't believe how useless she was.

Then he turned on me.

"Phoebe, watch your mouth."

His voice dropped dangerously low.

"This is the Moretti Family, not some street market. You don't get to stand here screaming insults whenever something doesn't go your way."

His expression hardened.

"And don't think that because you've brought in a few profitable deals, you can do whatever you want. In our world, the strong replace the weak. If someone more capable takes your place, you accept it."

He stared at me coldly.

"You don't make a scene."

Everyone in the room turned toward me.

They were waiting to see whether I'd humiliate myself over seventy thousand dollars.

Seventy thousand?

I wouldn't have cared if it were five million.

This had never been about money.

It was about what I'd earned.

I didn't lose my temper.

I didn't argue.

I simply gave a cold laugh.

"Fine. I accept it."

I glanced at Bianca.

"A position like that should certainly belong to someone more 'capable.'"

Not long after I returned to my office, two official notices appeared on the Family's encrypted network.

[Phoebe Tuffield misused Family funds for personal indulgence and showed blatant disregard for Moretti discipline. Effective immediately, she is stripped of her position overseeing the Family's legitimate business operations and suspended from all active duties.]

[Bianca Modine demonstrated exceptional loyalty by protecting Family interests and has shown outstanding ability since joining us. Effective immediately, she will assume Phoebe Tuffield's former position and take control of all businesses and deals previously under Phoebe's authority.]

Seconds later, Cody tagged me in the Family's private channel.

[@Phoebe. Wasteful. Undisciplined. Your cut for this month is revoked. You will submit a written confession detailing your misconduct and post it here for everyone in the Family to read.]

I stared at the message.

So that was what this was.

Public humiliation.

They had stripped me of my position, taken my cut, handed my operations to Bianca, and turned me into an example for everyone else.

My supposed failure was nothing more than a tool for Cody to remind the Family who held the power.

The channel went completely silent.

Even the office outside seemed to freeze.

People kept sneaking glances at me.

Some looked sympathetic.

Some were furious on my behalf.

Others were simply waiting for the show.

Cody's message remained pinned at the top of the channel, as though everyone were waiting for me to lower my head and admit I was wrong.

Then another notification appeared.

[@Phoebe. Did you not see my order?]

I didn't respond.

A minute later, Cody tagged me again.

Then again.

The man seemed to have lost his mind.

Finally, a private message from Meg appeared on my screen.

[Phoebe, stop being stubborn. Just give in a little. Your place in the Family matters more than your pride.]