Chapter 4

I looked at Meg and forced a smile, the kind that made my eyes sting.

My fingers felt stiff as I typed a reply into the Family channel.

[Understood, Don Cody. I'll remember this lesson. I swear I'll never order a five-dollar dish again and waste Family money. At the next gathering, I'll drink water and won't touch a single plate.]

The message looked like an apology.

But everyone reading it knew exactly what it meant.

I was done with this Family.

Right after sending it, I logged out of every Moretti system and surrendered access to every account and operation under my name.

Then I began seriously "reflecting on my misconduct," exactly as Cody had ordered.

Cody loved telling people, "If you don't hold the position, don't touch the work."

So after stripping me of my authority, he moved me to a cramped desk beside the back corridor near the restrooms.

Every day, people walked past me.

Some looked at me with contempt.

Others with pity.

Meanwhile, Bianca took over my old office and started ordering everyone around as if she'd been running Moretti business for years.

Unfortunately for her, taking my chair was easy.

Doing my job wasn't.

Every operation under my control had been handled personally by me, from negotiating terms to moving shipments and balancing the legitimate contracts that kept everything clean on paper.

I knew every detail.

Bianca knew nothing.

Within days, more than a dozen of our business partners had complained.

Several made their position clear.

Either Phoebe Tuffield took over again, or they walked.

The Morettis were suddenly facing losses worth millions.

Eventually, Cody couldn't ignore it anymore.

He swallowed his pride and came to my miserable little desk.

"Phoebe, those operations were originally yours. There are problems with several of them. Go straighten things out and keep our partners from pulling out."

I slowly looked up at him, deliberately confused.

"Don Cody, are you sure you're talking to the right person?"

I smiled faintly.

"I'm still suspended."

He paused.

Then his voice stiffened.

"Suspended doesn't mean useless. Those were your operations. You're responsible for fixing them."

I spread my hands.

"But I surrendered all my access. I can't see the files, accounts, or contracts anymore."

His expression froze.

Anger flashed in his eyes.

"Suspension isn't exile. Why the hell would you surrender your access? Request it back immediately."

I looked at him calmly.

"You were the one who said that if I didn't hold the position, I shouldn't touch the work."

I gave him an innocent look.

"I'm only following your orders, Don Cody."

His face twitched.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he forced out, "Fine. Your suspension is lifted. Contact those people immediately and make sure none of them walk away from the Morettis."

I smiled.

"Shouldn't you ask your new rising star to handle that?"

I glanced toward Bianca's office.

"After all, I'm just a woman who supposedly uses her face to close deals. I don't have any real ability, remember?"

Cody's face darkened.

"Phoebe, people say things when they're angry. Are you seriously holding on to that?"

My smile remained, but there was no warmth in it.

"So taking away my position and my seventy-thousand-dollar cut was just something said in anger?"

I tilted my head.

"And calling a five-dollar dish an extravagant misuse of Family money was also just a joke?"

Each question made his expression uglier.

His face went red, then pale.

But he remained silent.

I knew exactly what he was struggling with.

Admitting he'd been wrong was apparently harder for a Don than losing millions.

Before he could answer, Bianca came rushing over, excitement written all over her face.

"Don Cody! The Modine Family agreed to put money into our next operation!"

Cody's entire expression changed.

"Excellent!"

He looked at Bianca as though she'd personally handed him the city.

"Bianca, you really are the Morettis' lucky star. With the Modine Family backing us, every crew in the city will be lining up to do business with us."

Then he turned toward me.

The smile disappeared.

His eyes turned cold.

"Phoebe Tuffield, you're done here."

He pointed toward the door.

"You're out of the Moretti Family. Hand over anything that still belongs to us and leave."

I nodded calmly.

"Fine."

Then I looked him straight in the eye.

"But we'll settle everything the Family still owes me first. My unpaid cuts, my share from the operations I closed, all of it."

His face twisted with rage.

"Owes you?"

He slammed a hand against my desk.

"After the losses you've caused us? You'll be lucky if the Morettis don't come after you for damages."

Bianca stepped forward, staring at me with open hatred.

"Bitch, once you're out, I'll make sure every Family in this city knows your name."

Her lips curled into a vicious smile.

"By the time I'm done, no crew will dare take you in."