The Croft Niece's Final Gambit

Uncle Julian was nearly fifty and still single. When did people start painting him as some kind of playboy tycoon?

Olivia seemed to sense my disbelief, so she pulled out her phone and navigated to Chloe's social media page.

My blood ran cold when I saw the photo.

Uncle Julian was dressed in a high-end custom suit, standing against the backdrop of a charity gala. The person beaming next to him was Chloe.

Chloe had also added a caption.

[Off to my out-of-state internship. Dad couldn't bear to see me go and had to send me off. In his eyes, I'll always be his little girl.]

Still reeling, I took out my phone to call Uncle Julian's private line, but all I heard was a cold, automated voice informing me the phone was off.

Seeing that I hadn't responded, Chloe shot me a vicious glare.

"Scarlett, you just wait! I'll make you regret ever crossing me."

Sure enough, Chloe's retaliation was swift and brutal.

At the company-wide meeting the next day, Blake announced in front of everyone that Chloe had won this year's "Trader of the Year" award, along with a $250,000 bonus.

Everyone knew that award should have been mine, but Chloe had snatched it away with infuriating ease.

Unease rippled through the audience, but fearing repercussions, my colleagues could only offer scattered, hesitant applause.

I could no longer suppress my rage. I shot up from my seat, my voice ringing out across the silent room.

"Blake, on what grounds was this year's 'Trader of the Year' awarded? Over the past year, I traveled nonstop for this company, negotiating mergers. I led at least three major acquisitions that brought in billions in revenue. Chloe has been here for three months and can barely complete a due diligence report. How does she deserve this title?"

The room was deathly quiet until Chloe stood up, a smirk on her face.

"Because none of those achievements of yours were legitimate."

"You might think you have everyone fooled, but I know the truth. You got those contracts by selling yourself. Our company has a zero-tolerance policy for that kind of behavior."

"You've already damaged the company's reputation. You're lucky Mr. Sterling hasn't fired you."

"Don't you dare slander me. Do you have any proof?"

Just as the tension between us reached a boiling point, Blake slammed his hand on the table. "That's enough! This is a boardroom, not a circus for you two to put on a show."

He then turned to me, his expression severe.

"Scarlett, rumors don't start from nothing. If Chloe is saying this, she must have her reasons. I kept quiet to spare you the embarrassment and avoid a scene. But if you keep pushing this, I'll be forced to question whether you're still fit to work for this company."

"I'm being unreasonable?" My eyes burned with unshed tears, my voice trembling with fury.

"From the day you founded this company, I have been your Senior Vice President, standing by your side, giving my all. In your eyes, am I really just a woman who trades her body for results?"

"I went to emerging markets to negotiate investments, got caught in civil unrest, and nearly lost my life. You call me unreasonable?"

"I worked through the night, every single night, exhausting myself on investment analysis reports. You call me unreasonable?"

"Because of one baseless accusation from her, all my hard work is erased, and the projects I secured are now branded as sordid deals. Do you honestly think this is fair?"

Blake was at a loss for words, but Chloe showed no remorse, her gaze triumphant.

"Fair?" she scoffed. "There's no such thing as fair in this world. Connections are everything. Instead of embarrassing yourself here, you should pray you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth in your next life."

She made no effort to hide the disdain on her face. "Julian Croft is my dad. Because of that one fact, you will never, ever beat me."

She grew bolder as she spoke, and I truly couldn't fathom the source of her confidence.

Could it be? Could Uncle Julian really have an illegitimate daughter, just as the rumors claimed?

I let out a cold laugh. "If you're really Julian Croft's daughter, why are you fighting me over a title and a bonus? Or is it possible your entire identity is a sham?"

Chloe glared at me fiercely. "Blake canceled your award because you don't deserve it. I earned this award through my own abilities!"