Chapter 3

The next morning, Chloe spent the first half of the day scrolling on her phone. But our client expected the final proposal right after the holidays; if we kept slacking, none of us would get time off for New Year's.

I spoke up, trying to keep things professional. "Chloe, we need to divide up the workload. At this rate, we're going to miss the deadline."

Chloe put her phone down, glancing lazily at the stack of documents on the desk. "Divide up what? We're a team. Why split things up? We do everything together. I'm not like you—I don't tear teams apart."

She stood up and announced loudly to the floor, "Listen up, everyone! No assigning individual tasks this time. We tackle everything collectively, discussing each step together as a unit!"

What an absolute amateur. Only an idiot would think that's how project management works. A team requires clear division of labor, not a chaotic mob doing everything at once.

Before I could tear her logic to shreds, Sarah tugged at my sleeve, shooting me a subtle look and nodding toward her phone.

I checked my notifications. Sarah had created a private group chat without Chloe:

Clara, let's coordinate here. Tell us who should do what.

Fine. I wasn't going to let this trust-fund princess ruin the project for everyone.

I quickly assigned tasks based on everyone's strengths, and the team quietly got to work, heads down.

Yet, not only did Chloe fail to lift a finger, but she also hovered over everyone, nitpicking and barking useless corrections, grinding our workflow to a screeching halt.

I couldn't stand it anymore. "Chloe, if you keep micromanaging like this, the entire team will be forced to work through the holidays."

She sneered, entirely unfazed. "The company graciously gives you a job. Putting in a little overtime is the least you can do."

She grabbed the proposal I had spent weeks drafting, flipping through it with a critical scowl. I highly doubted she could even understand half the technical jargon.

Finally, she latched onto the one part she could actually grasp and tried to find fault. "Clara, why did you specify such expensive materials?"

I explained patiently, "Premium materials guarantee a premium product. That's the baseline."

Chloe narrowed her eyes, pondering for a moment before declaring, "Well, that drives the production cost through the roof. Change it immediately. Swap them out for cheaper alternatives."

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. "Chloe, do you even hear yourself? Sterling Enterprises exclusively operates in the luxury, high-end tier. If you swap in cheap, bargain-bin junk, do you really think they'll accept the delivery?"

Chloe refused to listen. "Sterling is an old client! Why wouldn't they accept it? You act like you own the place. You're just a glorified wage-slave, Clara, stop acting like an industry expert."

My eye twitched. Sterling Enterprises was founded by my brother. I had been learning the ropes beside him since I was a teenager. If I didn't know Sterling's standards, who the hell did?

Chloe slammed the folder onto my desk. "Revise it now. Nobody leaves until it's done to my satisfaction."

I wasn't about to sabotage a million-dollar contract just to flatter her stupidity. "I'm not changing it. The specifications remain premium."

Chloe stomped her foot, livid. "Clara! Are you deliberately undermining my authority?"

She turned to weaponize group punishment. "Fine! If she won't fix it, no one is going home tonight!"

I slammed my hands on the desk and stood up. "Chloe, are you out of your mind? You refuse to do any work and expect the entire department to baby you through your power trip?"

Suddenly, Dan stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Clara, the lead gave you an order. Why are you dragging the rest of us down with your stubbornness?"

I was genuinely baffled. Chloe was the one sabotaging the project, yet somehow I was the bad guy?

Seeing this, Chloe smirked even wider. "Change it right now. Did you think I'd back down just because you used to be the lead? Today, I'm putting you in your place."

I stared at her, my patience snapping like a brittle twig. All the rage I had held back over the past few weeks erupted.

I picked up the thick dossier and shoved it right into her chest. "If you want to ruin it, do it your damn self. I don't have time to play house with an incompetent brat."

Chloe's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

"Clara! How dare you lay a finger on me?!" she shrieked. "Do you have any idea who I am? Mr. Hayes is my uncle! Do you want to get fired?!"

There it was. She wasn't even pretending anymore—openly bragging about nepotism. This company was doomed.

I shoved past her. "I'm sick and tired of worthless freeloaders like you. You have zero talent, refuse to learn, and all you know how to do is act high and mighty. You don't have to fire me. I quit."

"Get out of my way. I'm going to the boss's office."