The Croft Niece's Final Gambit

"So this is what you call 'ability'—slacking off at work, not even knowing how to use a Bloomberg Terminal, and mistaking the other party's CEO during negotiations, costing the company hundreds of thousands of dollars?"

Everything I said was true.

Chloe's face darkened, and she immediately turned to Blake, her expression morphing into one of feigned innocence.

Blake sat back down, frowning and rubbing his temples.

Finally, he spoke to me with a sigh of resignation. "Report to our Omaha branch tomorrow. It's our most remote outpost. The position of Senior Vice President will be temporarily filled by Chloe. Once you've proven yourself again, I'll transfer you back."

The Omaha branch was the worst-performing division in the entire group. The market environment was harsh, and its distance from headquarters made it a place of exile.

But I didn't argue, nor did I show any anger. I just offered a sarcastic smile. "Fine. I'll leave tomorrow. The position of Senior Vice President really should go to someone more suitable."

After the meeting, I returned to my office and found the official demotion notice from Blake, reassigning me to Omaha. I was not allowed to return without his explicit permission.

I stared at the cold words on the screen, feeling completely numb.

Leaving might not be a bad thing. At least I wouldn't have to see Chloe's smug face anymore.

The next day, I packed my bags and left.

The Omaha branch was a professional graveyard. People sent here had usually made a serious mistake, been stripped of their titles, and then exiled to this corporate backwater.

Here, not only did I have to endure the contemptuous and pitiful gazes of my colleagues, but I also kept receiving mocking photos from Chloe.

In the photos, she triumphantly propped her feet up on my old desk, posing like a conqueror.

But her provocations didn't faze me in the slightest. I knew she wouldn't be warming that chair for long.

Chloe was a walking disaster. She spilled coffee on Blake's pants at a board meeting, printed the wrong key terms in an M&A contract, and even ordered desserts containing peanut butter at a reception, knowing full well Blake was deathly allergic to peanuts. Halfway through the dinner, Blake was rushed to the hospital for anaphylactic shock.

The result was predictable. A meticulously planned M&A deal fell through because of Chloe's incompetence.

Blake's patience finally snapped, and he called me personally, begging me to come back.

"Scarlett, I've been thinking. You've been my SVP for five years, and I shouldn't have demoted you over such a small matter. How about this: if you can salvage this M&A deal, I'll restore your position and give you double the salary."

I knew exactly what game he was playing. "I don't think I'm qualified for the SVP role anymore," I replied casually. "I should probably stay here on the ground floor and do some reflecting. I'll come back when I've truly recognized my mistakes."

Blake paused, then said through gritted teeth, "Oh, don't be like that. Even if you're not an SVP, you're still part of the company. The company's interests are at stake; you can't just stand by and do nothing."

I smiled. "What about that outstanding SVP of yours? She's so capable. I'm just someone who gets deals with her looks. How could I possibly compare to Chloe?"

I couldn't see Blake's expression, but from the strangled tone of his voice, I knew he was about to explode.

"That was just some joking among colleagues. You've worked for me for five years; don't I know what kind of person you are?"

I was unmoved, my words dripping with sarcasm. "Docking my two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar bonus and exiling me to Omaha is considered a joke? Labeling me as greedy just because I asked for a parking spot is also a joke?"

Blake's face went from pale to crimson, a storm brewing in his eyes.

He fell silent, clearly wrestling with his pride.

As a CEO, apologizing to a subordinate would be a humiliating loss of face.

Just then, I heard Chloe's excited voice in the background.

"Mr. Sterling, Julian Croft has agreed to attend our company's celebratory gala!"

Blake's tone shifted instantly. "Excellent! As soon as the other investment banks see Julian Croft attending our gala, they'll think we have his backing. Then they'll be begging to partner with us."

He turned back to the phone, his voice suddenly cold. "You're fired. Come back immediately and complete your termination paperwork."

Chloe added smugly from the side, "I'll have my dad put the word out so that no one on Wall Street will dare to hire you. Let's see what you do then!"

I smiled faintly. "Alright. We'll see."