Chapter 5

"How is this fair? Why does an intern like Chloe get VIP treatment just because she threw a tantrum on the forum?"

"Because Marcus knows how to play the game. Sue's clearly getting sidelined; those two are going to be running this department before long."

"Stop talking and just finish the damn log, or your compliance score gets zeroed out... God, I seriously want to quit."

Every single whisper drifted straight into my office.

I didn't lift a finger to stop it.

By Friday afternoon, as I was skimming through another batch of soulless daily reports, my assistant knocked and stepped inside, an unsettled look on her face.

"Sue... downstairs, the VP of Brand Marketing from Stellar Motors—Ms. Lee—she's asking to see you personally."

I paused.

Ms. Lee?

Our primary contact at Stellar, notorious across the advertising industry as an absolute corporate powerhouse—ruthless, meticulous, and impossible to please.

Our pitch wasn't scheduled until Monday. Why was she here today?

"Send her up."

Moments later, guided by my assistant, a woman in a razor-sharp black tailored suit walked into my office, radiating pure, commanding authority.

"Director Sue, an honor." Ms. Lee extended a hand, her sharp gaze scanning me from top to bottom like an X-ray machine.

"Ms. Lee, what an unexpected pleasure. Please, take a seat." I shook her hand and gestured toward the chairs.

She remained standing, cutting straight to the point. "I'm not here on official business today. I understand my daughter is currently interning on your team?"

Daughter?

My mind raced through the names, and one immediately clicked.

Chloe.

Wait. On Chloe’s emergency contact form, her mother was listed as a stay-at-home parent with the last name Miller.

Yet this Ms. Lee...

"And you are...?"

"My last name is Lee; my husband's is Miller," she said calmly, though her voice carried an undeniable weight. "Chloe has been spoiled by our family since childhood. She grew up thinking she was God's gift to the world.”

“As for that resume of hers, nobody knows how inflated it is better than I do. That so-called 'international advertising award' she brags about was just a vanity competition funded by her father's company."

Everything made sense now. Exactly as I had suspected.

"So," Ms. Lee's gaze sharpened, "I also found out about that anonymous post she put up on your company's forum a few days ago. Director Sue, I owe you an apology. It was my failure as a parent to raise her properly, and she has caused unnecessary trouble for your agency."

I hadn't expected this industry legend to come here in person just to apologize.

"You're being too harsh, Ms. Lee. Young people have strong opinions; it's quite common."

"No, this isn't an issue of opinions. It's a fundamental flaw in character," Ms. Lee corrected, her tone dead serious. "I came here today to let you know: your agency no longer needs to pitch for the Stellar account."

My chest tightened.

"What do you mean?"

"I have already decided to award the contract to another firm," she said, looking me straight in the eye.

"Why?" I frowned. "Is this because of Chloe? If that's the case, I can remove her immediately—"

"No, this has nothing to do with her," Ms. Lee interrupted. "This has everything to do with you."