Lily's heart sank, and no matter how hard she tried, her efforts proved futile. Derek was stronger, more arrogant, and completely convinced of his superiority. He tucked the contract more securely under his arm, eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he announced, "I’ll be gone," and made his way toward the door.Before Lily could react, Robert stepped in Derek's way, his voice calm but deadly serious. "Give it back," Robert said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "I’d advise you to do that quickly before things get unpleasant."Derek paused, locking eyes with Robert, and for a split second, his confidence faltered. He knew full well that pushing further could cost him dearly. But instead of backing down, he made a quick decision. Without warning, Derek dashed out the door, clutching the contract tightly. Lily stood frozen in disbelief, her mind spinning. How could this happen? Her hard work, the chance to prove herself, the contract that would change everything—it was all gone i
Derek stepped forward, a smug smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, Lily,” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “We both know it was me who secured the contract. You’re just trying to take credit for my hard work. I spoke with the director and used my business acumen to get this deal. Stop lying and claiming what doesn’t belong to you.”Lily’s eyes flashed with fury as she retorted, “That’s a lie, Derek! I was the one who got the contract back! This is my achievement, not yours!”The argument escalated quickly, their voices rising and overlapping as they began to argue more intensely. The room grew increasingly chaotic, with Lily and Derek’s shouting becoming almost deafening. Mr. Hartley, observing the escalating conflict with growing frustration, raised his hand to stop the commotion.“There’s no need for this bickering,” Mr. Hartley’s voice cut through the noise with authority. “The most important thing is that we secured the contract. All this fighting is unnecessary.”Rob
The comparison between her and Derek, where Derek was painted as the ambitious and successful one, while she was relegated to the role of a stubborn and capricious daughter, was a bitter pill to swallow.The crushing realization that her father and Derek saw her as a failure, despite her tireless efforts, was heart-wrenching. It felt as though all her hard work was being dismissed in favor of Derek’s manipulative success. The sight of Derek’s smug satisfaction, his demeanor radiating triumph, only intensified her sense of betrayal.Lily’s heart felt heavy with a mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. The weight of her father’s misplaced faith in Derek, combined with the pain of being unfairly judged, was almost unbearable. As Derek stood there, basking in the approval he had so deceitfully earned, Lily was left grappling with the reality of her shattered dreams and the painful recognition that her father’s trust had been misplaced in the very person who had stolen her hard-earned su
Lily stood rooted to the spot, her body rigid with a fury so intense it made her hands tremble. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, each beat echoing with the betrayal she felt. As she watched her father, Mr. Hartley, smile proudly at Derek, the man who had stolen everything from her, the rage within her only deepened. Her fingers twitched with the urge to lash out, to scream, but she bit down hard on her lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood, trying to hold herself together. Her breathing grew shallow, each breath a struggle against the fury threatening to spill over.Her father, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her, continued to heap praise on Derek. "You’ve really proven yourself, Derek," Mr. Hartley said, his voice brimming with pride. "I’ve always known you had a good head for business, but this… securing such a massive deal, worth $100 million—it’s remarkable. I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve outdone yourself. This is the kind of ambition and intelligence that ru
"Thank you, Dad. I’ll make sure to live up to those expectations. It’s always been my goal to prove that hard work and focus pay off. And well… some of us just need a bit more time to figure things out," he said, his words aimed directly at Lily, the jab unmistakable.Lily’s teeth ground together as she fought to keep her composure. His words stung like poison, each one a reminder of how he’d stolen her thunder, how he had deceived everyone and made her look like a failure. She seethed inside, her fury bubbling over, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. She had to. If she lashed out now, it would only make her look petty, jealous, like she was the antagonist in her own family. And worse, it would give Derek exactly what he wanted—a chance to bask in her defeat.Despite everything, Lily held on to a sliver of hope. She didn’t know how, but she had to find a way to prove them all wrong, to reclaim what was rightfully hers. Even as the congratulations and accolades co
A round of laughter erupted, loud and mocking, echoing around the room. Derek laughed the loudest, his voice sharp and scathing. Mr. Hartley smirked, shaking his head in disbelief, while Mrs. Hartley covered her mouth, trying to stifle her amusement, but failing miserably."Poverty has really done a number on you, Robert," Mr. Hartley sneered, wiping a tear from his eye as if Robert had told the funniest joke. "I didn’t think it was possible for someone to say something that stupid with a straight face.""Yeah," Derek added, his tone dripping with mockery. "It’s like being broke has melted away what little sense you had left. Securing a deal like that? You? Lily? Please, don't make me laugh."Lily’s heart sank. She watched as the sneers and laughter continued, cutting deeper into her already wounded spirit. Mr. Hartley’s expression turned more serious as he directed his next words at her."Lily," he said, shaking his head in disappointment, "I don’t know how you let yourself get so inf
Lily’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists tighter, fighting to hold back the tidal wave of emotions. The sheer injustice of it all burned inside her, but she knew better than to give Derek the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.Robert, unwilling to be silenced, felt his heart twist at the sight of Lily’s frustration and misery. Seeing her like this ignited a burning resolve inside him. He was determined to expose Derek’s lies, no matter what it took. With gritted teeth, his voice laced with frustration, Robert finally spoke up. “Fine,” he spat, his tone sharp, “if that’s how you all want to play the game. No problem. Just wait and see—Lily and I will prove you all wrong, and you’ll see Derek for the fraud he is.”His words lingered in the air like a storm on the horizon, tension rising in the room. Robert turned sharply, his movements purposeful as he gestured for Lily to follow him. She hesitated, her eyes flitting between her father, mother, and Derek’s smug face,
There was a pause on Simon’s end as the information sank in, and when he spoke, his voice was tight with anger. “That snake… I should’ve known Derek was up to something. He always had that cunning, sly way about him, like he was always looking for shortcuts. But to steal his own sister’s hard work and take credit for it… it’s low, even for him.”Robert clenched his jaw, his own anger simmering just below the surface. “Yeah, and now they’ve made him the CEO because of it. Lily’s been left in the dust.”Simon’s anger only grew. “This is unbelievable. The nerve of Derek to pull something like that—and to get away with it in front of his whole family? He’s always been manipulative, but this... This is outright deception. If they knew the truth, if they saw what he really was, they’d be ashamed.”Robert nodded, his mind racing. “I know. That’s why I need your help, Simon. We have to set this right.”Simon didn’t hesitate. “You’ve got it. We’ll expose Derek for the fraud he is. He’s not get
The company, once vulnerable in the wake of Madam President’s death, was now regaining its footing under Robert’s guidance. But his journey had only just begun, and he knew that he needed to be vigilant, for there were still enemies lurking in the shadows.His mother’s funeral, though somber, had not only been a farewell but also a declaration to the world that Robert was no longer the boy who lived in his mother’s shadow. He was stepping into his role with a newfound sense of purpose, and he would not be undermined.In the weeks that followed, Robert spent long hours at the company’s headquarters, pouring over documents and familiarizing himself with every intricate detail of the empire his mother had built. His butler, an older gentleman named Alfred who had served the family for decades, became an indispensable ally. Alfred had known Robert since he was a child, and he had seen the boy transform into the man standing before him.One evening, Alfred found Robert still working in hi
Madam President, as she was fondly known to the world, was a woman of unparalleled influence and charisma. Her life was a tapestry of triumphs, woven from years of building her empire and leading her company with a firm but compassionate hand. She had overseen countless business successes and was a beloved public figure, admired for her resilience and business acumen.But even the strongest of leaders are not invincible. Behind closed doors, the indomitable Madam President had been battling a relentless illness. The diagnosis had come suddenly and without warning, sending shockwaves through the lives of everyone who knew her, especially her only son, Robert. Despite her physical decline, she never let her illness dim her spirit or her drive to oversee her company’s affairs. Robert often marveled at his mother’s sheer determination, even when she was confined to her bed, issuing orders and signing documents with the same unwavering authority.The family spared no expense in providin
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as the final figure was announced. Lila’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling at the sheer audacity of it all. How could this be happening? Robert was supposed to be the pauper here, the one barely scraping by, not the one making extravagant purchases without a second thought.Meanwhile, Anita’s smile grew even wider, a mix of disbelief and glee painted across her face. To her, it felt as though she had won the jackpot, her wildest dreams unfolding right before her eyes.Robert, however, merely smiled sheepishly, his calm demeanor unshaken by the staggering total. He turned to Anita and said, "I hope you’re satisfied with your picks. Let’s get these wrapped up."At the same time, When the assistant called out the total—$350,000—the shock on Lila and her companion’s faces was almost palpable. Lila’s eyes widened in disbelief, her carefully calculated confidence beginning to unravel as she processed the staggering figure. The man besi
Lila and her companion stood frozen, their eyes locked on Robert. The confidence with which he moved, the calm in his demeanor, and the absolute lack of fear in his voice were all completely at odds with the image of him they had clung to for so long. Every word he spoke, every action he took seemed to defy the expectations they had so carefully built around him.Lila's breath hitched as she watched Anita wheel the overflowing cart towards the register. Her gaze darted to the items, her mind racing as she tried to calculate the worth of everything piled inside. Her heart sank as the numbers began to add up—thousands upon thousands of dollars. The realization was like a punch to the gut. Could this really be happening? Could Robert, the man she had always considered beneath her, actually afford this?For years, Lila had carried a deep-seated belief that Robert was a nobody, someone to be mocked and dismissed. But that belief was now crumbling under the weight of what she was witnessin
Robert let out a calm smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as a cold expression settled on his face. "You're right, why won't I?" he responded, his tone icy and composed.Lila's scorn was unmistakable. She threw her head back and let out a sarcastic laugh, her eyes gleaming with mockery. "Really? Robert afford a bag this much?" she sneered, her gaze landing on the $89,000 price tag of the bag Anita had been eyeing earlier. "You? A pauper like you? Trying to level up so bad—it’s laughable!"She continued, "You’re in way over your head, Robert. You’re just digging your own grave, pretending to be something you're not. This is going to put you in serious trouble one day, mark my words."Her words dripped with disdain, but beneath her confident exterior, a seed of unease began to sprout. She couldn’t shake the memories of her past encounters with Robert. She recalled their run-in at the Luxor Hotel—how she had expected him to be exposed as a fraud or a thief, yet, to her bewilderment, he ha
The words hit Lila like a slap to the face. Her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a retort. But soon, the anger boiled over, and she exploded into a furious rant."You—how dare you!" she sputtered, her voice rising in pitch. "You think you can talk to me like that? Do you know who I am? I’ve got more class in my little finger than you’ll ever have! Those bags—those bags are worth more than anything you’ll ever touch! You’re nothing but a lowlife, a pathetic little con man who can’t afford even a scrap of what I have!"Lila’s face contorted with rage, her voice dripping with venom as she continued to rant, her words becoming more disjointed and desperate as she tried to regain some semblance of control over the situation. "You’re the joke here, Robert! A joke! And as for you," she spat, turning her glare towards Anita, "
The tension in the air was electric, thick and oppressive like a storm cloud ready to burst. The other guests, who had been observing the escalating situation with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, began to murmur amongst themselves, their voices tinged with both anticipation and judgment."Serves him right," one diner whispered, barely hiding a smirk. "He must be out of his mind to go up against someone like Mr. Smith.""Foolish, really," another chimed in, shaking their head. "He’s asking for it. The manager’s going to toss him out on his ear, just wait and see."The whispers grew louder, with some even casting pitying glances at Robert, while others openly mocked him. "He has no idea who he’s dealing with," one person commented with a sneer. "Smith’s a regular here, practically untouchable. That guy is done for."Anita, sitting beside Robert, could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was visibly fidgeting, her fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the table. The thought o
Robert remained unnervingly calm as Mr. Smith's voice escalated, his threats echoing through the luxurious hall of the VIP section. His demeanor was as steady as a still lake before a storm, showing no hint of the tension burning beneath the surface. The more Mr. Smith ranted, the less Robert seemed to react, his composed expression only further fueling Mr. Smith’s fury.Mr. Smith sneered, his voice thick with venom. "You act like you’re above it all, like you own this place, you think everyone else is just as deceitful as you?"The other customers, were now turning their heads, their curiosity piqued by the growing commotion. Some whispered among themselves, while others watched intently, their food momentarily forgotten.Robert, sensing the perfect opportunity to twist the knife, leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. "Well, Smith," he said with a casual shrug, "if you must know, I own this place."Mr. Smith froze mid-rant, his eyes narrowing as he processed what Robert had
As Robert and Anita left the lively birthday party, the evening air was cool, and the city lights glittered around them. Anita’s stomach growled audibly, and she burst into laughter.“Okay, that’s embarrassing,” she said, rubbing her belly. “But seriously, I’m starving. We’ve been surviving on potato chips, cupcakes, and candy all night. I need some real food—something warm and hearty.”Robert chuckled, nodding in agreement. “I hear you. I can’t believe they called that a party spread. You know what? Let’s go somewhere special. I know a place.”Anita’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Special, huh? Fancy or casual?”“Oh, very fancy,” Robert said, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”Curiosity piqued, Anita grinned. “Alright, lead the way. Just don’t make me wait too long; I’m already dreaming about a perfect, gourmet meal.”They drove through the city, the anticipation growing as Robert pulled up to an elegant, upscale restaurant. The establishment exuded s