After returning from studying abroad, my fiancé told me he had arranged a position for me in his company.

In less than three months, I had brought in a deal worth over ten million.

His female assistant came over with a newly drafted contract, but the signature on it was her name.

I asked if she’d made a mistake—if the contract had her name, wouldn’t that make the deal hers?

The assistant impatiently said, “The contract’s here for you to check the terms, don’t push your luck. Sign it quickly so I’m not late for my nail appointment…”

I called my fiancé, Ethan Walker, to confirm. He replied irritably, “Don’t you understand basic social rules? Isabella Reed is the CEO’s daughter!

“She’s here in our branch office just to add a line to her résumé. She’s going to inherit the family business, and we have to stay on her good side. You’d better not offend her!”

I glanced at Isabella, who was casually checking herself in the mirror. The cheap perfume she wore made me want to sneeze.

I was also curious—since when did my father have another daughter?

…

My fingertips tapped lightly on the contract. When I looked up, my earlier confusion was gone, replaced with a faint smile. “The CEO’s daughter?”

Isabella seemed surprised by my reaction. She put down her mirror, raised an eyebrow at me, and the glitter on her false eyelashes shimmered with the movement. “What? You don’t believe me?”

Her tone was full of pride. “My dad said once I’ve put in enough time here at the branch, I’ll be transferred back to headquarters as Vice President. You’re just someone who washed dishes overseas—what would you know?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I took out my phone and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and my father, Robert Bennett, answered with a voice full of energy. “Claire, it’s been so long since you called your dad. Gotten too big for your boots?”

“Dad,” I said calmly, “I just want to ask—did you recently take on a goddaughter named Isabella Reed?”

There was a two-second pause, then his angry roar came through the speaker: “Isabella Reed? Who the hell dares to use my name to strut around? I’ll have Security investigate immediately!”

I put the phone on speaker. Isabella’s smugness instantly froze, and even the scent of her cheap perfume seemed to turn acrid with her panic.

She suddenly stood up, pointed at me, and shouted, “Claire Bennett, just because you found some random guy to call and pretend to be the CEO doesn’t mean it’s true! Your whole outfit probably isn’t worth more than fifty bucks!”

Other colleagues, overhearing, began to murmur.

“Yeah! Isabella Reed is Mr. Bennett’s only daughter—everyone knows that. How could it be fake?”

“Exactly! Sounds to me like Claire’s just jealous of her background.”

“So pathetic—no skills, yet so arrogant. If Isabella’s not the CEO’s daughter, then who is—her?”

At that moment, Ethan called again. I hit decline. A moment later, he texted: “Did you sign yet? Isabella told me you’re being difficult—don’t be ungrateful!”

Looking at the words on the screen, I couldn’t help but laugh. When he was pursuing me, he’d say over and over, “You’re the most capable woman I’ve ever met.” Now, for the sake of some so-called “CEO’s daughter,” he expected me to hand over my hard-earned multimillion-dollar deal.

I replied: “Ethan, just to curry favor with Isabella, you want me to give up the deal I worked so hard to secure?”

The office was buzzing like a swarm of flies. Isabella paused mid-manicure, her false lashes fluttering twice. “Claire, are you done with your little performance?” She glanced down at my feet. “Your heel’s worn down—how dare you pretend to be some rich heiress?”

I didn’t look up. My fingertips tapped the word “Check” onto my phone screen and sent it to my assistant.

When I turned, I caught Ethan Walker pushing the door open, sweat still beading at his temple—clearly he’d rushed over.

“Claire, stop making a scene.” He grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt. “I’ve seen Isabella on a video call with Mr. Bennett. How could it be fake? Just sign the contract, and I’ll take you out to dinner to make it up to you tonight.”

A few people nearby snickered quietly. I yanked my wrist free, the skin already red. “Ethan, you’ve met Mr. Bennett?”

He froze, then stiffened his neck. “Of course! At last year’s annual gala… from a distance.”

“Oh.” I nodded, pulled a document from my drawer, and slid it toward him. “Then take a look at this.”

It was the headquarters board of directors list—my father’s name at the very top, with his photo beside it. Ethan’s face went pale the instant his eyes landed on it. Isabella leaned in, her finger tracing over “CEO Robert Bennett” for a long time before she suddenly screeched, “Fake! You must have printed this to trick people!”

Ethan jumped in then, snapping, “Claire, enough! Stop making trouble! It’s just a deal. I told Isabella to give you a $150 bonus—what’s wrong with that?”

“A hundred and fifty dollars?” I pulled my hand away again. “Two days ago, you told me this deal could get you promoted to department manager, and that if I worked harder, you’d propose by the end of the year. Now suddenly it’s ‘no big deal’?”

His eyes shifted away. “I just… I just thought Isabella has strong connections and could help us.”

“Help us?” I laughed out loud. “You mean I give her my deal so she can help you—and what about me? Am I just your stepping stone?”

Isabella shot to her feet. “Don’t push your luck. Letting you help is me doing you a favor! If you don’t want to, you can get out right now. The company doesn’t need people like you!”

Ethan stepped in to smooth things over, speaking to Isabella in a soft voice, “Isabella, don’t be angry. This isn’t worth it.”

She gave him a playful tap on the chest. “If it weren’t for you, I would’ve thrown her out already. Keeping her here is just a waste of company resources, hmph!”

Ethan’s face was full of flattery as he held her hand, practically drooling over her. The sight made me feel sick.

Holding the finalized contract, I told them, “I’m not changing the signature. I’m sending this to the Legal Department for stamping right now. If you think you can, go ahead and fire me!”

Isabella gave me a cold glare. “Fine! I’ll do you that favor. I’m calling HR right now. I don’t believe I can’t deal with you.”

Ethan put on a false tone of concern. “Claire, why go this far? Good luck to you.”

Isabella grabbed the desk phone and put it on speaker. From the receiver came the overly sweet voice of Linda Collins from HR: “Isabella, what can I do for you?”

“Linda, Claire Bennett from the marketing department refuses to follow company orders and talked back to her superior. Come over now and process her termination.”

She lifted her gaze to me, a triumphant smile tugging at her lips.

“My dad says anyone who disrupts team harmony is nothing but trouble.”

“Oh, right away! I’ll be there!” Linda’s tone was gleeful, like she’d been waiting for this moment.

Ethan gave a mock sigh beside her, his fingers still caressing the back of Isabella’s hand.

“Claire, look at you—why make it come to this? Isabella’s only thinking of the company. Just apologize…”

“Shut up.” I cut him off, sliding the contract into a folder.

“Once Legal stamps this, I’ll forward it to headquarters for record. As for this so-called termination—”

I glanced at Isabella Reed. “That depends on whether you even have the authority.”

She was just about to snap back when Linda Collins clattered in on her high heels, clutching a termination form. Her face was all smiles as she bowed toward Isabella.

“Isabella, here’s what you asked for.”

Then she turned to me, her expression dropping instantly.

“Claire Bennett, sign this so we can part ways nicely and save everyone the embarrassment.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I sign?” I hugged the folder to my chest.

“Now, Assistant Reed here has falsified her identity and stolen credit for my deal. According to company policy, Linda, why don’t you read out how that should be handled?”

Linda’s eyes flickered, darting toward Isabella. She straightened her back and said sharply, “Stop slandering people! Isabella’s identity has been verified! You’re just mad you didn’t land the deal and want revenge!”

She slapped the termination form onto my desk. “Sign it now, or I’ll mark you down for absenteeism and dock your pay completely!”

Isabella stood to the side with her arms crossed, smirking. Ethan Walker chimed in, playing the peacemaker.

“Claire, just sign it. Losing your paycheck isn’t worth it. Don’t worry, I’ll slip you something on the side…”

The patronizing way he said it was even more disgusting than Isabella’s arrogance.

I picked up the termination form and, without even glancing at it, tore it in half.

“You dare?!” Linda shrieked, lunging to snatch it, but I stepped aside.

“Claire Bennett!” Isabella exploded, grabbing a glass of water from the desk and flinging it at me. “You’re asking for it!”

The water missed me entirely, splashing over the nearby filing cabinet.

Our coworkers shrank back, too afraid to say a word.

Ethan quickly handed tissues to Isabella, glaring at me while wiping her hands. “Look what you’ve done—now she’s furious! No one can help you now!”

Isabella shoved him away and pulled out her phone.

“Mr. Harris? This is Isabella… Yes, someone’s making a scene in the office and refusing to sign her termination papers. You’d better get here before things get out of hand!”

Michael Harris, the branch office’s second-in-command, was notorious for sucking up to upper management.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my father’s special assistant, Daniel Brooks:

[Someone in the branch is using your name to cause trouble. It’s making a scene. You decide how to handle it.]

I had just sent the text when Michael Harris bustled in, his beer belly leading the way.

“Who’s been giving our Isabella trouble?!” he barked.

Isabella was already dabbing at non-existent tears. The moment she saw him, she rushed over.

“Mr. Harris! Thank goodness you’re here! Claire not only stole my deal but also claimed I’m not the CEO’s daughter. She’s just jealous of me!”

Michael squinted at me, his gaze lingering on my scuffed, worn-down heel before twisting into a sneer.

“Claire Bennett? I know you—you’re that new hire who studied abroad, right?”

Without waiting for me to answer, he turned back to Isabella, his tone softening instantly.

“Don’t be upset, Isabella. People with no background who want to climb up the ladder will always resort to shady tricks.”

“You’re absolutely right!” Isabella jumped in, pointing at me.

“She even said she was going to Legal to get the contract stamped! Ridiculous! That deal was mine—I’m the one who negotiated it. She was just running errands!”

Michael nodded, then suddenly slammed his hand on the desk.

“Claire Bennett, you’re suspected of stealing a colleague’s credit and spreading slander about the family of a senior executive.

“Effective immediately, all your work is suspended. Go wait in the break room. You don’t leave until I say so!”

“Mr. Harris, you’re not even going to verify the facts?” I frowned.

“Verify?” he scoffed. “Isabella’s identity doesn’t need verification—half the company watched her grow up! You just don’t know when to quit!” He turned to the door and barked, “Security! Take her to the break room and keep an eye on her!”