My husband, Keaton Smyth, CEO of Orion Corp, ran the company under strict rules.

I brought in a $10 million investment. But I clocked in one second late, so bye-bye VP promotion. I got accused of disrespecting company policy, demoted, and slapped with a pay cut.

Then there was Evie Larsen, his shiny new assistant.

She ditched work on the day of a huge contract signing and trashed Orion's only shot with a public company.

Keaton's response?

No punishment. No write-up.

He called it "personality," promoted her right there, gave her a raise, and tossed her a river-view apartment as company housing.

Evie still wanted more.

She pushed to take over Orion's core project, all so she could "prove herself."

I shut her down.

That same day, she marched into Keaton's office and accused me of power-tripping, insulting her, and refusing to train her.

I thought Keaton would see through it.

The next morning, my name was gone from the project team. My file access was revoked, too.

"Since you're too senior to mentor new hires, you're starting over. Entry-level sales rep. Same level as them."

Everyone waited for me to snap.

I just smiled and handed over the flash drive with the project data.

Keaton nodded, pleased.

"Don't let it happen again."

What he didn't know?

That data wasn't complete.

The second they uploaded it, the errors would tank the project—and trigger a breach-of-contract penalty big enough to bury them.

Keaton took the flash drive from my hand, smiled at the teary-eyed Evie, and placed it in hers.

Then he looked at me, his face going cold.

"This demotion is your warning. Screw up again, and I won't go easy on you."

After a brief pause, he added, "I hope everyone takes this as a lesson. Just because you've been here longer doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Don't end up like Tessa."

I stayed quiet.

My teammates didn't.

"Mr. Smyth, this isn't fair. Everyone knows Tessa built this project. Why does Evie get to take it over when she hasn't even been here six months?"

"Tessa lived at the office for this project. She worked herself so hard she nearly ruined her eyes. How does Evie get all the credit just by saying a few words?"

"She's brand-new. She barely knows how anything works. If she takes over a project this big and blows it—or misses the deadline—we're the ones who'll pay for it."

Keaton frowned. "Enough. This is a company, not a circus. Stop making a scene. If Tessa can run the project, someone else can too. Evie's new, but she's every bit as capable. Get her up to speed, and she'll do even better.

"And that's final. Anyone who keeps arguing can join Tessa in entry-level sales."

The room slowly fell silent.

My teammates still looked ready to fight for me, but I lifted a hand and stopped them.

Keaton had already made up his mind.

Pushing him now would only get them dragged down with me.

Evie's eyes filled with grateful tears.

"Mr. Smyth, I won't let you down. I'll prove you made the right choice. I'm just as good as anyone else."

Keaton's face lit up.

I let out a cold laugh and shook my head.

Did Evie seriously think she could learn this overnight?

If it were that easy, the client wouldn't need us. Keaton wouldn't have made it Orion's core project.

Evie caught my laugh and instantly played victim.

"Tessa, I know you're mad about losing the project, but I just wanted a chance to prove myself to Mr. Smyth. Why do you always act like you're better than me?

"Yeah, I speak my mind. That's on me. If I messed up, you could've just told me. Why give me attitude? I'm not that petty. I can take criticism."

Then she squeezed out two tears.

And shifted just enough for Keaton to see.

Sure enough, the second Keaton saw her tears, his expression softened.

"Tessa Thorne, did you already forget what I just said? Or are you trying to get yourself fired? Check your attitude. No wonder your team's so unprofessional. They learned it from you. Write me a ten-page reflection and have it on my desk before the day's over."

I clenched my fists.

My teammates defended me for all of two seconds, and somehow they were the unprofessional ones.

But Evie?

She strolled in late, left early, and never had to clock in. She skipped work whenever she felt like it. Even when she tanked a project and cost the company money, nothing happened.

Me?

I spent countless late nights landing Orion a $10 million investment.

One second late. One missed punch.

That was enough for Keaton to mark me absent, yank the VP position he'd promised me, accuse me of breaking company policy, slash my pay, and demote me.

Now, after hearing nothing but Evie's side of the story, he'd dumped me into entry-level sales.

Super professional.

Guess I should be ashamed. My bad.

Then Keaton pulled out a gift box and handed it to Evie.

"You're taking over the project, so consider this a little encouragement. I know you'll do great."

Evie opened the box.

Inside was a limited-edition jewelry set.

The room instantly buzzed.

"Isn't that set over a hundred grand? Mr. Smyth really knows how to spoil people."

"I'm so jealous of Ms. Larsen. With Mr. Smyth backing her, she's set."

My eyes locked on the necklace in Evie's hands.

I knew that set.

I'd wanted it forever, but the price always stopped me. Keaton found out and kept promising he'd buy it for me someday.

He never did.

Yesterday, I'd found the receipt at home.

I'd actually thought he was planning to surprise me.

Turns out...

It was never meant for me.

Keaton looked around the room.

"From now on, follow Evie's example. Perform well, and you'll be rewarded the same way. And let me be clear one last time—don't pull what Tessa did. Seniority doesn't give you the right to bully new employees. If it happens again, there won't be a warning."

That was Keaton's management style: punish hard, reward loudly, and keep everyone fighting to stay on his good side.

I'd gotten used to it.

The second he walked away, the office erupted in whispers.

"Ms. Larsen, I'm so jealous. First the river-view apartment, now limited-edition jewelry? You're seriously winning."

"I know, right?"

Evie soaked up every word.

When her eyes met mine, they gleamed with smug satisfaction.

I looked away.

I had no interest in watching her gloat.

I'd won project after project for Orion Corp, bringing in millions for the company. Everything I'd earned was worth far more than the rewards Evie got handed for free.

None of it mattered to Keaton.

He always chose her.

Whenever I called him out, he'd say Evie reminded him of his late sister, so he couldn't help wanting to look after her.

That was his excuse for everything.

She blew Orion's only shot at partnering with a public company, and he still covered for her, praised her, and rewarded her with a river-view apartment.

When I questioned him, he humiliated me in front of everyone, accused me of having a twisted mind...

Then moved out and froze me out.

My teammates muttered beside me.

"Tessa, why did you give her that flash drive? You spent forever pulling that data from round after round of testing. She's getting it way too easy."

"Exactly. If every new hire cuts corners like Evie, this company is done."

"Mr. Smyth can pretend he doesn't see what you did for this project, but we do."

"Say the word, and we'll get that flash drive back. We're not letting Evie keep it."

"And once she steps into the project lab, I'll make sure she regrets it."

I just shook my head.

They didn't have to do a thing.

Evie would tank the project all on her own.

The second Keaton handed it to her, its fate was sealed.

There was no way someone who'd barely been at the company—and spent most of that time slacking off—could handle a project this big.

This wasn't just signing paperwork.

Keaton's voice cut through the room. "Tessa, what are you waiting for? Pack your stuff and move to the main office. You're not management anymore, so you don't get a private office. You're an entry-level sales rep now. Start acting like one, and quit setting a bad example."

His words were almost funny.

Evie had been at Orion for a few months, and she already had her own private office.

So she deserved one, but I didn't?

His double standard couldn't be louder.

Then I saw the cold look in his eyes.

This wasn't just favoritism anymore.

Keaton had already given Evie his whole heart.

He was the only one still pretending he hadn't.

I was about to fire back when he turned to HR.

"If she refuses to move, make her."

Then he walked straight back to his office.

The second he was gone, Evie's face changed.

She looked me up and down like I was trash.

"Tessa, if you'd handed over the project sooner, you wouldn't be here. I told you from the start Mr. Smyth values me. He tossed you aside ages ago. You're too old to compete with someone like me. It's honestly pathetic."

I ignored her.

She wasn't wrong.

Keaton did value her.

Otherwise, she never would've gotten this arrogant.