The Deal They Couldn't Keep

"This deal is mine now, Damian. You should stay in your lane." Chris was waving the contract that was supposed to be in the safe, and he was smug about it.

Only my fiancée and I knew about the new password. I took a moment to process the truth before turning to Tina Helman, demanding hoarsely, "It was you? No one had the guts to take on Mr. Lawson's project before I came to Pierton.

"Now that I've snagged the deal, you just handed it over to the guy who did none of the legwork?"

The Riversons found me two years ago, claiming that I was their real son. So, they took me in, while Chris was sent overseas.

Not long after that, George, my fiancée's father, got into an accident. Tina grew up as a pampered rich girl and had no idea how to handle the company.

I stepped in to help her family's company that had lost its leader, and I volunteered to handle the toughest customer in Pierton, Neil Lawson of Skycloud Group. I did that so I could share the profit with Tina and pull her family company back from the brink of bankruptcy.

I spent two years attending many wine-and-dine events, drinking so much that my stomach bled, before I finally convinced Neil to give us the deal.

On the day Neil gave us the yes, Tina hugged me tightly, her tears drenching my collar. She promised we'd get married once the project was established, and we'd see the aurora borealis at Frostground. Now, she had just given the fruits of my labor to Chris.

Tina couldn't even look me in the eye. "Chris just got back. He needs a big project to establish authority in the company."

Chris put his arm around her waist. She froze but didn't refuse him. Then, she continued, "You're his brother. Can't you just give this to him? You can go home and get some rest. Don't read too much into it."

Mr. Zimmer, who was working overtime, heard the entire exchange

He immediately shot up from his seat. "You can't just change the person in charge, Ms. Helman! Mr. Lawson specifically asked for Mr. Damian! Changing the person in charge will ruin this collaboration!

"Also, you're Mr. Damian's fiancée. Instead of helping him, you're helping another man? Do you have no shame?"

Tina frowned as she said slowly, "Chris studied abroad. He's clearly talented, and his methods are a lot more advanced than Damian's. Why would it be a problem?"

Mr. Zimmer jabbed a finger at Chris, his body shivering with rage. "Does he know the market? Does he know our clients? What can he do besides speaking in another tongue? Yet, you call that being advanced?

"Do you even remember who cleaned his mess up last month? And now you think he has the right to take over this deal?"

Chris was appointed as a top exec last month out of the blue, but he cost our client two million. That made them so furious that they nearly canceled their contract with us.

I had to humble myself to apologize and work three all-nighters to recoup the losses just to prevent our client from going to another company.

Now, this bastard was eager to kick me out so he could take the profit for himself.

"How dare you!" My mother stepped forth, looking stormy. "I raised Chris for 20 years. He might not be my biological son, but he's still the heir of this family! How dare you insult him! You're fired! Get your final pay from finance and get out of my sight!"