Chapter 3

My father had no idea I was planning to leave.

The next day, he called me into the Collins Group's conference room.

The West District Data Center was the company's biggest project of the year. Blair was in charge of moving the project forward, while I was responsible for the risk assessment.

My father claimed the arrangement was meant to help me integrate into the family business as quickly as possible. Yet for the past three months, every risk report I'd prepared had been submitted under Blair's name.

If the project went smoothly, she got the credit. If something went wrong with the paperwork, however, I was the one who had to sign off as the risk officer.

This time was no different.

Blair pushed the construction authorization form toward me. "Renee, sign this."

I went through the documents, then pushed them back. "The fire safety inspection is fake. The contractor was blacklisted last month. I can't sign this."

My father tapped his fingers against the table. "Start construction first. We can sort out the paperwork afterward. The investors are already here. We can't afford to damage our reputation."

"Whoever approved it can sign it."

Blair gave a bitter smile. "I know you're still upset about the family trust. But this is business. Family matters are separate."

"I'm not upset." I pointed to the inspection certificate. "This stamp is fake."

Andrew, who headed the group's legal department, was also sitting in the conference room. He barely glanced at the document before closing the file. "Sign it first. I'll take care of the rest later."

"How?"

"We'll get the paperwork sorted."

"What if we can't?" I pressed.

Andrew's patience began to wear thin. "I'm your own brother. Do you really think I'd hurt you?"

I looked him in the eye. "Precisely because you're the head of legal, you know better than anyone what could happen if I sign this."

He didn't answer.

Joseph was attending the meeting as a representative of the Hamiltons. He tried to persuade me. "Blair has spent a year preparing for this project. Once the data center is completed, she'll officially be able to join the board. Don't stop her when she's this close."

I looked at him. "What about me?"

"What?"

"If the project succeeds, she gets a seat on the board. If something goes wrong, I could go to prison. Do you think that's fair?" I argued.

He pressed his lips together. "Nothing's going to happen."

"Then let her sign it."

Blair's fingers tightened.

Cameron was there too as an advisor to the investors. He'd watched Blair grow up, and once again, he spoke up in her defense. "Renee, Blair isn't afraid to sign. She's the group's successor. She can't afford to have a risk violation on her record."

I nodded. "So her future can't have a stain on it, but mine can."

Silence fell over the conference room.

My father slapped the authorization form down in front of me. "Has this family raised you?"

"No."

His face darkened. "Has this family given you your status?"

"My name hasn't even been added to the family trust yet."

"Have we given you any money?"

"I haven't touched a single cent in the bank account."

With every answer, my father's expression darkened further. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "Then after coming back this past year, what exactly have you gotten from this family?"

I looked at my brother, my fiancé, and the friend I'd grown up next door to. "I'd like to know that myself."

Blair stood up, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't pressure her anymore. I won't join the board."

My mother walked through the door just in time to hear her. She immediately rushed over and wrapped her arms around Blair. "You've worked for a whole year. Why should you give up your seat?"

Then she turned to me. "Renee, all you're being asked to do is sign one document. What Blair stands to lose is her entire future!"

I closed the file. "I understand."

My mother's expression relaxed slightly. She clearly thought I'd finally given in.

Instead, I pulled a resignation letter from my bag. "This is my resignation from the Collins Group. From today onward, this project has nothing to do with me."

My father shot to his feet. "How dare you?!"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You're a member of the Collins family!" he barked.

"When you need someone to take responsibility, I'm a member of the Collins family. But when it comes to rooms, the family trust, and inheritance rights, I'm supposed to be understanding because she's lived here for 25 years." I placed my employee ID on the table. "I can't accept either set of rules."

My father laughed in disbelief. "Where do you think you can go after leaving the Collins Group?"

Just then, my phone rang.

Desiree had only one thing to say. "Miss Collins, the board voted unanimously. The partnership agreement with Tranquil Risk Management is waiting for you to come back and sign."

I hung up.

The smile on my father's face froze.