Chapter 1 They Fired the CEO's Sister

I pulled out my phone and quickly texted my brother, 'You're firing me?'

His reply came instantly. 'Who's firing you? I'm still out of town. Sit tight. I'm sending Ryan over to handle this.'

I had barely slipped my phone back into my pocket when someone shoved me hard from behind.

I stumbled into the doorframe.

Vanessa Cross stood there with her arms folded, one brow raised in mock amusement. "Oh? Calling for backup?"

Her smile turned nasty. "Let me guess. One of the men who pays for your time?"

Then, she sighed dramatically. "Avery, even though we used to be best friends growing up, I still have to say this."

She shook her head like she was disappointed in me. "You throw yourself at anything that moves. No shame, no dignity. The company is firing you because they're sick of you turning this place into a circus."

I stared at her fake expression and clenched my jaw.

Vanessa couldn't find a job when she graduated. She had cried and begged me for help. I was the one who put in a word with HR to get her hired.

When she wanted a promotion, I was the one who spoke to my brother on her behalf and helped her land the position she had now.

And this was how she repaid me.

A few of Vanessa's usual followers immediately joined in.

"Exactly! She uses her looks and sleeps her way into deals. Absolutely disgusting."

"She's always hanging around the executive floor. What, hoping to climb into the CEO's bed while his wife's away? Please. As if a man like him would look twice at her."

"I've heard she jumps from one man to the next. Clients, coworkers—it doesn't matter. She'll flirt with anyone. Trash like that deserves to be thrown out."

I listened to every insult in silence.

Then I looked past Vanessa, directly at Dylan Mercer. "Do you think that too?"

Every head turned toward him.

Their expressions were filled with pity and sympathy, as if he were the unfortunate husband who had uncovered his wife's betrayal.

Dylan ignored everyone else as he approached, stopping in front of me and looking down at me as if I were beneath him.

"What right do you have to stay here?" His tone was icy. "Every dollar this company makes is from people working themselves to the brink, except you. You rely on your looks and body to secure deals. It's pathetic."

He laughed bitterly. "We've been married all these years, and somehow I never realized what kind of woman you really are."

Then, he pulled out a stack of photos from his pocket and slapped them in front of my face.

The pictures spilled across the floor, showing me with various men—walking beside them or drinking together.

One shot caught my eye: a man with his arm around my waist as we entered a hotel. That man was my brother's assistant.

I'd been drunk that night.

I had meant to call Dylan to pick me up.

Instead, I accidentally called my brother.

He happened to be in town, trying to convince me to stop being stubborn with our parents.

He got there just in time to pull me away from a group of men who clearly had bad intentions.

Then, he told his assistant to take me to a hotel so I could sober up.

Apparently, someone had photographed the whole thing.

I opened my mouth to explain.

However, Dylan cut me off immediately, "Save it."

His expression twisted with disgust. "Go home. I'm sick of looking at you."

I was about to argue when my phone buzzed.

'Ms. Whitmore, the CEO is in a board meeting at headquarters. He's already investigating the termination. 'He'll be at the branch office in 20 minutes. I'm heading over now to deal with the rest.'

Ryan Lowe was my brother's right-hand man. He was also the only person in the company whom no one dared to ignore, except my brother himself.