All Chapters of Chaos in Heels: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

By dinner, Deja decided to try again—because clearly, the universe was drunk and the family was not playing their role. "Dominique mentioned she's been working on a business proposal," she said brightly, locking eyes with Edward Zuo across the twelve-foot mahogany table. "Luxury pet accessories. Real innovative. Like, silk bonnets for emotional support chihuahuas." Edward blinked. "Is that... a real market?" "Oh absolutely," Deja nodded, stabbing a dumpling like it owed her money. "Rich folks will buy anything if you slap the word 'bespoke' on it. Dominique's gonna make millions off poodles in rhinestones." Ming coughed discreetly into her napkin. Lily didn't bother—she full-on snorted into her soup.

 She glanced at the caller ID. Her eyes narrowed. "Oh HELL no, why is she calling me?" Ming leaned in with visible interest. "She who?" "Dominique," Deja muttered, but then—an idea. A brilliantly petty idea bloomed in her brain. Wait. Wait a damn minute. Dominique coming here could fix everything. Her voice immediately went fake-sweet like syrup on grits. "Deja, darling cousin," Dominique's saccharine voice oozed through the speaker. "You forgot your medication at home. Your mother is terribly worried." Deja's t

Throughout dinner, Deja kept trying to steer conversations toward topics that would highlight Dominique's supposed compatibility with Ren, only to be repeatedly thwarted by the Zuo family's interference. "Dominique has such exquisite taste in wine," Deja declared, gesturing grandly with her fork like she was casting a spell. "Ren, didn't you say you were expanding your collection?""Actually," Ming interrupted, "I recall Dominique saying she preferred sweeter wines. Ren absolutely hates them, don't you, brother?"Ren nodded, amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Can't stand them.""Oh," Deja muttered. "Well. No one's perfect."She rebounded immediately, fork still in hand like a chaotic conductor. "Dominique is also exceptional at golf! She practically lives on the green.""I've won several club championships," Dominique confirmed with a modest smile."Ren doesn't play golf," Lily supplied helpfully. "He finds it mind-numbingly boring.""Tennis, then!" Deja tried desperately

Deja stood at the podium, blinking against the spotlight as a sea of expectant faces stared back at her. The speech—the one she'd planned to tank spectacularly—sat crumpled in her hands. She'd spent the last hour wandering around the gala with Ren, being introduced to business associates and industry titans who all seemed inexplicably charmed by her "refreshed" dress and unfiltered commentary.This is it. No more Miss. Nice Deja. Time to burn this mother down."Good evening, everyone," Deja said, voice calm, collected, and laced with danger. "I'm Deja Monrue. I'm the head of Watchout Logistics. Or, as I like to call it, 'the company y'all didn't think I could run without burning it down, yet here we are... thriving.'"A few nervous chuckles scattered through the room. Deja raised one eyebrow."Oh, don't be shy now. Y'all weren't quiet when you were whispering about me behind your little shrimp cocktail platters."Now they were really quiet. From her peripheral vision, she could see he

The morning light stabbing through Deja's curtains felt like personal violence. She groaned, rolled over, and immediately regretted the movement as her brain sloshed painfully against her skull. Memories from last night flickered across her consciousness like a traumatic slideshow: the dress, the gala, challenging some old businessman to a dance-off, being carried into the house by Ren..."Oh no," she croaked, voice scratchy like she'd been chain-smoking gravel. "Oh hell no."Deja fumbled for her phone, squinting at the screen. 8:17 AM. Two hours before the Sandersen meeting that Ren had mentioned. Ren, who had carried her drunk ass into the house. Ren, who had seen her at peak messiness and somehow still looked at her like she hung the moon."This is a disaster," she mumbled, dragging herself upright. The room spun for a moment before settling into an uneasy stillness. "Fifty million dollars, Deja. Focus on the fifty million dollars."She dragged herself upright, glancing toward the