Part 3The Day the Family Applauded My Downfall

The family Easter dinner was hosted by my aunt Brenda.

Over thirty people, three large tables.

I arrived last.

The moment I walked in, my aunt’s smile was forced.

"Chloe’s here."

"Hi, Aunt Brenda."

"Busy, I assume? Being the big CEO and all."

She said it with a nasty edge, but everyone in the room laughed.

I recognized that laugh.

A little bit of brown-nosed brown-nosing, a little bit of jealousy, a little bit of schadenfreude.

I found a seat and sat down.

Brian was sitting at the main table, drinking, his voice loud.

"Let me tell you, what’s the most important thing in business?"

No one answered.

"Connections! Without connections, you can't do anything!"

He glanced at me.

"Some people just get lucky and ride a wave. But luck doesn't last forever."

I kept my head down and ate.

My aunt chimed in. "Exactly. Could Chloe have built her business without our family’s connections? The year she came back, who helped her get her first batch of customers?"

I put down my fork.

"Aunt Brenda, I found my first batch of customers on my own by sourcing suppliers online. No one introduced me to anyone."

The table went silent for a second.

My aunt's face twisted. "What I meant was—"

"Aunt Brenda, I know what you meant."

I smiled.

"But facts are facts. My customer list is right there; you can ask them yourself."

No one said anything.

Brian picked up his glass and snorted.

"Fine, fine. My dear cousin is successful, and the rest of us are losers, alright?"

I ignored him.

But I noticed one thing.

Brian's phone screen lit up.

A text notification popped up.

I caught four words.

"Materials received."

I couldn't see the sender’s name.

But my heart did a little flip.

What materials?