She paused, her voice dripping with icy sarcasm. “Tell me, Trey-be honest. Was I supposed to abandon a multi- million dollar negotiation to run home and play personal chef for your sister?”
His throat went dry. He knew exactly how crucial that clien was and how much work Khloe had poured into saving the deal.
“I know it’s difficult, but they can’t keep interfering like this. I am not the Fox family’s private cook. Yesterday, because I didn’t show up, your mother called me disrespectful, and Alicia accused me of putting on airs. Did you know that?”
Trey’s brow furrowed deeply.
“My head is completely focused on saving this company, and yet your family is actively trying to drag me down at every turn.”
Then, her words became a razor’s edge. “How about this-you go tell your mother I’ll resign. I’ll dedicate myself to cooking special meals for Alicia. The company can figure it out on its own. After all, what difference can one person really make?”
“Are you out of your mind?” Trey’s voice cracked. “Resign? Now? What happens to the company then?”
“Then you tell me, what do you want?” she fired back. “Either your mother and sister apologize and promise never to interfere with my work again, or I go home and be a full-time nanny. The company’s problems won’t be my concern anymore.”
She let the silence hang heavily between them before delivering the final, brutal blow.
“So choose, Trey. Do you want me stabilizing the company and bringing in business, or do you want me serving your sister her meals?”
On the other end of the line, Trey went completely silent.
Trey knew, with chilling clarity, that when Khloe used this one, she wasn’t bluffing. Without her, no one could clean up the mess the company was in.
“Khloe, my mother and Alicia, they…” He tried to find a sofer path, but she cut him off without mercy.
“Don’t make excuses. I only need them to understand one thing: I am here to work, not to be their servant. If they can’t respect that, then I see no reason to continue.”
For the first time, Trey realized with stark clarity-the woman who had once been so compliant was gone. The woman on the other end of the line could no longer be placated with empty promises.
But with Stella’s explosive temper and Alicia’s love for drama, demanding they apologize to Khloe would turn the entire household into a warzone.
“Khloe, you know how my mother is. Asking her to apologize is…”
Clenching his jaw, Trey decided to buy himself some time and just pacify Khloe for now. The company’s survival had to come first.
“I believe people are capable of change, Trey. For my sake, and for the company’s, I hope you’ll think this through carefully.”
With that, Khloe hung up without a second thought and turned her phone off completely.
When Trey immediately tried to call her back, the line was dead. He ripped at his tie, a furious, helpless rage burning in his chest.
Angela had been right. He had spoiled Khloe rotten! How dare she throw a tantrum at a time like this?
Blinded by anger, Trey didn’t go after her. He refused to believe the company’s IPO depended entirely on one person.
What he didn’t expect was for chaos to erupt the very afternoon Khloe left. The company’s executive chat exploded with news: three major partners had abruptly canceled their contracts with the Fox Group, sending the shareholders into a frenzy.
By the time Trey rushed in, he immediately called an emergency meeting. The reason for the cancellations quickly surfaced: a critical product launch the previous afternoon had been botched.
Product launches were Khloe’s direct responsibility. But at that exact time, she had been fielding call after call from his family.
Trey was speechless. Just then, Stella’s name flashed on his phone screen again. Without thinking, he snatched it and hurled it against the wall.
The entire room froze. His assistant nervously retrieved the shattered phone, and Trey simply waved a hand, dismissing the meeting.
It took him a long time to cool down before he finally grabbed his jacket and headed home.
By then, Alicia had fought with Stanley again and was back at her mother’s house. She and Stella were deep in conspiracy, plotting how to “put Khloe in her place” once and for all.
When a servant announced Trey’s return, smug smiles spread across both their faces.
They exchanged a triumphant glance. Of course Trey had brought Khloe back to beg for forgiveness.
But when the door opened, only Trey walked in-his face so dark it looked like it had been carved from storm clouds.
He didn’t even glance their way, striding straight into the study and slamming the door.
Half an hour later, he emerged with his father, Arthur Fox.
The icy aura radiating from Trey was enough to freeze the room. Stella rushed over, alarmed.
“Trey, where is Khloe? Why didn’t you bring her back?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.