The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 22

"You probably don't get it, kid," Valerie said, barely keeping her anger in check as she cursed Citrine out a hundred different ways in her head. "I was handpicked by Mr. Carmichael himself. I'm not like everyone else here."

Citrine muttered under her breath, "Well, his judgment must be slipping, hiring someone like you."

"What did you just say?" Valerie's eyes narrowed; she was sure Citrine was talking smack.

"Nothing," Citrine replied, stifling a laugh. "So, what exactly makes you so special?"

Honestly, Citrine thought, bosses hiring staff was the most ordinary thing in the world. Who knew someone could spin that into a whole fantasy about marrying into wealth and power?

Before Valerie could answer, Citrine cut her off, "Don't tell me you actually think Raymond Carmichael would marry you and make you the lady of the house?"

Valerie's face flushed crimson. That thought had crossed her mind more than once, but having this brat voice it so bluntly left her feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"I" she started, trying to recover her composure.

But Citrine didn't let her finish. "You're delusional. Might want to get that checked out."

that kind of fantasy is a medical condition. You

echoed crisply through the office, every word hitting its mark. Throughout the exchange, she remained calm and even, but

Valerie dropped the act

pretending for? Climbing into

sly, seductive face-God knows how many

must be real pieces

sharp slap landed across Valerie's

was she so

at Citrine. She never thought this girl would actually hit her. With that innocent

of satisfaction. Curling her lips in a warning, she said, "Keep mouthing off and

she could solve a problem with her own hands, it wasn't really

intention of repeating that

cheek, was about to start hurling more insults when footsteps sounded in

her face, flopped down on the floor, and let

you hit me? I only asked you to move out because I was worried you'd distract Mr. Carmichael. Even if you didn't like

looked lovely even when she cried, the kind of