going to regret this!”
“I never want to see you again!”
Serenity gave me a smug smile, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Hailey, everyone’s been kissing your ass for years. ‘Investment Queen‘? You actually believed it?”
“You just rode Star Corp’s coattails. Anyone could have done what you did.
“Just you wait. Leaving Star Corp and the
Holt family is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.”
I didn’t bother answering. I turned around and
walked away.
Then, the internet exploded with dirt on me.
They said I was taking kickbacks on my
investments, using Star Corp’s power to bully
smaller companies, covering up losses, faking
profits, everything!
There wasn’t any real proof, but some of the
sheep on the internet started to turn on me.
L
sheep on the internet started to turn on me. Then Star Corp announced I’d resigned for “health reasons,” and Serenity was taking
over as VP.
Combined with all the dirt online, it painted a
pretty clear picture.
The internet lost its mind again.
“So the Hailey Stewart everyone worshiped
was a fake?”
“She was fired from Star Corp!”
“That’s why Ethan didn’t marry her. He found
out what she was really like and dumped her!”
“Star Corp was smart to get rid of her. If it
was just a little mistake, they wouldn’t have
cut her loose so fast. She probably messed
up bad.”
I didn’t pay any attention. I grabbed my
suitcase and headed to the airport.
Operation: Around–the–World Trip, initiated.
- 6.
<
I wasn’t going on this trip alone. I asked my
best friend, Willow Hayes, to come with me. Willow came from money. We were
roommates in college, and we’re as close as
sisters.
She was pissed about Ethan and Serenity and almost crashed their wedding.
When we got on the plane, Willow was still
ranting. “You were way too hung up on that
guy!”
“I would have skinned those two alive!
“Leaving Star Corp and that loser is the best
thing you could have done.
“And all that crap they’re saying about you
online? Ethan’s letting it happen! What a
jerk!”
