Chapter 80
Chapter 80:
“Get your feet off my table,” Jocelyn said.
Victor laughed, not looking up. “Chill, cousin. Uncle Vincent said I’m next in line for General Manager. You’re just a figurehead p>
“You’re fired,” Jocelyn said simply.
Victor dropped his phone. “What p>
𝘙𝗲a𝖽 𝘁𝘩𝖾 𝘭𝘢𝗍𝖾𝗌t t𝗿𝖾𝗻𝖽𝘴 𝗼𝘯
“You’re fired. Get out p>
“You can’t fire me! I’m family!” Victor shouted, jumping to his feet. “Uncle Vincent p>
Jocelyn threw a file onto the table. It slid across and struck Victor’s hand.
“Harassment. Theft. Drinking on duty. We have witness statements and security footage p>
She turned her head without taking her eyes off Victor. “Harvey, escort him out. If he resists, call the police. I’m sure they’d love to add another charge to the Wolfe family docket this week p>
Victor looked at Vincent. “Uncle V p>
Vincent stood up. “Jocelyn, you’re making a mistake. The shareholders won’t like this. Family stability is crucial p>
“The shareholders love me right now,” Jocelyn cut him off. “I brought in Collins. And Vincent p>
She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table.
“If you defend him, you’re next p>
Vincent paled. He looked at his nephew. He looked at Jocelyn. Self-preservation won.
He sat down, defeated. “Get out, Victor,” he mumbled.
“You coward!” Victor screamed.
Harvey grabbed Victor by the arm. “Let’s go, son p>
Victor was dragged out, screaming curses that echoed down the hallway. The staff watched from their cubicles, whispering among themselves. They weren’t looking at Jocelyn with pity anymore. They were looking at her with fear — and respect.
Jocelyn went back to her office, closed the door, and collapsed into her leather chair.
Her hands were shaking. The adrenaline dump left her feeling hollowed out.
She looked at the framed photo of her dad on the desk. “I’m cleaning up your mess, Dad. One by one p>
Her phone buzzed. A text from Gaston.
Did you eat lunch?
She smiled weakly. It was a small thing, but it made her feel tethered to the earth.
Not yet, she typed back.
Good. I’ll pick you up at 6.
She put the phone down, feeling safer knowing he was checking on her.
But the shadow of the Schneiders still loomed. Her phone rang again.
The screen flashed: Mother.
Jocelyn stared at the screen. Mother.
Her thumb hovered over the decline button. She was exhausted — she didn’t have the energy for Elouise’s drama. But she needed closure. The cellar had changed things. She wasn’t the same person who had walked down those stairs.
She answered. “What do you want p>
Elouise’s voice was a shrill shriek that pierced Jocelyn’s eardrum. “You ungrateful girl! Cory is in jail! They denied bail p>
“He belongs there,” Jocelyn said calmly.
“Drop the charges!” Elouise cried. “Robert is going to divorce me if we lose the money! The bank froze everything! We can’t even buy groceries p>
“That sounds like a ‘you’ problem,” Jocelyn said.
“How can you be so cruel? I’m your mother! I gave you life p>