Nathan narrowed his eyes, his expression skeptical. "You're saying we let her run her mouth and make a fool of herself just to see what she's up to?"
Rita nodded. "Exactly. It's clear she's been sent here for a reason, and if we force her out now, we might lose the opportunity to uncover the truth. Let her stay—for now. But we'll keep a close eye on her and whoever is pulling the strings."
Richard exhaled heavily, his displeasure still evident. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But I'm doing this for you, Rita. The moment she crosses a line—"
"She'll have to answer to us," Rita finished, her voice firm. "Trust me, Papa. We'll handle this."
Nathan exchanged a glance with their father, then sighed. "Alright, I'll go along with this—for now. But if they think they can waltz in here and take over, they're in for a rude awakening."
Rita gave them a small smile before turning her attention back to the front of the room, where Linet and Anita were now laughing and chatting with a small group of employees who had no idea of the audacity unfolding. To the uninformed, it seemed like a perfectly ordinary introduction to a new executive—a deliberate facade that would need to be dismantled piece by piece.
"Let's not give them the satisfaction of seeing us riled up," Rita suggested quietly. "We'll leave early, make it seem like we're dismissing this as nothing more than noise. If they think we don't see them as a threat, they might get careless."
Richard reluctantly agreed, though his discontent was still visible. "Very well," he muttered. "But mark my words, this Anita won't last long."
As the event unfolded, Rita, Nathan, and their father subtly made their exit, their departure as composed as it was deliberate. Linet watched them go, her smug smile only growing wider. To her, the Moreaus' retreat signified victory—a sign that her audacious entrance had cowed them into silence. She turned to Anita with an approving nod, clearly proud of her orchestrated fantasy.
Meanwhile, Rita led her family into the quiet sanctuary of Nathan's office. Once the door was closed, the mask of calm confidence slipped, revealing the calculating mind at work behind her composed demeanor.
"I'll start digging," Nathan offered immediately, his voice edged with determination. "Someone is definitely backing Anita. No one makes a move like this without leverage—or orders. We need to figure out who it is."
Richard nodded, his expression dark. "Whoever it is clearly doesn't understand who they're dealing with."
Rita held up a hand, her tone measured. "Let's not underestimate them. Whoever orchestrated this has confidence—and resources. If we overplay our hand, we could lose the chance to expose them for good."
Her father studied her for a moment, pride flickering in his eyes despite his frustration. "You're sharper than I give you credit for," he admitted. "Fine. We'll do it your way—for now."
Nathan smirked slightly, though his own determination was no less fierce. "They won't know what hit them," he promised. "Anita and Linet think they're running the show, but the real game is only just beginning."
As they began strategizing their next steps, Rita couldn't help but feel a surge of resolve. Linet and Anita had underestimated her, just as so many others had before. But this time, Rita wasn't just fighting for herself—she was protecting her family's legacy.
And she would stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
The hum of chatter filled the grand hall as Linet and Anita reveled in their apparent triumph. The party, intended as a gathering for the company's employees and executives, had transformed under their influence into a self-serving spectacle. Linet, with her air of faux sophistication, held court at the center of the room while Anita lingered close by, nodding in agreement with every word Linet uttered.
Their bold claims and ostentatious posturing drew the attention of the more gullible employees, who saw an opportunity to curry favor with what they believed was emerging power. Ignorant of the true hierarchy, they cozied up to Linet and Anita with exaggerated compliments and shameless flattery.
"Oh, Miss Linet," gushed one employee, a middle manager from accounting. "You and Anita have such a commanding presence. It's refreshing to see leaders like you stepping in to bring fresh perspectives to the company."
Linet smirked, clearly feeding off the adoration. "Why, thank you," she said, her tone dripping with false humility. "It's about time someone with vision stepped up to the plate. The company needs strong, innovative minds—don't you agree, Anita?"
"Absolutely," Anita chimed in, her voice smooth yet insincere. "We're here to shake things up for the better."
Nearby, a group of junior employees whispered among themselves, their eyes occasionally darting toward Linet and Anita. The mysterious newcomers' boldness and confidence made an impression on the impressionable crowd, who assumed their authority was legitimate.
But not everyone in the room was fooled. The seasoned executives, who had spent decades building the company's reputation and success, watched the unfolding scene with barely concealed irritation. Among them was Mr. Donahue, the head of operations—a no-nonsense man whose reputation for integrity and loyalty to the Moreau family was well known.
As Donahue sipped his whiskey, he leaned toward Mrs. Beaumont, the company's head of human resources, and muttered, "This is absurd. Who do they think they are, parading around like they own the place?"
Mrs. Beaumont, a sharp-eyed woman with an air of quiet authority, nodded in agreement. "They're overplaying their hand," she said. "And the worst part is watching these fools grovel at their feet."
Across the room, Linet and Anita's increasingly bold behavior began to spark tension. At one point, Linet turned her attention to Mr. Harrington, the senior vice president of finance. Oblivious to his importance within the company, she waved him over with a dismissive flick of her wrist.
"You there," Linet called, her tone patronizing. "You seem important enough. Tell me, what does your department even do for this company?"
Harrington's brow furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. "I oversee the company's financial operations," he replied coolly. "Every department's success depends on our work."
Linet scoffed, her ignorance on full display. "Oh, numbers. How fascinating," she said, her sarcasm evident. "But don't you think the company could benefit from some…creative restructuring? Anita and I have some ideas."
Harrington's patience wore thin, and his gaze hardened. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of seeing your credentials," he said pointedly. "What experience do you bring to the table?"
The tension in the air was palpable as Linet's cheeks flushed slightly. "Well, I don't need credentials to see that things could be improved," she retorted defensively. "Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to bring about change."
Anita chimed in, sensing her ally's discomfort. "Exactly. Fresh perspectives are what this company needs—not the same tired routines."
The exchange caught the attention of several other executives, who exchanged knowing glances. Meanwhile, the younger employees who had cozied up to Linet and Anita began to fidget, realizing the power dynamic wasn't what they'd assumed.
The tipping point came when Linet, emboldened by the attention she'd garnered, approached Richard Moreau's longtime personal assistant, Helen. Linet's condescending tone made Helen stiffen.
"You must be the one who keeps everything running around here," Linet said, her smile thin. "I might have some tasks for you soon. After all, someone needs to handle the logistics for my ideas."
Helen, a woman known for her sharp wit and unyielding loyalty to the Moreaus, raised an eyebrow. "I take my orders directly from Mr. Moreau," she said evenly. "If you have any suggestions, I suggest you take them up with him first."
Linet waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, I'm sure he won't mind. Times are changing, and it's about time this company started adapting."
Helen's eyes narrowed, but she kept her composure. "We'll see about that."
The gathering grew increasingly tense as Linet and Anita's antics offended more senior staff members. The calculated plan to expose their motives had begun to bear fruit. Rita, watching from a distance with her father and brother, couldn't suppress a small smile.
"They're digging their own graves," Nathan muttered, his voice low.
Rita nodded, her gaze steady. "Let them. The deeper they dig, the easier it will be to bring everything to light."
As the evening wore on, the true nature of the power struggle became evident to those paying attention. Linet and Anita's desperate grasp for validation began to unravel, their arrogance alienating the very people they sought to control.
When the party finally began to wind down, the whispers of dissent were louder than ever. The senior executives, once silent observers, had seen enough. Linet and Anita's fantasy was crumbling—and the Moreaus were ready to deliver the final blow.