My younger brother had been traveling for six hours and had barely picked up a chicken drumstick when my mother-in-law sl:app:ed him across the mouth in front of my husband. “You greedy little pig! Nobody comes here to eat for free!” I didn't argue. I simply closed the door, picked up the laptop he had forgotten, and found a $150,000 transfer that would change our family forever.

The glass lobby of Luminary Beauty Headquarters smelled of lavender, rosewater, and luxury.

When Wyatt and I stepped through the sliding glass doors, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Three of my lead chemists were standing near the elevators, watching the scene in shock.

Standing at the reception desk was Lydia, wearing a gaudy leopard-print blouse and clutching a designer purse that I had bought her for her birthday two years ago.

“You tell Naomi that my son is the Vice President of this company!” Lydia shrieked at my terrified twenty-two-year-old receptionist, Chloe. “He has every right to look at the financial books! She’s hiding money from him!”

Javier stood beside her, wearing a grey suit, looking flustered and desperate. He was arguing heatedly with my CFO, Marcus.

“Marcus, just give me the corporate petty cash card!” Javier hissed under his breath, leaning over the counter. “I need to pay for a hotel room and clear a balance! You know I’m authorized on the account!”

“Actually, Javier,” Marcus said smoothly, holding his tablet, “as of 7:30 this morning, your name was removed from all corporate registries. You are no longer an authorized representative of Luminary Beauty.”

“What?!” Javier yelled, his face turning bright red. “That’s illegal! I built this company with her!”

“You didn't build anything, Javier,” I called out, my voice echoing clearly across the polished marble lobby.

Everyone turned. The entire office went silent.

Javier looked at me, then at Wyatt standing tall beside me in a sharp navy blazer. A look of fierce hatred flashed across Javier’s eyes.

“Naomi!” Javier marched toward me, his hands outstretched. “Have you lost your mind?! You locked my corporate card! My truck’s gas card was declined at the station this morning! I had to pay cash from my pocket!”

“Imagine that,” I said, crossing my arms. “Having to pay for your own things with your own money. What a tragedy.”

Lydia waddled over, her face contorted in rage, pointing a shaking manicured finger at my face.

“You arrogant little viper!” Lydia screamed. “My son gave you his best years! He made you respectable! And you throw him out for this little country hick?!”

Wyatt took a step forward, his jaw set, but I placed a hand gently on his chest, keeping him behind me.

“Lydia,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “You slammed your hand into my brother’s face in my home. You called him a pig because he wanted a drumstick that I paid for. You have lived in a rental house in Mesa for three years—a house whose rent was paid directly by my corporate expense account.”

Lydia blinked, her loud voice faltering for a fraction of a second. “W-what?”

“That’s right,” I said, turning to Javier. “Did you tell your mother that you weren't paying her rent from your salary, Javier? Did you tell her that you were putting her rent on my company’s advertising budget?”

Lydia turned to her son, her eyes wide with shock. “Javier? What is she talking about? You told me you bought that house for me from your bonuses!”

Javier sweated profusely, his eyes darting around the room at my employees who were recording the entire argument on their smartphones.

“Naomi, stop it!” Javier pleaded in a harsh whisper, stepping closer. “We can settle this in private! Don't do this in front of your staff!”

“You didn't care about privacy when you slapped my brother in front of my family,” I said.

I signaled to the two tall security guards standing near the entrance.

“David, Sam,” I instructed firmly. “Please escort Mr. Campbell and his mother off the premises. They are permanently banned from all Luminary Beauty properties. If they return, have them arrested for criminal trespassing.”

“Naomi! No!” Javier shouted as the two heavy-set guards grabbed him by his arms, forcing him back toward the glass doors. “You can’t do this to me! I’m your husband!”

“You were a parasite, Javier,” I said, turning my back on him as he was hauled out into the blinding Phoenix heat. “And the host just cleared her system.”

Lydia screamed obscenities all the way down the driveway as the glass doors slid shut behind them.