ETHAN'S POV

Is she some kind of clown? When Sophia had been telling me about all their discussions I thought she was a smart person — the one who had approached Sophia with the whole idea of bringing down Lauren. That made sense. Strategy. Initiative. A woman who could smell opportunity and pounce. So why, then, would she even think I would want to hand her a position like that?

I’m still a businessman. Businessmen need proof. Proof that you’re good at what you do. Proof that you will deliver results, that you can cut through politics and ego, and actually bring value to the bottom line. Paychecks aren’t charity;...