If they only knew that the mysterious CEO they were gossiping about was sitting at the end of their table, banished to sleep in their garage.

“I heard she’s brilliant,” Mr. Townsen offered. “Transformed at least 12 major companies in the last 5 years. Built Summit from nothing.”

“Well,” Olivia said dismissively, “she can’t be that brilliant if she’s hiding from everyone. Probably some trustf fun baby who got lucky.”

Just then, Mr. Townsen’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it, his face turning slightly pale.

“Excuse me, I need to take this.”

He stepped into the hallway, but his voice carried clearly into the dining room.

“Yes. Yes, I have those reports ready for tomorrow’s board meeting. No, I haven’t been able to reach Mrs. CEO yet. Yes, I understand how important she’s still in London.”

Mr. Townsen returned to the table looking flustered.

His earlier confidence diminished.

Olivia, ever eager to impress, immediately launched into another story about her recent achievements.

“I just restructured our entire operations department,” she boasted, cutting her turkey into precise pieces. “Saved the company millions.”

I checked my phone under the table, pulling up the actual report from that project.

Olivia had indeed made changes.

Changes that had cost the company nearly $3 million in inefficiencies.

I’d been watching the numbers tank for weeks, waiting for the right moment to address it.

As CEO, I received daily updates on all major departmental changes, especially those led by executives like my sister.

“More wine, Catherine?” Mom offered, probably hoping to keep me quiet during Olivia’s moment of glory, though. “Maybe you should stick to water given your financial situation.”

Olivia snickered.

“Yes, community college teachers should really watch their spending.”

Mr. Townsen’s phone buzzed again.

This time, when he checked it, his face went completely white.

“I… I need to make another call. Urgent business.”

As he hurried from the room, I could hear him practically begging into his phone.

“Please, just 5 minutes with Mrs. CEO, the board meeting tomorrow.”

I’d instructed my assistant to start sending him a series of increasingly urgent messages about tomorrow’s meeting.

A little cruel, perhaps, but after years of watching Olivia lord her position over me, I felt entitled to some theatrical justice.

“Speaking of business,” Uncle James chimed in, “did you all hear about Summit’s latest acquisition? They just bought out Richardson Global for 12 billion.”

Olivia sat up straighter.

“Really? That’s one of our biggest competitors.”

“A hostile takeover,” Aunt Margaret added. “Richardson never saw it coming. This mysterious CEO. She’s absolutely ruthless.”

I thought about the Richardson deal, remembering the late nights spent strategizing, the careful maneuvering of assets.

Ruthless wasn’t the word I’d use.

Strategic, perhaps determined.

Definitely.

Mr. Townsen returned again, looking like he might faint.