Chapter 2 - Chloe’s Perfect Opportunity
Chloe described the investment as if she were offering Emma a gift.
A luxury wellness company planned to build private recovery resorts in California, Florida, and Hawaii. According to Chloe, celebrities were already interested. Investors only needed to contribute nine million dollars to enter the final funding round.
“The return could be five times that,” Chloe said. “Maybe more.”
Emma asked for the company’s financial records.
Chloe became defensive.
“You don’t trust me.”
“I’m asking a normal question.”
“You always do this. You make me feel stupid.”
Emma closed her eyes.
The conversation followed a familiar pattern. Chloe made a reckless request. Emma asked for facts. Chloe turned the questions into an insult.
“Send the documents,” Emma said. “I’ll review them.”
Two days later, the documents arrived.
Martin identified problems within minutes.
The company’s address belonged to an empty warehouse. Two directors used false names. Its claimed resort properties were not owned by the company. Several investment photographs had been copied from hotel websites.
“It is either a scam,” Martin said, “or your sister is part of the scam.”
Emma refused to believe the second possibility.
She called Chloe and explained what they had found.
Chloe screamed at her.
“You want me to fail.”
“I’m trying to stop you from losing money.”
“It’s not my money. It’s yours.”
The words silenced them both.
Chloe quickly changed her tone.
“I only mean you can afford the risk.”
“No.”
“You haven’t even met the founders.”
“No, Chloe.”
“You owe me.”
Emma’s hand tightened around the phone.
“For what?”
“For making me live in your shadow.”
Emma ended the call.
That evening, Chloe went to their parents.
By morning, Robert was demanding a family meeting.
They gathered in the house Emma owned but never claimed.
Her mother cried before Emma had even taken off her coat.
“Your sister finally has a chance to build something,” she said. “Why are you destroying it?”
Robert accused Emma of selfishness.
Chloe sat silently on the sofa, letting their parents fight for her.
Emma explained the false addresses and stolen photographs.
Robert waved the evidence away.
“Business always involves risk.”
“This is fraud.”
“Then your lawyers can protect us.”
“There is no ‘us.’ I am not investing.”
Robert’s expression changed.
For the first time, Emma saw something beyond anger in his eyes.
He looked entitled.
“You have more money than one person could spend in ten lifetimes,” he said. “Everything you have belongs to this family.”
Emma stood.
“No. Everything I have came from years of work.”
Her father pointed toward the door.
“Then leave.”
May you like
Emma looked at Chloe.
Her sister smiled.
