Xenia exchanged a knowing glance with Isaac as Noelle started the software test. An error flashed.

Isaac sneered. "See? All talk, no skill."

Xenia feigned surprise. "Maybe you should fix it?"

"Fix it? The contract says she's fired. I wrote the code; I don't need her." He produced a USB drive. "Step aside, sweetheart. If you can't do the job, don't boast about it."

He swiftly replaced Noelle, and the test passed. He gloated, "Impressed? That's real skill!"

Noelle's sneer was sharp. "Stealing code and bragging? Impressive theft, I'll grant you that."

Isaac bristled, then glanced guiltily at Xenia. Xenia intervened smoothly, "Isaac does have skills. You can't accuse someone of theft just because your code failed."

Bobby, impatient, declared, "You're fired."

"We'll see who dares," a voice boomed.

Frank entered, James at his heels. Xenia's annoyance was palpable. Why now?

Bobby stammered, "Mr. Liddell, she's incompetent, arrogant, and uncooperative."

Frank's gaze was icy. "She's not an employee. She's your boss. What cooperation is needed?"

Stunned silence. Xenia's face paled. Noelle, the branch manager?

Isaac sputtered, "What gives her the right?"

Frank's reply was blunt, "She's my sister. Problem?"

A murmur rippled through the room. "But isn't Xenia...?"

James barked at Bobby, "I told you the Liddell heiress was coming! Are you an idiot?"

Bobby's face drained of color. "But...she admitted it..."

"The heiress is a Liddell! How could you be so dense?"

Bobby stumbled. Frank sighed, looking at Noelle. "Sorry, a mix-up. I didn't intend for you to suffer." Noelle's disdain was evident.

Xenia, despite her anger, explained, "It was a misunderstanding. My fault for not being clearer. Frank, it's all on me."

Bobby, bewildered, blurted, "Two Liddell heiresses?"

Xenia, swallowing her humiliation, confessed, "I'm adopted. Noelle's the true heiress. I assumed everyone knew, given her name."

Bobby was speechless. He'd heard of the adopted daughter, but two heiresses on the same day? And Xenia hadn't clarified? Had she set him up?

Xenia's eyes filled with tears. "Frank, I didn't expect this. Lucas said he'd made arrangements. Noelle never explained, how could I know?"

Frank, exasperated, demanded, "Why didn't you tell everyone Noelle is the heiress?"