My Family Called Me a Freeloader, So I Took Every Client Away Chapter 04

My Family Called Me a Freeloader, So I Took Every Client Away Chapter 04

The next morning, messages hit the family group chat before I reached my office.

Megan sent a voice note, her laugh sharp and bright. “We had a great night. Even Dad would’ve been proud of us.”

She attached a photo from the night before.

Tyler raised a glass. Daniel’s face was flushed. Claire, Megan, and Brooke flashed peace signs together, all smiles.

Claire replied, “Even brothers keep their accounts straight. We tried to get her to bring it up herself, but she kept playing dumb. We had no choice but to say something.”

Brooke wrote, “Thank goodness for Tyler. Daniel, you raised him right!”

Daniel wrote, “Dad would’ve been celebrating right alongside us. He always believed family should keep their finances straight.”

I didn’t respond.

Megan tossed her phone onto the coffee table in Daniel’s office and stretched out on the couch. “See? She won’t say shit.”

Brooke lifted her coffee, about to reply, when her phone rang.

She glanced at it, and her expression changed.

“Why did Mr. Lewis suddenly cancel our contract? He said he won’t renew next year either.”

Megan stared. “Isn’t Lewis one of your biggest clients? He’s paid well and on time for ten years. Why would he cancel now?”

Brooke held up her screen.

Mr. Lewis had written, “Please don’t contact us again. We’ve found a supplier that’s a better fit.”

Before Megan could make sense of it, her own phone rang.

It was Mr. Warren from the furniture center. He wanted to end their contract too.

“Mr. Warren, I thought everything was going well,” she said, her voice tight.

“Things were going well because your sister asked me to work with you. She’s no longer involved, so neither am I.”

He hung up. Megan went pale.

Claire’s phone rang next.

Mr. Carter, a client of her clothing factory, was polite but just as clear. He was canceling his orders and wouldn’t place any more.

“Mr. Carter, we can talk about the price,” Claire said.

He laughed. “This isn’t about price. Your sister brought us together. She said you were older than she was, and she didn’t mind taking less. She gave up five points of her commission so we’d work with you.”

“She isn’t offering that concession anymore, and we’ve found another supplier.”

The call ended.

Claire tried calling back, but her number had been blocked.

She turned to Daniel. “What the hell? Carter’s been with us for years!”

“Calm down.” Daniel lit a cigarette. “We’ve paid Evie enough in commissions over the years to make up for that lost margin.”

Megan frowned. “Easy for you to say. These were good clients.”

“Are you saying we should crawl back to her?” Daniel asked. “After this? We’d look pathetic. Evie might agree to help, but once we let her back in, we’d never get rid of her.”

“Think how much work it took to get rid of her this time.”

Claire’s face hardened. She gritted her teeth.

Daniel gave a humorless laugh. “Even if Lawson canceled because of her, I’d say it was worth it.”

The door opened a second later, and Mr. Lawson’s assistant walked in.