"Totally, I feel the same way."


    "But, wait, isn''t Calliope not actually the Jewell family''s real daughter? Does that mean she''s going to leave thepany?"


    "Oh my god, I really don''t want Calliope to leave! I love her!"


    "Yeah, seriously, she''s just the best. So smart, so capable!"


    Everyone was chattering at once, voices ovepping in the break room.


    Standing nearby, Lisette heard every word and her face went green with envy.


    All she heard was how Calliope was the prettiest, the smartest, the most talented -way too good for the Jewell family, apparently.


    And now everyone wanted her to stay? They liked her that much? Honestly, what right did Calliope have to stick around?


    "You idiots!" Lisette finally snapped, turning to re at the group. "Do you even know who signs your paychecks? If you want to keep your jobs, you''d better remember who the real boss is around here. Otherwise, don''t let the door hit you on the way out!"


    Silence fell instantly. No one dared say another word.


    Meanwhile, over by the front entrance, Calliope was single-handedly dealing with the security guards, knocking them aside like bowling pins.


    Zelda was blocking the doorway, a little nervous but determined not to let Calliope through.


    "Calliope, I told you, you''re not leaving until you exin yourself!" Zelda barked, her face cold.


    "Move!" Calliope''s expression was stone. "If you waste my time, I won''t hesitate to put you on the floor, too."


    "You wouldn''t darey a finger on me! That''s outrageous!"<fn6f29> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn6f29>


    "Who are you, the Queen of Ennd? Am I supposed to bow and scrape? Let me show you outrageous!"


    With that, Calliope grabbed Zelda like a sack of potatoes and tossed her straight at Lisette.


    Lisette didn''t have time to dodge. Zelda crashed into her, and they both tumbled to the floor in a heap.


    Just then, Ulysses and Horatio rushed in, looking panicked. They stopped short when they saw. Calliope radiating fury as she stalked toward the exit.  s


    "Callie-"Ulysses stammered, face pale. "It wasn''t me who told Mom or


    anyone


    else, I swear! Horatio and I


    were just talking and they


    overheard


    s


    "Look, no matter what, you''re still my sister. I don''t care if we''re rted by blood


    or not. You''ve always been my little sis!"


    "Callie, please, don''t freak out. We''re not here to fight," Horatio added quickly.


    "Yeah, we know we''ve messed up in the past."


    "Get. Out. Of. My. Way," Calliope ground out, her voice icy. "I don''t have time for this."


    Her presence was so intimidating, both brothers stepped aside without another word.


    Calliope jumped into her car and tore out of the parking lot like she was auditioning for the Indy 500.


    Everyone standing outside the Jewell Group headquarters just stared in shock.


    "She looked seriously pissed..." Ulysses muttered, his nerves shot.


    Horatio just frowned, ncing over at Lisette and Zelda, who were still scrambling to get up off the floor, looking totally wrecked.


    Inside, most of the staff knew better than to stick around. They pretended nothing had happened and hurried away. But even as they left, you could hear whispers throughout the office everyone talking about


    Calliope and the Jewell family.


    s


    And it was clear: almost everyone was on Calliope''s side. No one wanted to see


    her go.


    It didn''t matter that she hadn''t been with thepany for long, Calliope had already won everyone over.