Chapter 4

I had always stayed late voluntarily, working unpaid overtime so as not to disrupt my colleagues in finance. I would burn the midnight oil to prepare every file in advance. But now, who in their right mind would repay their cruelty with kindness?

The company's internal system pinged again with a flashing red alert.

"Sales department staff must organize all order files immediately. This concerns crucial matters like tax reporting. Set aside other work and deal with it immediately!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the glaring exclamation marks. Methodically, I gathered all this month's orders, verifying each against the records and tracing them back to their source according to the sales submission rules.

I wasn't in a rush, but someone else clearly couldn't sit still.

…

The next morning, Naomi barged into the sales office. She jabbed a finger at me and barked, "Madeleine Shaw! Are you doing this on purpose? You know how critical end-of-month submissions are, yet you're deliberately stalling just to torment me! Who exactly are you trying to intimidate? If Mr. Gray finds out, he'll hold you accountable, not me!"

I paid no attention to her anger, keeping my focus on the files, and let out a faint, knowing laugh. "Oh? Is that how it is? Well, there's no need to rush then."

I dropped the sales submission guidelines in front of her. "Calm down. Ms. Lane, this is exactly why I'm doing what I'm doing. After being reprimanded, I'm simply doing exactly what the rules require. I trust someone as meticulous as you won't mind, right?"

Naomi was speechless for a moment, but her glare burned with pure resentment.

After Naomi stormed out, I handed a thick stack of confirmation forms to Lincoln Brooks, the head of finance. "Mr. Brooks, I've compiled all of this month's orders according to company procedure. Please review and sign once everything is correct. After that, I'll personally verify each order with our partners, and as soon as the review is complete, I'll submit the documents to the finance office immediately."

Before I could finish, Lincoln interrupted sharply, "Maddie, this won't do! It's already the end of the month. Without these files, the company can't file taxes. This is serious! We need to make an exception. Hand them over now!"

I looked at him without a flicker of emotion and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Brooks. According to the sales submission rules, all month-end orders must be verified. If anything goes wrong, no one will be able to shoulder the responsibility."

Lincoln was at a loss for words, but he could do nothing except take the documents and sign.

Over the following three days, I only came to the office to clock in and out. The rest of the time, I wandered through the sales units with the order files, doing as little as possible.

Lincoln was beside himself, calling relentlessly to ask about the progress.

On the 28th, just as I was clocking out and gathering the files to leave, Lincoln appeared at my desk unexpectedly.