Chapter 1

"Eric, you're fired. Don't come in tomorrow."

Click. The line went dead.

Just like that, it was over.

He was the one who brought me into this industry. He trusted me more than anyone else, and I had always stood by his side as his right hand.

Just this morning, in front of the whole company, he said I would be getting a promotion and a raise next month.

So how did I get fired out of nowhere?

My mind went completely blank. I thought maybe I had sent something wrong by accident.

I opened my chat history and read through it again and again. I even tapped on my own reply, that simple "OK," and zoomed in on it like I might find some hidden mistake.

However, there was nothing. Could it be my recent work performance? I wondered, a knot forming in my chest.

I quickly opened my supervisor's chat, ready to ask what was going on.

A red exclamation mark popped up on the screen. [You have been blocked.] My heartbeat sped up, and panic began creeping in as I tried messaging other coworkers in my department, only to find that every single one of them had blocked me too.

More than thirty coworkers I saw every single day had all blocked me overnight.

I sank into my chair, stunned, my palms icy and damp with sweat.

I had not slept all night, but in that moment, none of it seemed to matter anymore. As soon as the sky started to brighten, I rushed to the office.

The receptionist froze the moment she saw me, her smile stiffening as she quickly grabbed her walkie-talkie, murmured something into it, then hurried over to stop me. Her tone turned sharp. "Eric, HR just sent out a notice. You've been terminated. You're not allowed inside."

"I need to see Mr. Lowell! I have to ask him what's going on!" I stepped forward, but before I could even reach the lobby, a security guard blocked my way.

The receptionist looked at me like I was something disgusting, like trash. "Mr. Lowell said he doesn't want to see you again."

I waited downstairs until nine, watching my coworkers arrive one after another.

My supervisor walked in front. When he saw me, his eyes flickered away, like he was avoiding something dirty. The others glanced back at me too, but the usual friendliness was gone.

All I saw was caution. Distance.

"Why!" I could not hold it in anymore. I shook off the guard and rushed forward, shouting. However, I was quickly dragged back and thrown out, clumsy and humiliated.

I dragged my exhausted body home.

In our new apartment, my fiancée, Yoana Lynch, stood in the middle of the living room, carefully arranging wedding decorations for next week. When she saw me, she smiled and walked over.

"Why are you back so early? Aren't you working today?"

All the frustration and confusion I had been holding in all night finally burst out. I told her everything, from start to finish. My voice was tight with anger. "Babe, I only replied 'OK,' and Mr. Lowell suddenly fired me. Everyone blocked me.

"Do you think this is workplace bullying? Are they trying to keep my performance bonus for themselves?"

Yoana's brows pulled together immediately. She took my hand, her voice calm and steady. "Don't worry. I'm a lawyer. What they did has crossed a line. We'll start with a formal complaint. If that doesn't work, I'll make them explain everything in court."

She led me to the couch and made me sit down, her expression serious. "Tell me exactly what was said in the group chat.

"And how you replied. Don't leave out a single detail."

I repeated everything word for word, then opened my phone and showed her the chat history.

I pointed at that one message. "See? It's really just this. I have no idea what I did wrong."