Chapter 1

The office fell silent for two seconds.

Shock flashed across Kai Sullivan's face before he let out a cold laugh. "These are legitimate business expenses. Why won't you reimburse me? Do you even know who I am?"

I replied calmly, "I do. You're Ms. Miller's boyfriend."

He hurled the entire stack of invoices at my face, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Then who the hell are you to tell me you won't pay me back? You're just a new hire. How dare you hold up my reimbursement?"

The paper edges sliced my cheek. My expression turned cold.

If I had approved the reimbursement without checking the invoices, I would be in serious trouble. If anyone discovered later that they were fake, I would be held responsible for the money as the finance employee who approved them.

The invoices totaled 14,700 dollars. My monthly salary was only 5,600 dollars. It would take me about three months to pay that amount back, provided I didn't eat or pay my bills during that period.

Ignoring the stinging pain in my cheek, I forced myself to stay calm and checked every invoice according to standard procedure.

"Mr. Sullivan, none of these invoice numbers can be found in the system. The businesses listed on them don't even exist. If you want to claim reimbursement through the company's accounts, please ensure the information on the invoices is correct first."

Kai's face turned pale, then flushed red. He glared at me furiously. "I just made a mistake when filling them out! Can't you reimburse me first and let me fix it later?"

The other employees in the office had noticed the commotion. They kept their heads down, typing away at their keyboards. No one wanted to get on Kai's bad side.

The business team manager's face darkened as he raised his voice.

"You really need to learn to be more flexible, Conrad. Our team is out meeting clients and bringing in business every day. You're seriously going to deny reimbursement just because someone made a careless mistake filling out the information?"

Kai folded his arms and gave me a nasty once-over. "You've really let that finance job go to your head. Let me make one thing clear—my girlfriend runs this company!

"Don't think that just because you handle the company's money, you can climb the ladder and steal her away from me. Take a good look in the mirror before you get any ideas!"

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to sound calm. "Mr. Sullivan, I have no interest in your girlfriend, and I have no intention of whatever you're suggesting.

"If you want reimbursement, please correct the information on the invoices. Otherwise, I can't process your claim."

Kai snorted and jabbed a finger at me twice, his expression venomous. "If that's how you want to play it, just you wait. We'll see who calls the shots around here!"

Two minutes later, I was summoned to the CEO's office.

Kai sat beside Cathy Miller with his lips pursed. When I walked in, he rolled his eyes.

"This new finance guy you hired has absolutely no idea how things work. He humiliated me in front of everyone and refused to reimburse my expenses.

"He's basically disrespecting you, too. If you don't teach him a lesson, what's to stop everyone else in the company from following his example?"

Cathy's gaze fell on me, sizing me up with the cool scrutiny of someone authoritative. "Mr. Johnson, I appreciate that you take your responsibilities seriously. But Kai doesn't understand all these procedures.

"You can be less strict about it. Just approve the reimbursement."

Kai lifted his chin beside her, his eyes full of smug defiance. "You heard her. Stop acting like you own my girlfriend's money!"

I looked straight at Cathy and enunciated, "Ms. Miller, I can't."