Chapter 2

Bruce froze for a moment, a flicker of hesitation passing through his eyes.

But Carmen immediately jumped out, jabbing her finger at me and shrieking, "You even have the nerve to impersonate the new branch manager? Everyone working here knows the new branch manager is arriving today!

"What, you read a couple of girlboss revenge novels and now you think you can come swaggering into real life acting all high and mighty?"

She shot Bruce a simpering look and said, "Mr. Farrell, don't fall for her bluff. Nowadays, women of her age are sneaky like that. They read a couple of clapback stories online and think they can pass themselves off as executives.

"If she really were the branch manager sent from headquarters, why didn't Mr. Mahoney come with her? I'm telling you, she's just stalling for time because she knows she's been caught."

The surrounding colleagues chimed in one after another.

"Yeah, she didn't even think this lie through. Would the new branch manager dress so shabbily and take the regular elevator?"

"Young people nowadays are just plain crazy. They'll say anything just to avoid getting fired."

Carmen grew more smug as she spoke, her voice getting even louder.

"And besides, so what if the new branch manager really does show up today? Mr. Farrell here is the chairman's nephew. This branch is basically his domain—even the new branch manager will have to answer to him!"

These words were spoken with outrageous arrogance, yet not a single one of the over 100 employees present dared to speak up in rebuttal.

Instead, everyone turned to Bruce with deference and fawning reverence.

Bruce, thoroughly puffed up by Carmen's flatter, was brimming with smug satisfaction.

He walked up to me, looking down from his lofty height.

"Miss, are you listening? Don't think those 'workplace tyranny' tricks you found on the internet actually work in the real world. As someone with a bit more experience, I'm going to do you a favor and teach you a lesson today–strictly out of the goodness of my heart."

Bruce pulled out his phone and sneered. "I'm calling Mr. Mahoney right now. If the facts don't match your story, not only will you be kicked out of the company, but I'll also call the police and report you for fraud."

He dialed the number in front of everyone and deliberately put the call on speaker. His tone instantly shifted to one of excessive politeness.

"Hello, Mr. Mahoney. This is Bruce Farrell, the branch's assistant manager. May I know where you are now?"

Derek Mahoney's slightly anxious voice came through from the other end.

"Mr. Farrell, I'm on my way. There's a bit of traffic."

Bruce immediately seized the opportunity to report the situation as if claiming credit.

"Oh, Mr. Mahoney, you won't believe what's happened. Some con artist showed up here today. She's been causing a scene and has had the audacity to impersonate the new branch manager. I've got her detained right now."

Derek's tone changed instantly. "What did you say? I'll be there right away! Before I arrive, no one is to do anything rash!"

The call ended with a sharp click.

Bruce put away his phone and looked at me scornfully.

"You hear that? The new branch manager is due any second. A fraud like you actually thinks you can pull this off?"

I took one look at his smug, self-satisfied expression and let out a cold laugh.

"You don't believe me, do you? Fine, I'll show you some proof."

I pulled the official transfer document from my bag and snapped it down onto the desk beside me.

"You say you're the chairman's nephew?" I locked eyes with him, my tone icy. "Well, isn't that a coincidence—I'm the chairman's daughter. So, how is it that I never knew my father, Francis Norton, had a relative as pathetic as you hiding away as a branch assistant manager?"