Chapter 2

The next morning, the group's administration department called and asked me to collect the belongings I'd left in my private office on the top floor.

I rarely used that office. Whenever I brought business partners over from the Harbor District, Marino would have someone prepare it in advance.

They had only kicked me out the night before, yet they were already eager to get rid of my things.

I took the inventory list and headed to the group's headquarters.

…

The receptionist took my access card and issued me a temporary visitor pass.

Several employees waiting for the elevator glanced in my direction.

"Didn't she storm out of here last night? What's she doing back already?"

"Her dividends have been suspended. Of course she's in a hurry. Who'd willingly give up 90% of the profits?"

They laughed among themselves.

The receptionist kept her head down as she pushed the registration form toward me. "Miss Craig has requested that your name be removed from the list of long-term business partners. From now on, you will need an escort whenever you go upstairs."

I didn't make things difficult for her. I wrote "Collecting Personal Belongings" under the purpose of my visit and followed an administrative staff member into the elevator.

As soon as I reached the top floor, I saw a disposal bin blocking the office entrance. The framed photographs of the harbor I had collected had been removed from their frames and tossed into the bin with the packing paper.

The photograph on top had a deep cut straight through its center.

Vivian stood inside the office, pointing at the spots where the photographs had once hung. "Clean the walls too. Don't leave any marks. I'm taking over this office from now on. Why would we keep all this junk?"

The workers were already removing the nameplate beside the door.

Vivian turned, noticed the visitor pass on my chest, and smiled. "Since you're here, take your things and leave. I'm moving in this afternoon."

I bent down and picked up the damaged photograph.

Ten years ago, when the first shipment of goods finally made it back to the warehouses, Marino had insisted that we take a photograph together in front of the fleet. He had been so happy that day that he couldn't stop smiling.

Now, a deep cut ran straight between us.

"Who told you to take these down?" I asked.

"I did." Vivian walked over and held out a claim form. "They're just a few old photographs. We'll compensate you based on their value as old decorations. Sign here, then go to the finance department to collect your money."

I refused to take the form. "You called me here to collect my belongings, but you'd already thrown them into a disposal bin before I even arrived?"

"They haven't been taken away yet. If you want them, take them yourself." She pointed at the bin. "We had no idea you were so attached to this stuff. What, were we supposed to preserve every single piece like some priceless treasure?"

My gaze landed the last line of the claim form. If I accepted the compensation, I'd waive my right to make any further claims for damage to my belongings.

"So you get to decide how much to compensate me, and I have to sign an agreement promising not to hold you responsible?" I asked.

Vivian rolled her eyes. "This is just about the amount being too low, isn't it? Fine. How much do you want?"

I was about to answer when someone interrupted us.

Luca approached with his assistant. When he saw me beside the disposal bin, he frowned. "Why hasn't everything been cleared out yet?"

Vivian immediately hurried over to him. "It's because of her. She thinks the compensation I'm offering is too low, so she keeps refusing to sign. At this rate, there's no way we'll be ready to move in tomorrow."

I held up the photograph and pointed out the cut to Luca. "I'm refusing to leave because you damaged my belongings without permission."

He barely glanced at it. "They're just a few photographs. It's not a big deal."

"Did you tell her to clear out the room?"

Luca nodded. "Yes. Vivian has so much to manage every day, and her current office simply isn't big enough. You only come here a few times a year. Why insist on keeping this office all to yourself?"

I stared at him. "You damaged my belongings before I even arrived, and now you're blaming me for refusing to move?"

"Didn't we already agree to compensate you? How much longer are you going to stand here making a scene?" Luca pointed at the disposal bin by the door, then turned to the administrative staff. "Pack up everything that's left and move it outside the main entrance. She can sort through it out there. Don't delay Vivian's move."

A security guard approached and gestured for me to leave.

Ten years ago, Marino had been driven out of the Harbor District. He couldn't even get through the door of a supplier's office. I'd accompanied him from one supplier to another, promising to settle his outstanding debts first just to convince anyone to sit down and talk with him.

Later, when this office was ready, he'd personally handed me the keys. "I've reserved this office for you. You can use it whenever you come by."

Now, his son wouldn't even give me time to sort through my belongings, all because he wanted his fiancée to move in.

I stood my ground. "I'm right here. Do you really have to move everything outside the main entrance and make me sort through it in front of everyone?"

Luca's voice grew increasingly impatient. "The office has already been given to Vivian. We don't have time to stand around while you take your sweet time packing.

"You're no longer a business partner of this company. Do you still expect everyone to wait on you like they used to?

"If anything's missing, ask the administration department to find it. If anything's damaged, have finance compensate you. Stop blocking the way and wasting everyone's time."

I took out my phone and photographed the belongings scattered throughout the bin, along with the cut in the photograph.

"If you've damaged my belongings, then compensate me accordingly. Don't try to fob me off with a liability waiver," I said.

Vivian let out a mocking laugh. "Go ahead and take pictures. Make sure you capture everything clearly, so you can't come back later and blame us for every piece of junk you own."

I handed the inventory list to the administrative staff member beside me. "Account for everything. List anything that's missing or damaged, and record who instructed you to move it."

She glanced at Vivian.

"What are you looking at me for? Write it down." Vivian folded her arms. "I'm the one who told them to move everything. What's there to be afraid of? Write it down!"

The staff member lowered her head and completed the records.

I photographed the inventory list, carefully put away the damaged photograph, and turned toward the elevator.

Behind me, Vivian urged the workers to put up the new nameplate. "See? Wouldn't this have been easier if she'd just cooperated from the start? We shouldn't have had to kick her out ourselves."