Chapter 3

Violet hadn't held back with that slap, and I staggered back several steps. My hands flew out behind me to brace against the edge of the table.

The agony coming from my abdomen intensified, and I couldn't even stand straight because of the pain.

Violet shook out her hand, wearing a vindicated expression.

"Look at how she can't even hold her head up anymore! People like her deserve to be hit. That'll knock out the arrogance right out of her."

My back was still bowed when I felt Violet grab me by the scruff of my neck.

Squeezing tightly, she said in a venomous tone, "Elena, we Gen Z employees are here to shake up the workplace. There's no way I'll put up with your crap."

I reached out to grab her sleeve, wanting to retaliate, but she quickly shoved my head down and bashed it against the table.

"Hurry up and cough up the money!"

Gritting my teeth, I adamantly refused to submit. "All you did was make a few presentation slides, yet you want to split my commission? You seriously don't know your place, huh?"

Immediately, Violet scowled. "Oh, so you think that you alone are the entire reason for the deal's success, huh? That we're in no way comparable to you?"

The rest of our colleagues were equally upset to hear that, and they glared at me furiously.

"Don't flatter yourself! For one person alone to get that much commission is just too unfair for the rest of us!"

As the crowd grew more agitated, I didn't bother being polite and retorted, "If this had been another company, you all certainly wouldn't have gotten as high a commission as you did here for the amount of work you did. The company is already being very generous."

I wasn't exaggerating. For the entire duration of the project, I had personally seen to every phase, as I had been worried about things going wrong. Even when I had this group of people help me deal with some random tasks, I still had to rectify and edit their work.

Nonetheless, on account of them being on the project team, I asked my mom to increase their commission share. This was the sort of benefit they couldn't possibly receive in any other company.

The moment I finished speaking, Violet was already egging the crowd on.

"Elena must have been badmouthing us to President Kinsley, and that's why he cut our commission! If we continue to let her trample all over us, she might just steal all our salaries for herself one day! What are you guys waiting for? Go on and teach her a lesson!"

"Violet… what if President Kinsley finds out?" someone asked hesitantly.

That earned him a vicious glare from Violet before she shrieked shrilly, "Don't worry about that bastard she's carrying! She was the one who picked on us first. If President Kinsley learns about this, we'll just have him choose between this bitch and the rest of us employees! Without us, how is his company supposed to function?"

"You're right! There's no way President Kinsley would ignore the bigger picture!"

Thoroughly consumed by their rage, the male colleagues cracked their knuckles menacingly.

"What are you trying to do!" I cried in alarm.

The next second, the group of men lunged toward me. One of them grabbed me by the hair, while another kicked the back of my knees.

Following that, countless punches and slaps rained down on me, sending waves of pain through my body.

I focused entirely on protecting my belly, the agony coursing through me making me gasp for breath.

Through my blurry vision, I could see Violet standing in front of me with a haughty expression.

In the chaos, one hard punch landed against my temples and thoroughly robbed me of any will to fight back.

If this went on, I would definitely be beaten to death right here.

No, I couldn't let anything happen to my baby!

In that moment, all thoughts of any commission were shoved to the very back of my mind.

Swamped by despair, I yelled as loud as I could, "Stop hitting me! Please, just stop hitting me! I'll give you the money to divide between yourselves, so please just stop! Don't harm my baby!"

Violet called them off before crouching in front of me with a wide smile.

"Here. Now send the money over!"