Chapter 2

Before I could finish speaking, Kaia cut me off with a shrill scream. "I just realized something. You must've gotten hired through connections, right? Otherwise, how could someone with only one year of experience be given an A-level position right away?"

Her words reminded everyone present of my pay grade, and the looks they shot me became even more disgusted.

If I had merely been having an affair with the boss, they could have treated it as gossip. But an unfair grading affected everyone's interests directly, so they all felt immensely resentful about it.

Mabel Wright from the accounting department lost her cool the moment she heard about it. She had worked diligently at the company for five years, yet she was still stuck at a B-level position.

Meanwhile, I, a recent college graduate, had been placed above her.

She glared at me viciously, the cup of scalding water in her hand trembling as though she was about to throw it at me at any moment.

She fumed, "So that's how a brat like you managed to outrank me!"

My expression turned increasingly icy as I looked at Kaia.

I said, "Stop making things up. I am placed at A-level because I came in through the overseas talent recruitment program. It fully complies with the company's pay grade evaluation rules. My hiring file clearly states that. Stop trying to slander me."

Kaia wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

She put on an innocent expression and said sarcastically, "I studied abroad too. How come I've never heard of this policy? It sounds like the company created it just for you."

I'd seen Kaia's resume before. The overseas university she attended was a diploma mill and didn't meet the requirements for the talent recruitment program at all. Back when I saw it, I'd even suspected she'd bought her degree.

I didn't argue with her.

Instead, I simply nodded and said, "If you don't believe me, then I'll ask Roy Smith, the HR director who handled my recruitment, to come over."

To challenge myself, I had never relied on Dad's connections. From my interview to the completion of my onboarding paperwork, Roy had personally handled everything.

He knew better than anyone whether my credentials were genuine and how I had performed during the interview. After approving my application, he had even patted me on the shoulder and praised me.

Roy had said, "You're impressive for someone so young. You are just what one would expect from a highly educated talent."

He could absolutely prove my innocence.

Sure enough, Roy spoke firmly in my defense. "Yelena was indeed hired through the overseas talent recruitment program. There is nothing wrong or suspicious with her pay grade evaluation."

As his words fell, I let out a sigh of relief.

But in the very next second, Roy's gaze lingered on me for a few moments before his tone turned suggestive as he continued, "However, I did see Yelena having dinner alone with Mr. Linden. The way they behaved… was rather intimate."

My mind went completely blank.

Frankie immediately pulled out his phone and chimed in loudly, "I saw Yelena get into Mr. Linden's car after work last week! We have evidence. What else do you have to say for yourself?"

I took a deep breath and responded firmly, "It's because Mr. Linden is my dad! What's wrong with me getting into my own father's car?"

Everyone in the room fell silent for two seconds before erupting into uproarious laughter. Even Roy shook his head helplessly. Kaia laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face.

"Yelena, you've really got some nerve. If Mr. Linden is your dad, I'll eat my shoe. Everyone in the company knows that Mr. Linden only has a son. He doesn't have a daughter at all!"