Mag-log inAt the contract-signing meeting, a major client casually asks our new technician if she can handle her alcohol. She immediately pours a glass of red wine over his head and says coolly, "This sort of socializing is a bad habit. I'm putting an end to it." Leon Langley, a top client who brings the company 300 million dollars in annual revenue, flies into a rage and tears up the contract on the spot. As the project lead, I bend over backward to apologize and drink with Mr. Langley until I'm hospitalized with gastric bleeding—just to salvage the deal. When I report the incident to my boss, he scolds me instead. "As the person in charge, you nearly ruined the project. Forget the three-million-dollar commission we planned to give you. Consider this a warning." After that, I put Hannah Storrie's name on the department's downsizing review list. She sneers. "I'm a top talent the boss poached at great expense. I'm not some cheap hostess who survives by smiling and drinking like you. "Firing me would be throwing the company down the drain. When that happens, you'll be begging me to come back." I ignore her. However, when the review period ends, the name on the layoff list turns out to be mine. My boss seizes the opportunity to announce that Hannah will replace me as the new sales director. "Clients are extremely important to us. You don't seriously think you're capable of landing them, do you? "Hannah's is more qualified, more tech-savvy, and prettier than you. She's clearly the better choice." I simply smile, turn around, and dial a number.
view moreI walked into a big mansion.I held my breath for a second.The ceilings were high end with sparkling chandeliers hanging down.The curtains were beautiful and fluffy and they moved with the slightest wind.
I wrapped my hands around my arms.I couldn't count the numerous air conditioners in the room.It was very large that for a second,I thought I have come to the wrong place.This was the second largest mansion I was seeing,after that of my foster parents."Miss Valdez,this way please" a woman in white apron gestured and I stopped my admiration of the place and followed her.We moved further down and came before a steel door.The apron lady pressed a button and the door pushed open before them.I stepped in along with her and my heart almost jumped out of my chest the moment it started moving.It was moving so fast that I had no other option than to grab the lady beside me,for fear of falling.Not that I had never been in an elevator,but this..the speed of this one could easily tell anyone that the amount was not smiling."Have you not been in an elevator before?!" the lady said in annoyance as she pulled my grip off of her.Losing control,I swerved to the other side and scratched my arm against an iron steel.I wasn't the least annoyed with the lady,trust me I have seen people with worse sense of humor.Seeing that I was already feeling a bit dizzy,I sprawled myself across the floor of the elevator.I could feel the lady's piercing stare at me but I don't care.I still have my life to live and I cannot afford to die.Not yet at least since I haven't met the love of my life.It finally stopped and I stepped into another larger room.Okay..so where are the owners of this large house?The lady disappeared inside another room and came out seconds later.She disappeared again and I busied myself with cleaning off the small blood that had seeped out of her wound caused in the elevator.I heard the creak of a door and when I looked up I couldn't believe what I was seeing.The lady that approached from the door looked exactly like me! I slowly stood up to my feet.I'll have to correct myself though.Not exactly like me because she had this make up stuff done all over her face and on her body was a high tuxedo gown and I need no one to tell me that it would cost millions of dollars.I was now wondering how such a beautiful woman could be on a wheel chair! She smiled at me."I see you've made yourself feel at home already." she said as the wheel chair automatically moved on its own accord.I quickly snapped out of my thoughts of her"I.. I'm sorry.I just-" I began"It's okay.Have a seat" the woman said"I am Stephanie Collins,wife of Edward Collins" she introduced herself.With that introduction did she really expect me to know who she is? Those names didn't ring a bell."Sorry but uhm.." how would I put this? "..those names don't ring a bell."Stephanie frowned.Was this girl really serious right now? How could the name of the most influential CEO not ring a bell? But she couldn't get angry because of the quest at stake."Collins is the name of the most influential groups in Illinois right now,how could you not know that?""Sorry" I smiled "I have other things better than sticking my nose in others business" I answered"Not knowing something that the whole world knows is not sticking your nose in others business,it is stark ignorance." Stephanie replied,half annoyed"Oh Miss.." I struggled to remember the name "...Miss Collins I can assure you that not the whole world knows of your famous group.""What?" she exclaimed"Yes.Like me for example.I am just hearing this for the first time and I am certainly part of the whole world.""You're not even a somebody and I know you." Stephanie said.I was slightly hurt at that word but I didn't let it show.It's better if I just go straight to the point"What exactly did you call me here for,Miss..." I had forgotten again but I didn't mind.Stephanie sighed "I need your help." she said and that surprised me.She just fucking called me a nobody!"You might be wondering why Mr Collins would marry a woman on wheel chair"No..I didn't wondered that.I said in my mind"Well,we met with an accident and it was very ghastly.We didn't die,by my husband's sheer instincts but I was fatally wounded" she continuedI wondered why she was telling me this."The doctor said I was paralyzed from the waist downwards""I'm sorry" was all I could sayThe chair moved a bit."I love my husband very much.I want to give him everything he wants but because of my condition I cannot give him a child.The heir to all his wealth and riches.Just a child"I was feeling really uncomfortable now.What does all this have to do with me?She held my gaze"I need your help" she said more firmly this time "I'll give you ten billion dollars or more.I will change your whole life,Diana"I had a confused look on my face."Mrs Collins I have no idea what you're talking about.I...I thought this was supposed to be an interview.I'm desperately in need of a job.I just..I just didn't expect this!" I expressed my disappointment with slumped shoulders.Just early that morning a receptionist called me and said I was expected for an interview that morning.I wanted to know how she got my number but just like this Stephanie the receptionist ignored my question and said a limousine would pick me up.I had explained to my housemate,Lillian who had forced me to get ready immediately thinking life had smiled at meOur rent has gone due and there was no foodstuffs left in the house and Lillian's pole dancing job wasn't bringing in enough."I am offering you more than a job.This is a lifetime fortune, Diana""How do you know my name?" I snapped backShe sighed.Stephanie didn't expect it to be this hard to convince her."You're the perfect person for this job.I want my baby to look handsome and beautiful.You are beautiful although you need few touches here and there.""You are asking me to ..to... sleep with your..your husband?" I didn't even try to hide the disgust in my tone."Don't be disgusted.A lot of women would throw themselves at this golden opportunity." she replied"Then get those women and don't bother me." I was quick to reply "How could you want another woman to..to.. that's bullshit!""Like I said, you're the perfect match.A little touch and nobody will be able to differentiate between you and I.We look alike,which is quite helpful."I shaked my head"That way no one would question the baby's resemblance." she saidI tore my gaze away from hers.How can I look like this woman?!"You have a week to make your decision.Once you get pregnant I'll send the money into your account.During the period of your pregnancy you have the right to ask anything you want."Stephanie moved her wheel chair towards me"I will keep the media out of this" she said in a low tone "No one,not even your family or your friends are supposed to know.The day you agree you'll sign a legal document to avoid any scandal"Stephanie's soft countenance changed all of a sudden.I couldn't see the helpless woman I saw before-the woman I'd felt pity forThis one looked like a chameleon,changing all of a sudden."You're allowed to do anything but you cannot fall in love with my husband" she narrowed her eyes "It's against the deal."When Peter heard the news, he hurried out of his office. His eyes widened the moment he saw me in a tax officer's uniform. Shock and disbelief crossed his face as I presented my credentials and official documents. I handled things strictly by the book by keeping my tone calm and neutral. "Mr. Zane, we are from the Municipal Tax Bureau Inspection Division. This is our inspection notice."According to our work schedule, we will be conducting a routine inspection of your company's tax filings over the past three years.""M-Ms. Quigley? It's really been a while," he choked out. Other former colleagues peeked out from their cubicles. Hannah was even more stunned. Her jaw dropped as soon as she saw me. Whispers rippled through the office. "How did she end up at the tax bureau?""And she's auditing our company? Is she doing this on purpose?"The inspection proceeded according to protocol, and we retrieved a large volume of company records. The finance director kept smiling polit
Ava, who had been hiding in the corner the whole time, sidled up to me. "My judgment has failed me before, and I was fooled by Ms. Storrie," she said. "I heard you've already found a new position. Could you… put in a referral for me?"I looked at her and suddenly found this situation a little ridiculous. These people were always weighing the pros and cons, always searching for the next person to cling to. "My job doesn't allow that," I replied bluntly. The elevator doors slowly closed, completely shutting me out of the company I had spent half of my youth in. Through the narrowing gap, I took one last look at the place where I had strived for countless days and nights. I felt unexpectedly calm. I landed a nine-to-five job. The pay wasn't high, but it was stable. Most of my colleagues were middle-aged and treated me kindly. Besides, the savings I had accumulated over the years were enough for me to live comfortably. I finally had time to learn flower arranging and sign up f
"That hard drive was set up with a special program," I said, standing at the door. "Once formatted, it automatically triggers a low-level wipe. All data will be permanently erased.""Stop trying to scare us!" Hannah glowered at me, then turned to the IT staff who had just arrived and ordered, "Hurry and find a way to recover the data!"After that, it was pin-drop silence for half an hour. The only sounds were keyboard clicks and the increasingly rapid breathing of the IT staff. Peter stared at the screen. Fine beads of sweat began forming on his forehead. Hannah paced back and forth. Her anxiety was unmistakable. Finally, the IT lead looked up and wiped his sweat. "Mr. Zane, I can't retrieve the data at all. The hard drive was wiped three times using a special algorithm. Even professional data recovery firms wouldn't be able to do anything." Hannah's last shred of hope died out. She staggered and grabbed the edge of the desk. Her face was deathly pale. Peter turned to me
"Julia, stop acting like you're fearless!" Hannah snapped. "I can't believe you still have the nerve to smile at a time like this."My chest tightened. I wasn't reluctant to let them reap what I sowed, but I still explained everything to them clearly. "The file is on my work computer, Ms. Storrie," I said. "Didn't you search it thoroughly already? It's also clearly stated on the handover checklist that all related technical materials were retained according to the law."Hannah's face paled. Her eyes darted across the room as she looked everywhere but me. Her voice was beginning to waver. "That's impossible. I checked everything. There was no such file!""There's no way I would've left something so important in plain sight," I said, my voice tinged with contempt. "It's in the hidden private partition on the hard drive. If you had actually read the handover documents carefully, you would know."Peter immediately brightened. Barely able to contain his delight, he said hastily, "Th
I took a deep breath and said coldly, "Ms. Storrie, let's get this straight. You were the one who destroyed the document, and now you want to turn the tables and blame me? No one in the workplace will buy your act of pretending to be the victim."At that moment, the elevator let out a soft chime as
"Julia, you bitch!"I turned around to see Hannah storming toward the doorway. "It was you!" she screeched. "You must've set me up. You knew that document was important, yet you deliberately goaded me into destroying it!"My smile waned as I spoke into the phone. "Sorry, Mr. Holmes. Something'












Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.