LOGINAt 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 MoreWhen 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






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