Chapter 1

After I failed to check in for the eighth time, I went straight to HR to look for Felicia Lane.

I shoved my phone in her face and demanded, "Why did my check-in fail again?"

Before this, I'd already checked in seven times in a row. And every single time, Felicia had found some excuse to reject it.

She'd reject it because my pose was off by a hair from the one she specified and therefore wasn't perfect enough. Or she'd say my background didn't match the one she posted in the group chat, so it didn't count.

But this time, my pose was perfect and the background matched exactly. Even the curve of my smile was a precise 45 degrees, just like she required.

And yet, I still failed to check in.

Growing irritated, I was determined to get an explanation from Felicia.

She barely glanced at my screen before going back to admiring her manicure, letting out a dismissive snort.

She said, "Your timing is obviously wrong, and you still have the nerve to ask me? Have you even bothered to read the check-in rules I posted in the group chat, Wendy?"

I couldn't believe Felicia was trying to flip this on me.

My temper flared, yet I forced myself to steady my breathing and suppressed my anger. "I did read them, Ms. Lane. You said we have to check in every ten minutes. I checked in at nine minutes, so why did you still reject it?"

Felicia shot me a haughty, condescending look.

She spat, "Do you have comprehension issues? I clearly said every ten minutes. That means exactly at the tenth minute. Not a minute early, not a second late. What's wrong with me rejecting your check in when you did it at the ninth minute?

"As per company policy, any failed check-in counts as unexcused absence, Wendy. Each absence renders a 200-dollar deduction. You've failed to check-in eight times. That's 1,600 dollars deducted already."

I'd been chasing leads, meeting clients, and trying to keep up with the check-ins all morning. With how much I'd been running back and forth, I must've run the equivalent of over a dozen laps around a track.

And now, not only was I exhausted with no bonus to show for it, but 1,600 dollars of my pay was also being docked.

I snapped, "You're clearly targeting me on purpose, Felicia! I work in the business development department. How am I supposed to hit exact timestamps like that?

"Your check-in policy is too harsh on our department. We're out chasing leads and building partnerships—sometimes that takes hours. You expect us to hover around the office just to check in instead of doing our job?"

I thought my words would make Felicia realize how unreasonable she was being.

Instead, she slammed her hand on the desk, jabbing her long nails toward my forehead.

Felicia yelled, "Who's the HR here, Wendy—you or me? Since when do you get to tell me how to do my job? No one else has an issue with the check-in policy except for you. Do you think you're special?

"If you work here, you follow the rules. Otherwise, why even have a job? And if something this small interferes with your work, then maybe your inability to do it is the problem here. Try looking at yourself for once!"

She continued, "Rules are rules. They can't be changed. If you can't follow them, then get ready to have your pay docked!"