Chapter 3

I met Todd's eyes, which looked ready to spit fire, and slowly curled my lips into a smile. "I'm the one pausing orders. Why are you getting so worked up?"

The coworkers around us exchanged glances, the flames of gossip burning bright in their eyes.

"Yeah, Todd," Chester couldn't help chiming in. "Drew isn't even worried. Why are you reacting so strongly?"

"Seriously. Anyone would think you were the one pausing orders."

Everyone's remarks hit Todd like a bucket of cold water, instantly snapping him out of his outburst.

The ugly snarl vanished from his face, and he forced out an expression of deep concern, "I... I'm just worried for Drew!"

He raised his voice, as if being louder would make him sound more sincere.

"Didn't you say you were only a few orders short of your down payment? Orders for Southgate Residences are so hard to get! If you stop now, think how much money you'll lose! I just feel bad for you!"

He looked like he was about to cry, and he played the part so well it almost seemed real.

I laughed. "I'm tired. I want a break."

I casually picked up a langoustine and slowly peeled its shell.

"Besides," I paused and looked up at him, my gaze innocent and harmless, "didn't you just win a big prize? A few hundred thousand dollars. If I end up a little short on my down payment, you... wouldn't refuse to lend me some, would you?"

The air froze again.

All eyes were on Todd. The color drained from his face in an instant. His lips trembled, but he couldn't get a single word out.

I popped the peeled langoustine into my mouth and added leisurely, "Todd is so generous. Of course he would. Right?"

I had him trapped, roasting under everyone's stares. In the end, he squeezed a few words out through gritted teeth, "O-Of course."

As if afraid I'd actually ask, he quickly added, "But I didn't win that much. It's just... it's just pocket money."

I looked at the new short-sleeved Celine shirt he'd just bought, the limited-edition Swiss watch on his wrist, and the table full of food that could feed an ordinary person for half a year.

He was right. At the rate he was burning through it, my five hundred thousand dollars wouldn't last him more than a few days.

I enjoyed that meal to the fullest.

Before we left, I had the waiter pack up all the untouched king crab and lobster to go.

A few coworkers whispered behind my back.

"Oh my God, taking home the leftovers? That's so tacky."

"Right? It's like he's never had a meal before. How embarrassing."

I heard them but acted as if I hadn't. I simply smiled at Todd.

"Todd, look how much you spent. It'd be such a waste to leave all this good food behind. You don't mind if I take it home, do you?"

Todd's face had turned every color of the rainbow. But in front of everyone, he could only grit his teeth and nod. "N-No... I don't mind."

Back at the office, I calmly set the takeout boxes in the shared fridge, completely ignoring my coworkers' strange looks.

That afternoon, I knocked on the door of the finance office, where Denise Tilman worked, "Denise, I'd like an advance on half a month's salary."

Denise from finance looked up at me. "That needs the manager's signature. And salaries all get deposited to your card at the end of the month."

I handed her an application form I had prepared in advance, already signed.

"The manager approved it. Also, I don't want a bank transfer. I want cash."

If money in my account could be snatched away like it was taken by a ghost, then surely cash would be safe.

An hour later, I returned to my desk clutching an envelope stuffed with a thick wad of bills. It was my base salary for this month plus part of last month's commission, fifteen thousand dollars in total.

I tucked the envelope into the deepest inner pocket of my bag and zipped it shut.

In my last life, that five hundred thousand dollars was where my fall into the abyss began. In this life, I would start climbing back up with this fifteen thousand.

But I had barely sat down. Not even five minutes had passed before my right eyelid started twitching violently for no reason.

Each twitch was stronger than the last.

An overwhelming sense of dread instantly seized my heart.

I hurriedly unzipped my bag and reached into the inner pocket. It was empty!

The envelope was still there, but the thick stack of cash inside had vanished into thin air!

My blood ran cold, and every hair on my body stood on end.

I never imagined there were no limits at all to the trick Todd was using to transfer my savings! Was he trying to cut off every way out I had?

I looked over at Todd, who sat not far away, and caught a flash of glee on his face.

I clenched my fists tightly. Luckily, I had already thought of a way to break this deadlock.