Reborn: Where Did the Money Go?

Before I'd even recovered from the shock of being reborn, Linda Miller slid a flash drive across the desk toward me with a warm smile.

“Nora, the tech department worked two extra days this time. Everyone gets a one-thousand-dollar overtime bonus. The employee list and bank details are all on here. Double-check everything and send the payments out today.”

I stared at the flash drive.

Cold sweat instantly broke out across my back.

In my previous life, those exact words had sent me to prison.

I pushed the flash drive back toward her and forced a smile.

“Linda, I'm still on probation. I don't think I should be handling this much money. Maybe it'd be better to give it to someone else.”

The smile on Linda's face faded.

“Nora, the whole reason I'm giving this to you is because you're still on probation. Think of it as a test.”

She leaned back in her chair, her tone casual.

“Do a good job, and getting officially hired won't be a problem.”

“But I...”

“I'm leaving on a business trip tomorrow,” Linda cut in. “My flight's already booked. You're the only one who can handle this.”

She stood, walked over, and patted me on the shoulder.

“I trust you. Don't let me down.”

Trust.

In my previous life, that one word had been enough to push me straight into the trap.

“Linda, I really don't think I can do this. What if something goes wrong?”

“Nora.”

Her voice turned cold.

“If you can't even handle something this simple, do you still want this job?”

I opened my mouth.

She stared at me, her gaze sharp as a knife.

“And if you quit now, don't forget the repayment clause in your contract. Think carefully about whether you can afford that.”

My fists tightened.

I'd joined the company straight out of college and signed a six-year contract.

Leaving early meant paying a thirty-thousand-dollar penalty.

I had no choice.

“Fine. I'll do it.”

Linda smiled again and pressed the flash drive into my hand.

“That's more like it. There are a hundred employees. One thousand dollars each. One hundred thousand total.

“Once you're done, send me screenshots of all the payment confirmations.”

She picked up her bag and headed for the door.

Just before leaving, she glanced back at me.

“Oh, and before you make any transfers, confirm the account balance with Finance.”

The door closed.

I sat frozen in my chair, chilled to the bone.

In my previous life, one hundred thousand dollars had definitely left the company account.

But every employee had received only one hundred dollars.

That meant the rest of the money had simply vanished.

No one believed me.

No one helped me.

And I died in prison before I ever saw another sunrise.