Chapter 2

Lindsay acted as though she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. She covered her mouth with an exaggerated flourish and laughed so hard that her whole body swayed.

A sharp, cloying perfume filled the cramped office and turned my stomach.

"Oh, please. Regret? Anson, did you forget to take your meds this morning?

"You? Some poor kid fresh out of the countryside? What could you possibly do to make my brother-in-law regret anything?

"Those cheap clothes from some street stall? Or that busted-up phone you've been using for three years?"

She walked up to me and jabbed a manicured finger into my chest. Each jab landed harder than the last. Her nail was sharp, and it stung like hell.

"Let me tell you something. Don't push your luck.

"Mr. Worthington's secretary sent that 50,000-dollar bill straight to the company inbox. The evidence is airtight!

"If you don't pay up, do you really think I won't have someone strip you down and toss you out of here right now?"

I swatted her hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Lindsay let out a shriek like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. "You've got some nerve! You dare hit me? Security! Where's security? Where the hell did they crawl off to?"

A few security guards, who had clearly been waiting outside for some time, rushed in. These were the same guys I'd never hesitated to offer a cigarette or buy a bottle of water for.

Now every one of them looked ready to tear me apart. They gripped rubber batons in their hands and seemed eager to take me down and score some credit for themselves.

The Skinner leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and blew out a smoke ring. His eyes brimmed with mockery and contempt.

"Anson, I'm giving you one last chance. Sign this promissory note right now. Then get out and find the money.

"If I don't see it within three days, I'll have Legal come after you.

"By then, that old father and mother of yours farming out in the countryside will probably have to sell their house just to cover your debt, won't they?"

The moment the Skinner brought up my parents, my fist clenched and my knuckles cracked.

That crossed a line.

The Skinner did not notice. If anything, he grew even more pleased with himself.

He stood, walked over to me, and looked down at me. "What, you want to hit me? Go on. Hit me right here."

He pointed at his fleshy face. "Lay a hand on me, and I'll bankrupt you completely and have you rot in prison for the rest of your life!"

My coworkers crowded around the doorway and craned their necks to watch. Not one of them dared step forward and say a single word in my defense. Some even whispered among themselves.

"I never liked him anyway. Always acting so honest, and it turns out he's an embezzler."

"50,000 dollars, and he actually had the guts to spend it. Wasn't he afraid he'd choke on his own greed?"

"People like that belong behind bars."

Their vicious words buzzed in my ears like flies.

I looked around the room. These were the same coworkers who used to call me "Bro" or "Buddy." Now every one of them seemed eager to kick me while I was down.

This company was rotten to the core, from top to bottom.

I unclenched my fist and let out a bright, easy smile.

My smile sent a chill through the Skinner. "What are you smiling at? Scared out of your mind?"

I shook my head and pulled out my phone. "Mr. Richmond, didn't you say this 50,000 dollars was spent because the client respects the company? Didn't you say I wasn't important enough for Mr. Worthington to treat me personally? Then let's settle it right here."

The Skinner's brow furrowed, suspicion written across his face. "What are you trying to do? Stop trying to pull some kind of trick!"

I ignored him and scrolled straight to the number saved in my contacts under "Worthington."

It was Caelum's private number.

That day at the club, Caelum had drunk too much and insisted that we become sworn brothers. He told me I was a genuine person and that there weren't many young men these days who would save their company money, treat a client to a takeout meal, and still be so straightforward about it.

He said the kind of man I was had convinced him to go through with the deal.

My finger hovered over the call button as I looked at the Skinner. "Mr. Richmond, what happens if I prove that Mr. Worthington spent that money on me personally?"

The Skinner let out a scornful laugh, his face full of contempt. "Treat you personally? Take a good look at yourself before you say something like that. If you actually manage to prove it, I'll eat my own hat.

"If you can prove it, I'll pay the 50,000 dollars myself and double your salary on top of that! But if you can't prove it, you'll crawl out of this office today!"

"Fine!" I barked.

I slammed my finger down on the Call button and switched on the speakerphone in the same motion.

The phone rang and rang as the office fell dead silent.

Everyone held their breath and waited for me to humiliate myself.

The Skinner's cold smile spread wider across his face.

Lindsay crossed her arms and settled in as though she were about to enjoy a show.

Just as the call was about to disconnect, someone answered.