Chapter 1

“Looks like Ms. Heaton has finally gone broke since she’s even stealing our employee benefits!”

My assistant, Joyce Campbell, stopped reading the forum post aloud. She locked her phone and hesitantly looked at me.

“Ms. Heaton, are you okay?”

I shook my head and suppressed my fury.

“Get Ms. Reiser here now!”

Ten minutes later, Casey Reiser finally dragged her feet into my office. Her eyes looked everywhere but at my face.

“Ms. Heaton, you wanted to see me? Is everything alright?”

“I authorized $100,000 for a celebration party, and you fed a hundred employees $3.99 budget takeouts. Is that correct?”

She instinctively denied it. “No, I didn’t, Ms. Heaton.”

I tossed the printed order receipt of the budget takeout onto the desk. Her face flushed instantly. Her lips moved soundlessly.

It probably never crossed her mind that I would get my hands on this piece of evidence.

I took a deep breath. My nails were biting hard into my palm.

“Casey, you’ve been with this company for years. What were you thinking? Now, people online are calling me a monster who steals my employees’ meal budget! They’re saying I cut benefits and that I’m so broke I have to squeeze my own staff dry!”

I could feel anger surging within my chest. She suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud. Tears streamed down her face.

“Ms. Heaton, I wasn’t thinking straight! I had my reasons.”

Seeing the indifference on my face, she gritted her teeth and said, “My daughter has a heart condition. She needed surgery urgently. I panicked and used the money. But I swear, I’ll pay it all back!”

I almost snorted out loud at that absurd excuse.

She would even jinx her daughter’s health just to cover her lies.

Just yesterday, I had seen her signing her energetic, perfectly healthy daughter up for a dance program at the amusement park.

How could a child supposedly waiting for heart surgery be enrolling in dance classes?

I did not expose her right away. After all, I had not taken photos yesterday. There was no proof. So, I dismissed her with a wave of my hand.

“Thank you, Ms. Heaton. Don’t worry, I’ll return the money!”

She wiped her tears as she backed out of my office.

What happened after that was completely out of my expectations. Not long after, Joyce rushed back into my office.

“Ms. Heaton, Ms. Reiser is crying so hard outside that she’s about to pass out!”

I was stunned. What act was she putting on?

Just then, three senior employees stormed in angrily.

“Taylor Heaton, you’ve gone too far! You’re the one who fed everyone budget takeout, and now, you’re trying to blame it on Ms. Reiser?”

“That’s right! Skimping on a party is one thing, but you’re blocking her medical reimbursement? That’s cold!”

“Ms. Reiser contributed so much to the company. To treat a senior employee like that is very disappointing!”

I was utterly dumbfounded by the accusations.

These three senior technical leads were sent directly from headquarters.

Even if they continued to yell at me, I could not fire them.

I clenched my hands into fists. From their tirade, I had pieced some things together.

Casey had not just shifted all the blame to me but had also fabricated a story about how I had blocked her medical reimbursements.

Before I could say a word in my own defense, Casey rushed in. Her eyes were swollen and red.

“Please, stop! Please!”

She clutched at one of their sleeves as she continued to sob.

“I’m sure Ms. Heaton has her reasons. I’m not like you. I don’t have technical expertise to fall back on. If I upset her and lose my job, how will I ever pay for my daughter’s surgery?”

The employees gathered outside the office whispered among each other.

“Ms. Heaton is mistreating Casey again!”

“She’s obviously jealous of Casey because she’s prettier and more capable than she is!”

Every word stung.

At this point, any explanation would have sounded like an excuse.

In the narrative they had constructed, I was cast as a petty and cruel villain.

Liam Ekhardt turned on me sharply.

“If she fires you, all of us will quit! Let’s see how this company runs without its core team!”

He was even threatening me.

Before I could respond, the senior employees grabbed Casey’s arms and walked toward the door.