Chapter 2

I watched Claude in silence, then let out a small, soft laugh. “What do you think?”

I waited for him to make his choice.

His eyes lingered on my face for three seconds before he looked away, the decision made.

“Caroline, I have to say, this data is concerning.” Claude cleared his throat, his voice taking on a carefully measured tone of authority. “As a startup, we must be strict about attendance and financial discipline. Rules are rules.”

I saw a flash of triumph in Lia’s eyes.

“In that case,” Claude turned to the CFO, “immediately suspend all of Caroline’s internal system access. CRM, financial approvals, and access to all high-level documents. All of it, suspended.”

Without looking up, David nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Furthermore,” Claude continued, “Lia, I’m officially putting you in charge of recovering the $150,000 in improper expenses. We're running a lean ship, and every dollar counts.”

“No problem, CEO,” Lia responded almost instantly, her voice buzzing with excitement. “I’ll draw up a detailed recovery plan to ensure the company’s interests are protected.”

She shot me a look, her challenge naked and clear. “This kind of violation must be dealt with seriously. We can’t make exceptions for personal relationships.”

Claude nodded, satisfied. “Good. Also, this needs to be announced company-wide, as a lesson to all employees.”

I finally understood their game.

This wasn’t about discipline. It was a carefully orchestrated coup.

Claude wanted my client list—the contacts for top Wall Street investors, the access to private clubs.

And Lia wanted my job.

She thought that by taking me down, she could just slide into my chair and become Claude’s new right-hand woman.

How naive.

After announcing the punishment, Claude looked at me with false sincerity. “Don’t worry, Caroline. Once you’ve paid back the money, I’ll restore your position. Everything will be back to normal.”

“Oh, and by the way,” Claude added, with feigned nonchalance, “since you’re temporarily unable to perform your duties, we can’t leave those important clients hanging. You’ll need to hand over your client list as well.”

I slowly stood up, pulled a sleek black folder from my handbag, and placed it gently on the table.

“Here are all the client contacts and follow-up records,” I said, my voice calm.

A greedy light flashed in Claude’s eyes as he eagerly reached for it.

“I hope,” I said, taking a step back and smiling at him, “that you can actually handle them.”

Thirty minutes later, I was sitting in my office, listening to the constant ping of notifications from outside.

A company-wide email had just gone out with the subject line: Disciplinary Action Against PR Director Caroline for Serious Violations of Attendance and Financial Policies.

The email detailed my “crimes”: chronic unexcused absences, using company resources for personal enjoyment, severe violation of company asset management policies, creating a terrible influence…

I could hear the whispers in the hallway.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe Caroline skipped so much work.”

“A hundred and fifty thousand dollars? That’s insane…”

“I always knew there was something off about all her luxury goods…”

“Good for Lia. Let’s see her show off now…”

The same colleagues who used to swarm me with toasts at company dinners, the same subordinates who greeted me warmly in the elevator, were now gossiping about my downfall like vultures circling.

I looked at the vase of white roses on my desk, freshly replaced by my secretary this morning, dewdrops still clinging to the petals.

How naive I’d been, thinking that genuine effort would be met with genuine loyalty.

Just then, the office door was shoved open.

Lia strode in, followed by a finance intern holding a freshly printed document.

She walked right up to my desk and slapped the paper down.

“Caroline,” she said, looking down at me with the arrogance of a victor, “here’s the detailed bill from the finance department. A total of one hundred fifty-seven thousand, four hundred and twenty-three dollars. The CEO has already signed off on it.”

“You have three days to pay it back. Otherwise, according to section 47 of the employee handbook, the company has the right to deduct it from your year-end bonus and stock dividends.”