Chapter 2

"Brooke, did Mr. Kline mention why he wanted you to—"

I cut off my teammate's question. "Since you all already know, you'll have no problem climbing the ladder from now on. Not only will you make money easily, but your futures will be limitless too."

At my sarcastic remark, my colleagues couldn't hold back and started firing back at me.

"Pfft, sour grapes much?"

"Ms. Richmond is a graduate of a top-tier overseas university. You really think you're in the same class as her? Get real. It's like comparing a dumpster to a diamond."

"She's way prettier than you, and her academic background is better too."

"You're just jealous."

With one remark after another, the whole exchange took on the feel of haggling at a flea market.

Everyone knew perfectly well that Sandy had only landed the manager position because she was Dustin's girlfriend.

In truth, she was just a recent graduate, and all that praise for her excellent education and good looks was mere lip service.

When Dustin claimed I lacked experience, it was nothing but an excuse.

After packing up my things, I handed over my work to Sandy, who looked at me with disdain from head to toe.

By the end, she even lectured me like my mother would.

"Look at you, Brooke. You really should make more of an effort with your appearance, seeing as you're always dressed like some frumpy housewife." She snorted in disgust. "Unlike me. I'm pretty, and I know how to dress. That's how I landed a great boyfriend like Dustin."

I almost wanted to throw up right then and there.

If she could stomach being with Dustin, how could she possibly not put up with me?

"Sure, sure. You're into Mr. Kline because he's older and never showers, right? You really are so desperate that you'd be with just about anyone."

Dustin stood at five-foot-five, a portly man whose most striking feature was the conspicuously bald spot crowning his head.

Sandy's face flushed with rage, and she raised her hand to slap me.

I grabbed her wrist and shoved it aside. "I'm not your punching bag, so don't take your anger out on me."

Ignoring her reddened, angry face, I picked up the documents and turned to leave without another word.

As soon as I got home from work that evening, I complained to my client, "Dad, Mr. Kline says I'm not capable enough and wants me to hand over my hard work to the company for free."

He might be my client on paper, but in reality, he was actually my father, Ian Sullivan.

"I'm no longer the project lead now, so you really need to think about this carefully."

At this, Dad's smile instantly vanished. "I was already doing them a favor by injecting funds into their company, yet this is how they treat you? I told you to join our family business, but you wouldn't listen.

"Instead, you insisted on chasing some dream. Have you finally realized how harsh reality can be? Have you felt the tough lessons society has to offer? Quit that job right now."

"Oh, I'm definitely quitting. Who told them to mess with a college graduate who knows how to fight back?"

A year ago, I turned down Dad's arrangements and chose to join a relatively small software development company as a developer. There, I came across a proposal that no one was interested in and suggested to Dustin that we should give it a try.

Since there was no funding support in the early stages, I had to persistently convince Dad to inject capital into the company.

With the infusion of funds, this niche project showed considerable potential, so I put in my utmost effort to make it the best it could be.

So now, the project had become the golden goose of the entire company, and everyone wanted a piece of it.

Prior to this, I never imagined I would be the one to shake things up in the workplace.

The internet always said Gen Z would quit without a second thought. Since they had no family to support, no mortgages or car loans tying them down, they weren't afraid to voice their dissatisfaction and stand up for their rights.

But honestly, all they ever wanted was to be treated fairly. They wanted to work with transparency, not office politics, and to do their job with a healthy mindset.

After all, no one wanted to spend their days feeling unhappy at work.