Chapter 3

I put the trophy into the cardboard box.

People kept sneaking glances at me, only to look away just as quickly.

Andy came down the hall and stopped about ten feet away. He stood beside Jason, and the two of them watched me pack.

I carried the box to the desk by the entrance, right next to the restroom.

The workstation was cramped, and a layer of dust covered the desk. Two boxes of printer paper sat in the corner, giving off a musty smell. I set my box down.

At 2:00 pm, I was called into Administration.

The manager didn't even look up as she handed me a form. "Natalie, Mr. Hampton wants you to spend the afternoon organizing the storage room. Everyone has to take a turn doing this kind of work."

I took the form.

The storage room was two floors underground, packed with outdated files, old desks and chairs, and company T-shirts from who knew how many years ago.

I spent the entire afternoon moving things by myself.

The edges of the cardboard boxes left several cuts on my hands. When blood started beading along the cuts, I wrapped them with some tissues and kept working.

It was 7:00 pm by the time I got home.

I couldn't even be bothered to turn on the lights. I sat on the couch, opened my contacts, and found Mr. Larkin's number.

My finger hovered over the call button.

Then I remembered what Michael had said at last year's company celebration. He'd been holding a drink, practically glowing as he clapped me on the shoulder with a huge grin.

"Natalie, from now on, do whatever you want. There are no rules for you at this company. You make the rules."

I let out a wry laugh and turned off my phone.

On the third morning, I had barely sat down at my desk by the restroom when footsteps came down the hall.

Andy came toward me with a file in his hand, Jason at his side. They stopped at my desk, and Andy tossed the file down in front of me. A few pages slipped out and scattered across my keyboard.

"Natalie, this is the post-project report for one of the projects you handled last year. Some of the numbers don't match, and we suspect you inflated your results.

"The company is opening an investigation. You're suspended for now while we look into it."

I glanced down at the report. I knew those numbers well enough to recite them in my sleep, but someone had changed them beyond recognition.

Sales had been lowered by 30%, while costs had been raised by 20%. The profit column had even been changed to show a loss.

Jason came around to my side and folded his arms. He didn't raise his voice, but he didn't lower it either.

"Natalie, never thought I'd see the day. You were such a big deal last year. Mr. Cannon even poured your coffee himself during meetings, and now look at you."

The people at the nearby desks kept their heads down, but the typing around us slowed noticeably.

I looked Andy straight in the eye. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Andy came around to my chair and leaned down, lowering his voice so only I could hear.

"Natalie, Mr. Cannon isn't backing you anymore. I had drinks with him last night, and he said he gave you too much special treatment last year. You let it go to your head. I'm the one calling the shots around here now."

He straightened and casually dusted off his hands. "Pack up. You don't need to come in during the investigation. Turn in your new computer and your access card."

I didn't move.

Everyone was watching me. Some looked sympathetic, some indifferent, but most were just watching the show.

I slowly got to my feet and pulled my phone from my bag. Right in front of Andy, I opened my contacts and tapped the number I'd saved three months ago but never called.

It rang twice before a calm male voice answered, "Natalie? You finally decided to call me."

"Mr. Larkin, I've decided to accept your terms."