Chapter 4

Hailey walked in and picked up the file.

I followed her out, but she immediately assumed I was trying to steal the credit. "Sadie, Vivian said I'm taking the lead on this one. You're just here to assist. So don't overstep."

The second I heard that, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I'd just been racking my brain trying to figure out how to distance myself from this deal. Now I didn't have to lift a finger.

A little while later, I casually dropped some bait around the office. "Wendy, I heard this deal is a big one. The boss is apparently paying close attention to it personally. If it goes well, interns could get brought on full-time, and senior staff could get promoted. Anything's possible."

Wendy eagerly agreed, playing right into it. Hailey, sitting across from me, didn't say a word, but I could practically see the gears turning behind her eyes.

Right before the end of the day, she came straight to me. "Sadie, I'm the lead on this project. You know that, right?"

I nodded.

"Then you don't need to be involved at all. I'll let Vivian know."

I was laughing on the inside, knowing she'd taken the bait, but I put on an irritated front. "Hailey, what's that supposed to mean? Are you messing with me? What if something goes wrong and they pin the blame on me?"

Seeing me dig my heels in, she snapped. "Then what do you want?"

I smiled. "A written statement confirming that during my remaining time at the company, I was not involved in or given access to any part of this project's bidding, pricing, or proposals. That's the only way to make sure nobody pins anything on me later."

We went back and forth for a while, but she eventually agreed. Before the end of the day, I had the document in hand. With that in my pocket, no one could come after me down the road.

Over the next few days, Hailey and the team she'd handpicked busied themselves with the deal while I quietly wrapped up everything for my departure. I also made a point of screenshotting the work group chat every single day, proving I hadn't touched anything related to the project.

Finally, my contract expired, and I walked out cleanly.

On my last day, a group of coworkers gathered around. They looked genuinely sad to see me go, insisting they'd take me out for dinner. Hailey, on the other hand, looked downright smug, convinced I'd been fired.

Just before I left, she strolled over to my desk. I didn't even have to look up to know exactly what kind of expression she was wearing.

"Sadie, so you're leaving, huh? Wait, you didn't get fired, did you? Well, if you ever need anything, feel free to reach out. Maybe I can put in a good word for you."

I didn't bother responding. I just turned around and walked out of the building.

Even though things ended on an ugly note, this place really did shape who I was. But now, it was time to move on.

The bid was only three days away, and I didn't waste a second of it resting. Every spare moment went into preparation.

This wasn't just about showing anyone up. It was about proving what I was capable of and earning myself the kind of opportunity I deserved.

The day arrived quickly. I walked into the building alongside the Yorker Corp team, and not far behind, Hailey filed in with hers.

Just before the bidding started, I felt a sudden urge to use the restroom and hurried off. Because of that, I missed the initial lineup entirely, and Vivian didn't spot me.

By the time I got back, things were just getting underway. I didn't stare openly, but I could feel Hailey panicking beside me.

Three companies were competing in total. The first wrapped up quickly, and Hailey's team was up second.

Right around then, Vivian and the boss finally showed up, fashionably late.

The moment she walked in, Vivian barked across the room. "Sadie Lawson, get up on that stage right now! What do you think you're doing standing with a competitor?"