Chapter 2

I looked at the printed resignation form, and whatever shred of goodwill I still had evaporated on the spot.

They'd really come prepared.

They'd even printed the resignation letter for me.

"And if I don't sign?" I asked calmly.

"Don't sign?" Tasha let out a cold laugh. "Chloe, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. The core data is all on our servers now, and we've already changed the passwords. If you don't leave, just wait for tomorrow's acceptance review—you'll be left high and dry.

"When the client blows up and the company investigates, you, as the nominal project lead, will take the fall for everything."

It was a naked threat.

Using the authority I'd given them to turn around and choke me with it.

"Chloe, if you sign it, I won't make things too ugly for you. After all, we were colleagues once." Tasha suddenly switched to a tone of feigned concern. "I've been thinking about your future, too."

She pulled a wrinkled recruitment flyer out of her pocket.

"My aunt manages logistics. They're short a cleaning team leader. It's dirtier and more tiring, sure, but at least it's stable.

"It's right on this floor. If we have empty bottles left over after drinks, we can save them for you to sell. How about that?"

Patricia covered her mouth and laughed. "Tasha, you're really something. You even lined up her next job. But cleaning does suit Chloe—hasn't she been doing all kinds of odd jobs these past few months anyway?"

Vinny chimed in with a grin. "Yeah, Chloe, look how good we are to you. We even paved a way out for you. Shouldn't you be thanking us already?"

I stared at Tasha coldly.

"You want me to clean toilets? This is what you call planning for my future?"

"Don't be picky," Tasha said righteously. "With your current abilities, getting into logistics at all is already more than you deserve. I only pulled strings for you out of old sentiment. Plenty of people would kill for this chance and still wouldn't get it."

I nodded, then poured the water from my cup onto the floor.

"Fine. Since you're all so capable, I'm done with this project."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Behind me came their triumphant cheers.

"I told you she was a paper tiger—one scare and she folded!"

"This is great! Money, money, here we come!"

I stepped out of the break room, took out my phone, and sent a message to headquarters.

"Inspection complete. Prepare to close the net."

When I returned to my desk, my computer had already been locked.

A glaring red "ACCESS DENIED" flashed on the screen.

Petty—more so than I'd even expected.

Tasha sashayed over, looking down at me from above.

"Oh, Chloe, sorry about that. My hand slipped just now, and I deleted your account."

She said she was sorry, but her face was full of barely concealed glee.

"Anyway, you've already signed the resignation. No point keeping this computer. You should pack up early and make room for the new intern."

As she spoke, she kicked one leg of my chair.

Colleagues nearby shot over curious, uneasy looks.

I ignored her and quietly packed up my personal belongings.

Seeing me stay silent, Tasha took it as fear and grew even more brazen.

"Chloe, don't blame us for being ruthless. That's the workplace—survival of the fittest. People like you, who coast by on connections, are bound to be eliminated sooner or later."

"Connections?" I paused and looked up at her. "Whose connections am I relying on?"

"Don't play dumb."

Tasha leaned closer and raised her voice. "Everyone in the company knows how you got in back then. If you didn't have some shady relationship with that former VP who resigned, do you think you'd still be sitting in this position?"

"Exactly," Vinny snickered. "You don't even dress that well—those bags you carry are probably knockoffs, right? Saved all your money to keep a pretty boy on the side?"

That smear was impressively vicious.

Not only did it erase my competence, it conveniently trashed my personal integrity too.

Sure enough, the murmurs around us grew louder.

"So that's how it is… no wonder she never works overtime."

"You never really know people…"

I looked at their faces and found it ridiculous.

Back when they needed my help, it was all "Chloe is beautiful and kind," "We owe everything to Chloe's support."

Now, for a bit of bonus money, they'd turned into rabid dogs in the blink of an eye.

"Are you done?" I asked.

I slipped the red folder into my bag and stood up.

"If you're done, move aside. Good dogs don't block the road."