Chapter 1

"1. My health comes first, so my water must always be exactly 113 degrees Fahrenheit. If you aren't sure, use a thermometer.

"2. For breakfast, I want a medium hot cappuccino and an egg. It must be a free-range, organic egg.

"3. Lunch should be whole grains and high-quality fiber. Cook it yourself, and no takeout."

…

"16. Pick up and drop off my son at school every day at 8:00 am and 5:30 pm. Do not be late."

On her very first day, my new boss, Eileen Shaffer, sent me 16 rules, which filled the screen in our chat log.

I couldn't help rolling my eyes. This wasn't a workplace guideline; it was a royal edict, and apparently, I was the unlucky, lowly maid.

The colleague next to me leaned over, saw the list, and winced. But there was nothing she could do other than give me a sympathetic look and pat me on the shoulder.

"That's nothing you can do. She's the boss, and her husband's the head of procurement. The guy has connections everywhere."

She told me to suck it up. After all, jobs were hard to find these days, and our company offered decent benefits.

If I ended up quitting over offending Eileen and returned to the job-hunting grind, that would be a nightmare.

I took a deep breath.

Fine. I could play the corporate slave; I was good at it.

But then, Eileen glanced at her watch and reminded me. "It's 10:00 am. You still have time to grab that coffee, but remember that starting tomorrow, I want it on my desk the moment I arrive at the office."

Although I was speechless, I forced a smile and nodded. "Understood, Ms. Shaffer. I'll get on it."

Under the watchful eyes of the entire office, I ran out into the blistering 104-degree heat to the nearest coffee shop. When I finally made it back with her drink, she immediately frowned.

"It's scorching hot today. Why would you buy me a hot cappuccino? Why didn't you get me an iced drink?"

My hand almost clenched into a fist. "Ms. Shaffer, didn't you say you wanted it hot?"

I had read her 16 commandments over and over. There wasn't a single word that mentioned that the beverage had to be iced.

Eileen looked annoyed. "Just because I said it was hot doesn't mean you should follow blindly—why not use some common sense?

"If I get heatstroke from drinking this in this weather, what will happen then? You young ladies have no sense at all."

That was when it clicked.

She never wanted coffee; all she wanted was to establish dominance in the office, and since I was the youngest, I was the easiest target.

She made a show of giving in. "Fine. Since you bought it, I'll drink it."

With a thud, I dropped the full cup straight into the trash can, and the scent of coffee filled the office.

Eileen's expression immediately darkened, while the rest of my colleagues froze.

I gave her a defiant smile. "Buy your own drinks from now on and stop bossing me around, Ms. Shaffer.

"I'm paid peanuts to do my job, not to be your maid."