Semua Bab The Bonus That Broke the Company: Bab 1 - Bab 7

I was munching on a bagel and scrolling through the screen when the mock civil service exam results came out.One post caught my eye. It read: [The day I got into the tax bureau, my boss approved my resignation in seconds, and my final paycheck, bonus included, hit my account that same day. Keep in mind that the company had delayed wages more than once before.]The comments were pure satisfaction: [That's the vibe!]I smiled, letting myself imagine that someday it could be me, but notifications kept popping up at the top of my phone screen. Even on a lazy weekend, the boss would come up with random demands out of nowhere.It was beyond annoying. One minute, Michael Wright wanted me to organize client files; the next, he was pushing for a new pitch deck.The double weekends I'd been promised when I joined had quietly become flexible work from home. The company had just laid off staff in the name of cost-cutting, yet the workload never shrank.With fewer people, I was now doing the

"No difference," Michael snorted. "I decide what you do every single day. The only reason you have food on your table is that I approve the checks. First rule of being an employee: obey. I give orders, and you carry them out. No questions asked."Rage ignited in my chest, hot and bright. If not for the $1.5-million commission waiting at year-end, I would have thrown the files in his face.Fine. I'd like to see what this incompetent hack could pull off.After stepping out of his office, I slipped into the stairwell and began calling my clients with a sly smile. "Regarding our deal, there's something important we need to discuss about our cooperation."Time flew by, and before I knew it, the results of the civil service exam were released. I ranked first in both the written and interview sections. I jumped up, my heart pounding with joy.The next morning, I arrived early at the office and settled into my desk. Behind closed doors, Michael was heard screaming at Ethan.Delighted, I

I entered the building first while my colleagues parked.Almost immediately, I ran straight into Michael, who eyed me up and down with malicious intent. "Well, if it isn't the ungrateful Lisa Matthews. You've been gone a while. What brings you here today? Couldn't hack it out there and came crawling back? Save it. Even if you beg me, we don't want trash like you."Drawing on my recent training at tax bureau, I flashed my badge and stated in a formal, unwavering tone, "I'm Lisa Matthews, Enforcement Officer with Valeafall's tax bureau. We've received credible reports of suspected tax evasion, and I'm here to investigate. Please cooperate fully."Michael snatched the badge from my hand and scoffed, "Nice fake. Trying to extort me? Do you have any idea what kind of crime that is? Fraud. And the tax bureau? Those exams are brutal. My cousin's daughter applied, but the pass rate is very low. Of all people, you passed? Who are you fooling?"I reiterated firmly, "The badge is authentic, a

As I headed out, Ethan caught up with a smirk. "Look at our shiny new officer. Not only off the payroll, but maybe headed to jail. All that hard work goes down the drain. Must sting, right?"I sneered at his stupidity. I hadn't done that, and he was useless as ever. No way a fabricated signature could make me take the fall for them.When I didn't rise to the bait, he grew bolder. "Thought you could come after me? I can crush you in a heartbeat. Passing that exam doesn't make you untouchable."I kept my voice even. "If memory serves, that contract was under your watch. You fabricated the dual versions and pocketed a hefty sum, didn't you? Now you're trying to pin it all on me."He mouthed, "So what? Are you mad? I got the cash, and you take the fall."Then he burst into laughter. "I figured you'd try to record this. I'm not stupid."He fired up his car's engine and drove off. I glared at his departing vehicle and the recorder in frustration. It had been so close.In the days that