Chapter 1

Kayla Chavez had been transferred in from headquarters three days ago to run the branch.

She was famous for ruling with an iron fist and doing whatever she pleased.

All I'd done was point out in a meeting that the branch had its own management policies, and she'd taken it as a personal insult.

She rejected my five-dollar reimbursement, and threw in a little dig that I'd been lining my own pockets.

I'd been with this company ten years, from a clueless intern to the top sales rep I was now.

The deals I'd closed added up to tens of millions, and I'd never touched a cent that wasn't mine.

It was only five dollars, so I let it go.

Kayla must have decided I was an easy target, because she set her mind on making an example of me.

She sent me a five-dollar payment in the company group chat, and tagged me.

"Cassandra Fox, that shady reimbursement of yours? I've covered it out of my own pocket. Don't let it happen again."

I didn't accept the money and I didn't reply, which only got her going.

"Why won't you take the money? Guilty conscience about padding your expenses?"

...

Watching Kayla push and push, I felt my temper rise, so I wrote back:

"The five dollars was for disposable water cups I bought for the office. It's spelled out clearly on the reimbursement form."

"If you insist on hinting that I'm embezzling, then take me to court."

Five seconds later, Kayla marched over to my desk with Prudence Perry, the accountant, in tow.

She stood with her arms crossed, radiating menace.

"Cassandra Fox, I was going to spare you the public embarrassment out of respect for your seniority."

"But now I'm going to go through every single one of these years' worth of improper reimbursements you've filed!"

I never imagined she could blow up this much over five dollars.

Just then, the alarm on my phone went off.

Three o'clock. I had a meeting with a very important client.

I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.

Kayla froze for a few seconds before she called after me.

"Cassandra Fox, where do you think you're going?"

"Out on a field visit," I answered calmly.

She let out a cold laugh.

"I'm in the middle of auditing your accounts and you want to slip out? Nervous?"

"Looks like you've been helping yourself to plenty of company money over the years. Until I've gotten to the bottom of this, you're not going anywhere!"

I was speechless.

The client I was going to see was one of our major accounts, up for renewal, and a single deal with them could account for thirty percent of the company's annual profit.

I didn't let temper get the better of me. I said evenly:

"I logged this field visit in advance. HR can confirm it. It's all by the book."

Kayla gave a scornful little smile.

"Don't talk to me about procedure with those lazy old habits of yours!"

"Now that I'm here, I am the company's procedure! If I don't let you leave, you don't go anywhere!"

I smiled and said, "Ms. Chavez, I'm sorry, but I filed the report before you ever set foot in this company."

And with that, I walked straight out without looking back.