Chapter 4

The leasing and management office was located in the center of the community.

It was originally designed as a luxury clubhouse for residents to enjoy for free, but now it bore a plaque that read "Management Office."

Stepping inside, I almost laughed out of sheer anger.

Imported Italian marble floors, crystal chandeliers, genuine leather sofas, and expensive paintings.

While the community outside was practically falling apart, this place looked like a five-star hotel.

These parasites sure knew how to live.

When Marcus pushed open the door to the Community Manager’s office, the thick scent of cigars and expensive perfume hit us.

The manager, Richard Miller, sat comfortably in his leather executive chair, blowing smoke rings.

A young woman in heavy makeup was sitting on his lap, peeling grapes and feeding them to him.

It was Tiffany Cole, the head of finance.

"Richard!" Brenda wailed the moment she stepped in.

Richard jumped in fright, and Tiffany quickly stood up, smoothing down her skirt.

Brenda glared at Tiffany. "You little homewrecker!"

Tiffany smiled awkwardly. "Brenda, you’ve got it wrong. I was just here to present the financial reports."

Richard quickly cleared his throat. "What’s with all the yelling?"

Brenda didn't have time to press the issue. She plopped down on the sofa, pointed at Leo and me, and launched into her dramatized version of the events.

Richard’s face darkened as he stared at Leo.

"You're Leo, right? I pay your salary, and you turn on us?"

He slammed his hand on the desk.

"Marcus! Strip him of his uniform and fire him immediately! Withhold his salary, bonus, and deposit as compensation for my wife's mental distress!"

Leo scoffed. "You have no legal right to withhold my pay! That’s a direct violation of labor laws!"

"Labor laws?" Richard laughed hysterically.

"In Dragoncrest, my word is the law! A trash security guard like you wants to talk about the law?"

Then, he turned his cold gaze toward me.

"As for you... you scratched my wife’s car. That’ll be three hundred thousand dollars."

"No money? We’ll lock you in the basement for three days without food. Let’s see if your family miraculously finds the cash then."

He pointed to the phone clutched in my hand.

"Marcus, grab her phone! She’s definitely been filming. Delete everything!"

Marcus lunged forward, but I stepped back, easily evading him.

I looked at Richard, my expression perfectly calm.

"Mr. Miller, quite the authority you have here."

"You ignore the open gates, you let the greenery die, you block fire lanes, and you ignore residents trapped in elevators."

"And now, you're looking at false imprisonment and theft of private property."

"Is Dragoncrest Estates your personal kingdom?"

Instead of showing any guilt, Richard only smirked.

"You've got a sharp tongue, little girl."

"The homeowners here are just rich, clueless idiots. Their money is ours for the taking!"

"In this community, I am God! I run things however I want, and no one can stop me!"

I nodded.

"What if the headquarters of the Hayden Group decides to stop you?"

Hearing the words "Hayden Group," Richard froze for a fraction of a second.

Then, his laughter echoed through the room even louder than before.

"The Hayden Group? Hahaha!"

He pointed at me. "Brenda, this girl is insane! A beggar in thrift-store clothes wants to threaten me with headquarters?"

Brenda spat. "Who do you think you are? The CEO?"

I ignored their mockery.

I pulled a wet wipe from my pocket and slowly, meticulously wiped my hands.

Then, I looked straight into Richard’s eyes.

"I’m giving you one last chance."

"Pick up your phone and call Arthur Sterling, the General Manager of Property Management at Hayden Group."

"Ask him: If the CEO of the Hayden Group gets slapped in her own community, does he still want to keep his job?"

The office fell into a dead, suffocating silence.

The smirk on Richard’s face froze.

How could a random, penniless girl know the exact name of the division's General Manager?

Doubt and panic flickered in his eyes, but he quickly shook his head, refusing to believe it.

"Stop bluffing! You think you can scare me? Marcus, grab her!"

"Fine. Since you won't make the call, I will."

I dialed the number directly on my phone and hit speaker.

After two rings, a frantic, highly respectful male voice came through the line.

"Miss Hayden? What are your instructions?"