Chapter 2

The next morning, the moment I walked through the office doors, I felt the shift in the air.

The receptionist avoided my eyes, looking at me as if I were some kind of toxic waste.

As I walked past the breakroom, the whispered gossip inside instantly ceased, followed by a burst of mean-spirited laughter.

When I reached my cubicle, I found my computer tower was gone.

My desk was piled high with messy files and half-eaten takeout containers. The business proposal I had stayed up all night to finish was now soaked in greasy soup.

Even the little cactus I had nurtured for three years had been ripped out by its roots and thrown into the trash.

"Oh, look, our newly-made millionaire is here," Chloe Brooks sneered, leaning against the divider with a Starbucks cup in her hand.

She was wearing a brand-new Chanel tweed skirt suit.

I had bought that for her last month as a reward for passing her probation period, paying for it out of my own pocket.

Seeing it on her now was just disgusting.

I glanced at my ruined desk, forcing myself to remain calm.

"Who did this?"

Chloe blew on her hot coffee, her face a picture of innocence.

"Oh, Charlotte... Richard said that since you refuse to contribute to the company, the company has no obligation to provide you with resources. Your computer has been reassigned. As for this trash..."

She pointed at the greasy takeout boxes.

"The janitor is off today. Richard said you should clean up the office. After all, you just got five million dollars. Doing some manual labor is the least you can do to give back to society."

A few quiet chuckles erupted around us.

The very people who used to follow me around, calling me "sister" and asking for advice, were now watching me like I was a circus monkey.

I looked at Chloe's heavily made-up face and felt a sudden wave of amusement.

I guess the saying is true: *No good deed goes unpunished.*

I had mentored this girl for six months, holding her hand through every deal and even sharing my core client list with her.

And this was the viper I had warmed in my bosom.

"Chloe, did you forget that we are supposed to sign the annual contract renewal with Apex Group this Monday?" I asked quietly, ignoring her attitude.

Apex Group was our branch’s largest client, accounting for seventy percent of our annual revenue.

And their CEO, Mr. Henderson, only dealt with me.

Chloe rolled her eyes and let out a disdainful laugh.

"Charlotte, do you really think you're that special? You just had drinks with Mr. Henderson a few times. Do you honestly think he values your 'talent'?"

She raised her voice, making sure the entire office could hear her.

"Everyone knows the truth. That five million dollars of yours is probably just hush money from some old sugar daddy. Calling it a lottery win is just your way of money laundering! You're so dirty!"

The breakroom erupted into a frenzy.

"Oh my god, seriously? No wonder her sales numbers were always so high."

"She always acted so innocent and pure, but she was just sleeping her way to the top..."

"You can never judge a book by its cover. I wouldn't want that dirty money even if it were handed to me!"

Vile rumors washed over me like a wave.

Chloe looked at me triumphantly, as if she had successfully crushed me under her heel.

She casually picked up the renewal proposal from my desk—the one I had spent three sleepless nights working on.

"Since it’s already dirty, there's no point in keeping something obtained through sleeping around. It's just polluting the environment."

Before I could say a word, she shoved the proposal straight into the paper shredder.

With a harsh, grinding noise, the multi-million-dollar contract proposal was reduced to worthless paper confetti.

I watched the whole thing in silence.

There was no anger. No screaming.

Just the cold, dead calm of watching a tragedy about to unfold.

Chloe thought that by destroying my proposal, she was cutting off my escape route.

She didn't realize she had just cut the throat of this entire branch.

"Fine," I said, pulling out my chair and sitting down.

Since they didn't want me to work, I might as well enjoy the break.

"Chloe, remember what you said today. I just hope you can keep that same energy during Monday's signing."

Chloe sniffed disdainfully and walked away, swaying her hips.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, Charlotte! I don't believe for a second that with my charm, I can't handle one old man!"