Chapter 2

The next morning, an email landed in my inbox.

Sender: Marcus Vance.

Subject: URGENT! Partnership meeting with Henderson Group.

The email was short and direct. It said Mr. Henderson from Henderson Group had arrived for a sudden visit and specifically asked to meet me, the project leader. Because of the rush, the meeting was set directly in his suite at the Vienna Luxury Hotel.

The CC list included all the marketing department heads.

Just then, Tiffany trotted over in her high heels, her face glowing with fake excitement.

"Chloe! Oh my gosh, you are amazing! Mr. Henderson! If you pull this off, our department's KPI will be legendary this year!"

She leaned in, whispering with a touch of envious flattery.

"Marcus said he’s only going there to back you up. You should go get ready. Don't keep Mr. Henderson waiting."

I looked up, closed my laptop, and stood up.

"Got it."

My voice was so calm that the smile on Tiffany's face froze for a second.

She probably expected me to panic, to ask questions, or at least show some hesitation.

But I did none of that.

I just grabbed my coat from the chair, picked up my bag, and walked straight out.

Because I knew the real show wasn't in the office.

It was in that hotel room.

Vienna Luxury Hotel, Suite 8808.

I glanced at the room number, a cold smile playing on my lips.

Double eight. How lucky.

A perfect room number to send someone to hell.

I knocked on the door.

It was slightly ajar.

With a gentle push, it swung open.

The room was empty. The thick curtains were tightly drawn, leaving the room in dim, gloomy light.

The air smelled of cheap hotel air freshener and disinfectant.

I walked in and closed the door behind me.

Almost immediately, the bathroom door opened.

But it wasn't Mr. Henderson who walked out. It was Marcus Vance.

He had unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing his greasy neck. He flaunted his beer belly, a disgusting, victorious grin plastered across his face.

The smell of stale alcohol and cheap cologne rushed at me, making my stomach turn.

"Chloe, I knew you’d come."

He stepped closer, his eyes scanning my body.

"Why play hard to get? Huh?"

"We both know you slept your way to those sales anyway."

"Make me happy today, and the Assistant Director position is yours."

I didn't move.

My face didn't even register a hint of fear.

My calmness seemed to piss him off.

"You bitch, don't act like you're too good for this!"

With a hideous snarl, he lunged at me, his fat hands clawing for my shoulders.

I stepped aside, making him grab thin air. He stumbled and slammed hard into the wall.

The hotel carpet was thick, muffling the sound of his impact.

My hand in my pocket tapped the red button on my phone screen.

"Marcus," I said, my voice ice-cold. "You make me sick."

As if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world, he leaned against the wall, laughing so hard his fat shook.

"Sick? Haha!"

"In a minute, you’ll see how good it feels!"

"Let me tell you, Tiffany is waiting right outside. Even if you scream your lungs out, nobody is coming to save you!"

"Once I give the word, she’ll burst in and take photos. By then, you’ll be completely ruined!"

He finally spilled the whole plan, a twisted smirk of victory on his face.

"Are you going to strip yourself, or do you want me to rip it off you?"

I looked at him and slowly smiled.

"Marcus, did you forget something?"

"I sign those massive deals because of my brain. Never my body."

Before he could react, I didn't waste another second.

I lifted my leg, bent my knee, and kicked him as hard as I could right between his legs.

"Arghhh!"

Marcus clutched his crotch, bending over like a boiled shrimp, his face turning instantly purple.

I didn't even look back at him.

I walked straight to the door and pulled it open.

Outside, Tiffany was holding her phone, camera pointed at the door, her face a mix of utter shock and terror.

She clearly didn't expect me to come out so fast.

And she definitely didn't expect me to walk out completely untouched.

I looked directly into her camera lens and flashed a bright, sweet smile.

Then, leaving her frozen in shock, I turned around and walked away.