Chapter 1

I drank myself into a perforated ulcer to land a fifty-million-dollar deal for my executive boyfriend, and I checked myself into the hospital alone so he wouldn't worry.

But before I could even be discharged, someone made up a sex rumor about me, and I was facing termination.

I swallowed the hurt and asked him to clear my name.

On the other end of the video call, he didn't even turn his camera on.

"There's no smoke without fire. You're not trying to use this as an excuse to make our relationship public again, are you?"

"Figure out how to put your clothes back on first, then we'll talk."

The call was still open when his message popped up in the company group chat, tagging everyone.

【Congratulations to Bridget on landing a multimillion-dollar deal and her promotion to Sales Manager. I hope everyone learns from her example!】

【And doesn't behave like certain people, who only ever take crooked shortcuts.】

While my coworkers openly trashed me in the group chat, calling me a stripper, Bridget posted a photo of herself and Percy Whitney at a bar on her social media.

No caption, but it was enough to convince everyone the two of them were about to become official.

I believed it too. My eight-year secret relationship was over.

1

I pushed down the bitterness and, following my coworkers' lead, liked Bridget's post.

Percy suddenly switched his camera on, brows furrowed.

"Muriel, stop it!"

I'd done nothing but tap a like, and he acted like the sky was falling.

Was he afraid I'd expose our secret relationship, or afraid I'd make trouble for Bridget? I didn't know.

And I no longer wanted to know.

Yet he offered me an explanation anyway.

"I didn't answer your calls last night because I didn't want you overthinking things."

"The girl wanted to go out to a bar after landing the big deal, to see something new."

"I wasn't comfortable letting her go alone, so I went with her."

The girl he was talking about was exactly three days younger than me.

While he was worrying about her, I was drinking myself into the ER to land a fifty-million-dollar deal for him.

After they pulled me through, I was afraid he'd worry, and I spent a long time coming up with a reason to set his mind at ease.

I opened my call log. Thirty missed calls, every one of them mocking how naive I'd been.

I was silent for a long time before I told him:

"That deal was mine."

Percy scoffed.

"Muriel, just because you've landed a few big deals doesn't mean every big deal belongs to you."

"Bridget's name is on the contract. Trying to grab what isn't yours won't get you anywhere."

He held up the contract for me to see.

At the sales representative's signature line, it really did say Bridget Vance.

Before I could say a word, Percy ended the call.

I immediately called Mr. Lambert and asked why the signature on the contract had become Bridget's.

He was taken aback.

"I didn't want to disturb you in the hospital, so I had the contract sent to your company. Your name was on it as the recipient."

Just then, Mr. Lambert received the copy signed and stamped by Zenith Group.

When he saw the name wasn't mine after all, his tone went cold.

"Muriel, if you hadn't said anything, I probably never would have noticed these small details."

Mr. Lambert sent me a photo of the delivery receipt.

At the signature line was Bridget's handwriting.

Mr. Lambert started a group chat with the three of us to help clear things up for me.

But Percy didn't believe me.

Instead, he told Mr. Lambert:

【She's just a sales rep. It doesn't matter who signs, as long as it carries Zenith Group's official stamp.】

【From now on, all business will be handled by Manager Vance directly with you.】

The next second, he added Bridget to the group and made a grand introduction.

【Mr. Lambert, Manager Vance is highly capable, not like Muriel Simmons, who gets everything done by cutting corners.】

Mr. Lambert couldn't read his hints, and could only call me again.

"Muriel, did you cross your boss somehow?"

After a lot of hesitation, I told him about the sex rumor being spread about me.

Mr. Lambert was instantly furious.

"Then his next move is definitely to fire you! If Zenith Group treats you like this, there's no point signing this contract at all!"

I didn't quite believe Percy would be cold enough to go that far.

"Mr. Lambert, my boss shouldn't do that to me."

The moment the call ended, an email popped up on my phone.

It was the termination notice Percy had already approved.

The reason for termination: low competence since joining, and poor moral conduct.

I sat there stunned for a long time, my heart like a plum steeped in ice water.

Ignoring the doctor's objections, I insisted on discharging myself and went to the office.

The moment I walked in, every gaze on me was full of scorn and mockery.

"Well, if it isn't our stripper queen!"

"How does she still have the nerve to show her face here!"

"Do you guys smell that? I feel dirty!"

I ignored them and headed straight for Percy's office.

But out of nowhere, a male coworker I'd once rejected without mercy jumped out, tipped up my chin, and drawled:

"Muriel Simmons, I hear you'll do anything to land a deal. How about I hand you a few clients, and you give me a rock-bottom price?"

The crowd burst out laughing.

"Rock-bottom price, please! If they're handing clients over to her for free, it'll obviously be free too!"

The laughter drew Percy out.

He stepped out of his office to see exactly this: Everard Chavez pressed up against me.

He flew into a rage on the spot.

"Everyone, overtime tonight!"

"Muriel Simmons, get in here!"