Chapter 2

Elena’s face instantly darkened.

"Chloe, what is that supposed to mean? There are only a few of us here. We’re supposed to trust each other."

"We're trying to clock out, and you want to do a full recount? Are you implying that I, your manager, am doing something shady?"

The moment she said this, the other girls in the store shot me hostile glares.

Lara, a junior sales associate, slammed her purse onto a chair.

"Seriously, Chloe? Cut it some slack."

"Elena is always nice to you. She literally covered your shifts last month when you took time off. Is it really that hard to just sign a paper for her today?"

On the other side of the room, Vicky rolled her eyes so hard they almost went to the back of her head.

"Right? I'm starving. My boyfriend is literally waiting for me in the parking lot."

"There are three hundred bags in there. Do you know how long a recount will take? You want us all to stay here and waste our time? Our time is money too, you know!"

I pushed the inventory sheet right back to Elena.

"Section 8 of the company handbook states that the year-end inventory must be verified by at least two employees physically present."

"There are three hundred limited-edition bags in that vault, valued at over $400,000. If anything goes wrong, we're all screwed."

"If any of you want to take financial responsibility for nearly half a million dollars, feel free to sign it."

I picked up the pen and thrust it toward Lara.

Lara flinched, taking a sharp step back.

"I'm just a junior associate. I don't even have signing authority. Don't look at me."

Vicky quickly turned around, pretending to be very busy organizing her locker.

The moment money and legal liability were brought up, the people who were screaming to go home suddenly became mute.

Seeing this, Elena tapped her fingers impatiently on the counter to draw my attention.

She let out a dramatic sigh, putting on a helpless face. "Chloe, is this because I deducted thirty dollars from your bonus last month for missing your cleaning shift? Are you seriously holding a grudge and trying to punish everyone for that?"

[She's trying to distract you.]

[She wants to frame your professional audit as a petty personal vendetta.]

[Don't fall for it. Go straight to the vault.]

I turned around and walked toward the vault at the end of the hallway.

"Elena, a thirty-dollar bonus is a small thing. Half a million dollars of inventory is not."

"I'm opening the door now. If everything is in there, I will sign immediately."

Elena’s face turned pale.

She sprinted over in her high heels, spreading her arms to block the vault door.

"Nobody is opening this door today!"

"I am the store manager! If I say the inventory is fine, it is fine!"

"If you insist on forcing your way in, you are questioning my professional integrity. Think carefully about the consequences, Chloe!"