Work was already bothersome enough.

Alas, I was unlucky enough to bump into my nemesis, Fiona, on my way home.

She was dancing away in front of a restaurant.

I initially thought about ignoring her and just walking by, but I stomped back after giving it some thought.

The more I tried to let it go, the more infuriated I felt. My anger had reached its boiling point.

So, I stood right before her and watched her dance with a murderous glare.

"You must work here as a server, don't you? Well, I'm going to dine here. Then, I'm going to file a complaint against you!" I declared.

The arrogance she had in the day was long gone.

Instead, she groveled and pleaded, "Why don't we sweep everything under the rug, huh? I'm not a server here. I'm just a dancer. This is my side gig. I'm actually an actor. I take on various odd jobs just to make a living. Please don't make things difficult for me."

Oh, how the table had turned. It was finally my turn to stomp her to the curb.

So, I crossed my arms over my chest and regarded her haughtily. "Why should I care? You certainly didn't care when you screwed me over during the day."

She continued to smile apologetically. "I wasn't targeting you per se, but someone did hire me to act that way."

I was taken aback.

Then again, it was true that it took a certain amount of idiocy to make those unreasonable demands.

I had considered all possibilities and even went as far as to suspect that she was mentally unsound. Yet, I never once thought she was a paid actor.

"Who hired you?"

She refused to spill the beans, citing professional ethics.

However, she did offer to withdraw the complaint in order to make it up to me.

I declined and told her that no sane company would entertain those unreasonable complaints.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but wonder just who would go as far as to hire an actor to file a complaint against me.

Although a promotion was dangling right above our heads, none of my colleagues could be considered my rival.

So, why did they do such a thing?

Unfortunately, I still had to work despite my annoyance.

I saw a notice at the entrance announcing my penalty as soon as I stepped into the company the following day.

It stated in black and white that I had been penalized with a deduction of 100 points due to a customer's complaint.

I wasted no time seeking out the director to ask just what was going on.

He languidly lifted his cup and took a sip. "Do you really have to ask? A complaint was filed against you, negatively impacting the company. You're merely being penalized according to company policy."

I couldn't take this lying down.

"Her demands yesterday were beyond ridiculous. Therefore, if we're talking about company policy, complaints like hers would usually be tossed aside. Besides, you shot me a look yesterday."

He placed the cup on the table with a clink, his displeasure obvious.

"When did I do such a thing? Even if I did, I must've done it to make you shut up and not further provoke the customer! Have you forgotten that our motto is that the customer is always right?"

I inhaled deeply and informed Connor what Fiona had told me, highlighting the fact that she was hired to file a complaint against me.

He hadn't even said a word when a derisive giggle burst to life.

"Gosh, Maya. You're hilarious. If you trust her, then you must believe me when I say I'm royalty!"

I turned to look at Anna, who was laughing so hard she could barely stand, and felt a surge of anger welling up within me.

Still, this wasn't the time for me to get even with her.

"Mr. Cole, you can give Fiona a call if you don't believe me. I kept her contact information. Plus, she's given me her word that she would come over and withdraw the complaint.

Connor frowned. "The penalty notice has already been issued. So, the complaint can't be withdrawn even if the customer rescinds herself. And another thing, your story is too far-fetched. Are you insinuating that someone in the office has spent money to hire an actor just to frame you?"

"Are you delusional?" Anna asked sardonically.

Tears welled up in my eyes out of frustration.

I was just about to continue defending myself when Anna's laughter interrupted me once again.

"Maya, Mr. Aloe works really hard every day. You should stop with your pranks," she said blithely. "Besides, it takes two to tango. The customer wouldn't have complained about you if you hadn't given her a reason to, right?"

I slapped her across the face. I had tolerated her long enough. "Well? How does that feel? Does it really take just two to tango?" Her eyes instantly turned red rimmed and she dashed out of the office, cupping her cheek with her hand.

I didn't need to guess as to where she was going. She was definitely making rounds around the company and telling everyone how I slapped her.

Connor choked on his spit out of sheer fury. He hacked and coughed before finally pointing at me and yelling, "How could you hit her? This is workplace bullying!"

Even though I wasn't the one at fault, I didn't want to expend any energy on this entire farce.

There was only one week left until the job promotion.

So, I threw myself into my work with a vengeance, working overtime whenever I could.

I would often skip meals just to take another customer's call.

Just the thought that I would be kissing these frustrating calls goodbye in a week's time once I was promoted gave me a boost that worked better than any meal.

Promotion day was finally here and I had managed to gather enough points. Since I was the employee with the highest score in my department, I knew that the interview was a mere formality.

Nevertheless, I still prepared my speech diligently and performed beautifully.

Alas, I nearly fell to a dead faint when the results were announced.

I didn't get promoted to manager.

Oh, no. The person who got the promotion was none other than Anna the intern.

I had been working for the company for five years. Meanwhile, she hadn't even completed her internship!

I couldn't help but read the announcement over and over just to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

All my years of hard work had turned into ash. That thought wrapped around my organs and squeezed, nearly suffocating me.

This had to be a mistake!

I burst into Connor's office, intending to demand an explanation.

He didn't even bother looking at me.

"You hit someone at work, so I have every reason to suspect that you would mistreat your employees if you're promoted. Besides, Anna was slapped for no reason. The promotion is her compensation," he said blandly.

I screeched hysterically, "If one merely had to get slapped for a promotion, then what about all my hard work?"

He sneered. "Tough luck."

His attitude made one thing very clear. Anna's promotion wasn't an above-board decision. Alas, there was nothing I could do.

No one would give a rat's ass if I filed a complaint about this.

Plus, Connor had the power to choose who would become the department manager.

Moreover, he was also the husband of the regional general manager.

He had only managed to become a director with her support.

I trudged to my desk, despair nipping at my heels. Then, I wrote a resignation letter.

Yet, I overheard a juicy conversation between Connor and Anna just as I was about to have him sign the papers.

"Dad, you weren't lying. You really made me a manager! I love you!" she squealed. "You should've seen the look on Maya's face when she saw the announcement. God, it was hilarious. I've never liked her."

The words coming out of Anna's mouth struck me like lightning, leaving me dumbfounded.

Everyone knew that the regional general manager and the director had no children.

So how could Anna be their daughter?

I curled my lips into a mirthless smile and tore my resignation letter into shreds.