As soon as Summer left, my uncle eagerly pulled a fishing rod out of the cabinet.

"My dear niece, how's your internship going? Think you can take over tomorrow? I want to go deep-sea fishing! Just got this new rod. I have to try it out!"

I shrugged helplessly. "Uncle, I've only been here for a few days. You better keep being the boss here for a while longer."

He told me that, per my request, he had only informed one senior executive about our relationship. No one else in the company knew. He wanted me to focus on my work, grow into the role, and take over as soon as possible so he could finally step down.

This company was founded by my grandfather, but both my mom and uncle were too carefree to take it seriously.

Grandpa adored his daughter, so after my mom sweet-talked him, my uncle was forced to take over the company.

Since I finally graduated, it was finally my turn to be dragged into the mess.

I knew my uncle had been itching to hand things away. It had taken some serious effort to keep him patient for this long.

When I returned to my desk, I saw Summer handing out chocolates.

A bootlicking colleague asked where they were from. They looked fancy.

She lowered her voice mysteriously. "Mr. Leeds brought them back from overseas for me. But I'm pregnant, so I can't eat too much sugar. I'll share them with you guys."

Everyone looked at her admiringly when they heard what she said. Someone even fanned the flames. "Wow, Mr. Leeds really takes care of you! And he doesn't have kids… Does that mean the company will be yours one day?"

Summer waved her hand shyly, feigning modesty. "What are you saying? Mr. Leeds and I aren't even related."

The suck-ups immediately chimed in like a well-rehearsed comedy act.

"Ohhh, we get it, we get it."

Get what, you morons?

Then someone started calling her CEO as a joke, and she completely lost herself in the moment.

So this was her game, dropping vague hints to let people misunderstand.

Summer's smug expression faded when she noticed my look of disdain.

She strutted over to me and said in a sickly sweet tone, "Sorry, Sophia, all the chocolate's gone. There's none left for you."

I waved it off, unfazed. "That's fine. I don't like chocolate anyway."

Besides, my uncle had stuffed my entire trunk with souvenirs.

She let out a sneering laugh. "Oh? Did your sugar daddy buy you some too?"

At those words, my colleagues exchanged glances. Some started whispering.

"No wonder she can afford such an expensive car."

"You guys heard? She didn't even go through an interview. She just got parachuted in."

"She was just in the boss's office alone. Bet her sugar daddy knows Mr. Leeds and told him to look after her."

"Must be some old guy."

"Screw this, I don't want to work hard anymore!"

I stood up, towering over Summer, and retorted without mercy, "Oh, right, of course! If a young woman drives an expensive car and eats expensive chocolate, she must have a sugar daddy, huh?

"Then when your mom gave birth to you, did she lose the baby and take something from the toilet home instead? Because your mouth sure smells like it!"

She turned purple with rage.

Storming back into the HR office, she immediately altered my attendance records for the month.

She had already been marking me late and leaving early every day just because I refused to give her a ride. At this point, she was fully abusing the little power she had.

Unfortunately for her, she had messed with the wrong person.

A moment later, as if still unsatisfied, she messaged me on WhatsApp.

[Your team hasn't completed the referral task this month. You must recommend a few candidates for interviews and ensure at least one gets hired. Otherwise, it will affect your internship evaluation.]

I chuckled. If my fishing-obsessed uncle saw this, he might just apply himself.

Before I could even reply, she sent a few more messages.

[I've seen plenty of clueless rookies like you who think they can 'fix' workplace politics just because they learned a few snappy comebacks. You're no match for me.]

[Get someone with a nice car to join the company, and I'll let your past disrespect slide. I'll even fix your attendance records.]

[It's your turn to drive me home today. Also, remember to pick me up tomorrow morning and bring me breakfast. A bacon sandwich with two extra eggs.]

Not worried about high cholesterol, huh?

As soon as she saw I had read the message, she quickly retracted the last three texts.

Of course, I had already taken a screenshot and dropped it into our rant group chat.

[Any rich kids looking for a job? Playing alone is getting boring. Join me!]

My best friend, Cindy Smith, responded almost instantly. [How could I miss out on such a great opportunity? Do you get a referral bonus?]

[Yep. 50 bucks for an interview, 200 for getting hired.]

[Deal! We'll split it 50-50. That's enough for a dinner.]

I grinned.

Cindy did not just have a nice car.

She was a race car driver.

Since Summer loved hitching rides so much, we would let her have the ride of her life.

As expected, five minutes before the end of the workday, Summer's message arrived, [Remember to pack up early and clock out on time.]

I sent her a picture of my uncle's old second-hand car. [Mhm, this is tonight's ride.]

[?]

[.]

After work, I grabbed my keys and rushed to HR to find her, only to be told she was already downstairs waiting for her rideshare.

How boring.

40 minutes later, Summer sent me a screenshot of her ride receipt.

[38.79. Just give me 40. I can't keep expensing rides. This should be your responsibility.]

I ignored her and instead messaged my uncle. [Dear Uncle, has Summer from HR ever saved your life?]

He replied with a single question mark.

Then, I responded to Summer, [Summer, I found a friend to interview. She'll pick you up for work tomorrow morning! I'll deduct the fare from my referral bonus.]

She replied instantly, [What car? Send me a picture.]

After seeing Cindy's limited-edition sports car, she could barely contain her excitement, though she still had to take a jab at me.

[Your friend is more capable than you.]

Then, she sent an address and ordered me to pick her up at 7:30 a.m. on the dot.

The next morning, Cindy and I arrived early, waiting outside Summer's building.

Right on time, she appeared—no, waddled, downstairs, supported by a pig-like man.

Summer, acting all high and mighty, said, "Sophia, there's still time. Have your friend lend my husband the car for a quick spin. He's been eyeing this model."

Cindy snorted. "Can he afford it? There are only three in the world."

"What did you say?" Summer did not seem to catch that.

I quickly smoothed things over. "She meant, oh, you're not buying it because you don't like it."

Summer rolled her eyes. "Cut the nonsense. Hurry up, we can't be late. I have to set a good example."

Cindy shot me a look. I winked back.

Her expression said, 'Should I let him drive it?'

Mine said, 'Up to you.'

Cindy glanced at Summer's greasy, grimy husband and muttered impatiently, "Summer, you have terrible taste. I really don't want him touching my car. He'll leave grease all over the steering wheel."

Summer did not hear her clearly.

I immediately stepped in again. "She means, you're living the good life. Your husband is so handsome. Just gripping the steering wheel makes him look like a dream."

Cindy panicked. "Wait, is that what I said?!"

Before I could smooth things over again, Summer suddenly stiffened.

She protectively placed herself in front of her pig-husband, eyeing us suspiciously. "I almost forgot what kind of people you two are. Don't think you can set your sights on my husband."

Then she turned to him. "Just go home. It's not even that great of a car. If you want to drive one, we can just test drive at a dealership."

Cindy muttered under her breath, "Limited edition! Even test driving requires a financial background check. How much money do they think they have?"

I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and shoved Summer into the car.