The next morning, as soon as I arrived, Linda from HR walked over to me.

“Caroline,” she said, her expression awkward, “I need to talk to you.”

She pulled a document from her briefcase.

“The company has decided to put you on a one-week observation period.” She avoided my gaze. “Your future role will be determined based on your attitude this week.”

“Observation?” I laughed softly. “You mean demoted and on unpaid leave.”

Linda blushed. “Caroline, you know I don’t want to do this, but it’s a decision from the top…”

“I understand,” I cut her off. “So who’s taking over my clients?”

“Lia,” Linda said quickly. “She’s been officially promoted to Senior Client Director and will be responsible for all major client accounts. So, you’ll need to transfer all your current client resources to her.”

Senior Client Director.

It seemed Claude had given her more than just my office; he’d given her a brand new title.

When I walked back into the office that was once mine, I barely recognized it.

The abstract painting on the wall had been replaced with gaudy decorative art. My carefully chosen minimalist furniture was gone, replaced by gilded, faux-Baroque pieces. The entire space looked like a nouveau-riche living room.

Lia sat behind the desk in a new Chanel suit, flipping through the client files I’d left behind.

“You’re here?” she said without looking up. “Have a seat.”

I sat down in the visitor’s chair. This little power play was... interesting.

“I need you to brief me on a few key clients,” Lia said, picking up a file. “Especially this one, Arthur Wellington. Tell me what he likes.”

Arthur Wellington.

A small smile played on my lips.

“Arthur is very important,” I nodded. “He’s an avid golfer. Plays at the Westchester Country Club.”

Lia’s eyes lit up as she quickly jotted down the information.

It was all true.

Arthur Wellington did have those hobbies.

I just didn’t tell her that Arthur Wellington was my uncle, and his interest in partnering with us was purely a favor to me.

And I certainly didn’t tell her that the Westchester Country Club was one of my family’s businesses.

Lia closed her notebook, looking smug. “Perfect. I’m sure I can close this deal now.”

“Since you’ve been so cooperative, I’m in a good mood. I might even put in a good word for you with Claude.”

I ignored her childish boasting and drove straight to the Westchester Country Club.

Robert, the club manager, hurried over to me. “Miss Caroline, how may I assist you today?”

“Robert, I need to make some changes to my membership,” I said directly. “From today onward, no one is permitted to enter the club using my VIP card or my name unless I am physically present.”

Robert nodded. “Understood. I’ll inform the front desk and security immediately.”

“Also,” I continued, “if they try to apply for a new membership to get in, they are to be denied.”

“I understand, Miss Caroline. We will enforce these rules strictly.”

After handling things at the club, I waited on the curb for my driver.

The autumn sunset in New York was beautiful. The leaves on the sycamore trees were turning yellow, and pedestrians hurried by in light jackets.

Just then, a black Maybach turned the corner and pulled up beside me.

I recognized it as Claude’s car.

The window rolled down, revealing Claude’s fake smile.

Lia was in the passenger seat, wearing her new Chanel suit, reapplying her lipstick.

“Well, well, Caroline!” Lia said, deliberately lowering the window, her voice filled with exaggerated surprise. “What are you doing here? Waiting for the bus?”

Claude chuckled along. “Lia, don’t be like that. Caroline is probably just out for a walk.”

“We’re on our way to Le Bernardin to celebrate,” Lia said, showing off. “Celebrating me successfully taking over the company’s biggest client. Arthur Wellington is signing the contract with me tomorrow. An eighty-million-dollar investment!”

“By the way,” Lia added just before the window rolled up, “don’t forget to pay back that hundred and fifty thousand in three days! Or we’ll have to take it out of your stock dividends!”

The Maybach sped away with a roar, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust.

I watched the car disappear down the street, and my expression turned to ice.

For the next week, I followed the company’s rules to the letter.

I clocked in at 8:59 AM and clocked out at 5:01 PM.

Not a minute early, not a minute late.

I didn’t step out of the office once to meet with a client.

I was given a small cubicle in a forgotten corner, where I sat quietly, organizing unimportant files and occasionally replying to non-essential emails.

Lia, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of performative activity.

She wore a different designer suit every day, her makeup flawless, and paraded around the office with the latest Hermès bag.

Even more ridiculously, she posted an update on Instagram almost every two hours.

“Another busy day starts! Coffee in hand, ready to conquer the business world! #BossLady #Hustle”

“Lunch meeting with a potential client. Always networking, always growing! #Entrepreneur #Success”

…

Each post was accompanied by a picture of her pretending to be busy in the office or a staged shot of a business lunch.

But in reality?

From my corner, I had a clear view of her every move.

She spent most of her time shopping online, fixing her makeup in a compact mirror, or scrolling through social media.

The few calls she made all ended in failure.

“What? Not interested? But we’re a company with great potential…”

“Wait, don’t hang up, we can negotiate the price…”

“Hello? Hello? Damn it, they hung up again!”

Listening to her get rejected time after time, I felt nothing as I continued organizing my files.

By Wednesday, things had taken a noticeable turn for the worse.

The company was starting to have cash flow problems.

Claude found me.

“Caroline, you know the company is having financial issues, don’t you?”

I looked up at him, my expression innocent. “Financial issues? That’s a shame.”

“Don’t play dumb!” Claude hissed, his voice low but fierce. “You haven’t contacted a single client this week! You haven’t brought in a single dollar!”

“Claude,” I said, putting down my documents and looking at him seriously, “I’m simply following company policy. HR informed me that I’m on an observation period and need to reflect on my violations. If I were to go out and court clients now, wouldn’t that be defying the company’s decision?”

Claude’s face grew darker. “You…”

“Besides,” I continued, “hasn’t the company already appointed Lia as the Senior Client Director? Client retention and development are her responsibilities now. How can I, a suspended employee, overstep my bounds and do her job?”

Claude’s fists clenched. I could see the veins throbbing in his temples.

“Are you threatening me?” he said through gritted teeth.

“Threatening you?” I let out a small laugh. “I’m just a law-abiding employee.”

Claude stared at me for a long, hard moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“Fine. Just fine,” he said, his voice laced with malice. “You think this company can't survive without you? Fine. Watch me. I'm closing the Wellington deal and securing a huge round of funding. I don’t need you to bring in anything!”

With that, he turned to face the entire office and announced, his voice booming so everyone could hear:

“As of today, I, as CEO, am officially informing you all that Caroline is fired! Effective immediately!”

The office fell silent. Everyone stared, shocked.

I slowly stood up, feeling no anger or resentment, and gave a calm nod.

“I understand.”

Claude clearly hadn’t expected me to be so placid. He frowned. “You have nothing to say?”

“No,” I said, starting to pack my few personal belongings. “It’s the CEO’s decision. Of course, I’ll comply.”

My reaction seemed to unnerve him.

But at that moment, I was already planning my next move.

Back home, I took a contract out of my safe.

Claude had likely forgotten that the lease for the office building his company currently occupied was set to expire the next day.

I picked up the phone and called my real estate agent, Marcus.

“The lease on my office space in Midtown Manhattan expires tomorrow. I plan to re-list it. Can you arrange that for me?”

“Of course! That location is prime real estate. I have a few clients looking for a similar space right now.”

“Excellent. Tomorrow at 10 AM, bring the highest bidder to view the property.”

Marcus’s excited voice came through the phone: “Perfect. That spot is in high demand. There’s a security firm willing to pay double the current rent.”