“No issues.” I handed over the spare key. “Do a full inspection, and upgrade the tracking system while you’re at it.”

“Of course. Is the car outside now?”

“No.” I gave a faint smile. “Someone will bring it in a couple of days.”

“Huh?” The manager looked confused.

“Just remember that once the car enters the shop, lock it immediately. Without my permission, no one is allowed to drive it away.”

Although the manager didn’t understand why, he still nodded.

“Understood. The car is registered under your name. We’ll follow your instructions.”

By the time I left, the sky had turned overcast, like it was about to rain.

I called a taxi back to the company.

Just as the car pulled up downstairs, I saw that white car driving out of the underground garage.

John was behind the wheel. Winnie sat in the passenger seat, and Noah was in the back, eyes closed.

They were heading out to meet a new client.

The window rolled down. When Winnie saw me standing by the roadside, she deliberately had John stop for a moment.

“Oh, Ava, waiting for a ride?”

She leaned out, smiling smugly.

“Mr. Anderson has a business engagement today, so we’re using the car first. It’s so hot out. Don’t overwork yourself. Head home early and take care of your kid.”

Noah opened his eyes and glanced at me.

“Ava, your taxi fare can be reimbursed.”

Then the window rolled back up.

The white car sped off, its wheels kicking up a splash of water that nearly hit my skirt.

I stood there, watching the taillights disappear into the distance, a cold smile slowly forming on my lips.

Reimbursed?

I smirked. "Noah, you’ve probably forgotten that the fuel card for that car is linked to my account."

Sure enough, not long after, my phone vibrated.

A notification popped up. [Your fuel card was charged eighty-five dollars at 3.30 p.m.]

Using my car, burning my fuel, doing their business, and then mocking me for taking a taxi.

These people were feeding off someone else, yet not the least bit ashamed.

I took a deep breath and dialed the customer service.

“Hello, I’d like to report a fuel card lost.

“Yes. Freeze it immediately.”

After hanging up, I opened the remote system.

On the screen, the vehicle was moving east at sixty miles per hour.

My finger hovered over the “remote lock” button, pausing for a moment.

Locking it now would be too easy on them.

If I were to lock it, it would be when it mattered most.

I closed the program and called another taxi.

“Sir, take me to the largest office leasing agency in the city.”

“Got it. Hold on tight.”

Since we were settling accounts, we might as well settle everything completely.

The office building that the company was using right now was actually my property.

Back when Noah had just started the business and couldn’t afford a decent place, I rented him this entire floor, left to me by my father, at a very low price.

Next month, the lease will be up.

Hadn’t Winnie been talking about cutting costs?

Then we’d start with the rent.

…

Over the next few days, I found myself unusually free, while Winnie was running around nonstop.

She had to sort out the operations department and prepare everything for Mr. Parker’s visit.

To her, that car was like a medal. Every day, she had John clean it multiple times, afraid even a speck of dust might land on it.

She also kept posting selfies in the car on social media, her captions bold and showy.

[Capability isn’t just written in a title. It’s reflected in the position you deserve.]

[As long as you do your job well, the effort is worth it.]

Quite a few colleagues liked and agreed, praising her as young and promising.

Only I knew that she was lighting the fire under herself.

On Friday night, I was at home building blocks with my daughter when Noah suddenly called.

“Ava, where are you?”

His voice sounded irritated.

“At home with my kid,” I replied calmly.

“Why isn’t the fuel card working? John went to fill up and said it’s frozen!”

“Oh, that’s a personal card I applied for. I lost it a couple of days ago, so I reported it,” I said, continuing to stack the blocks.

“You…” Noah choked for a moment, then shouted after a few seconds. “Unfreeze it immediately! We have an important client to pick up tomorrow!”

“To lift the freeze, I have to go to the counter in person. They’re closed on weekends, and I don’t have time.”

“Ava! Are you doing this on purpose?” Noah snapped. “It’s just some reimbursement. Do you have to be so petty? If this delays company business, can you take responsibility?”

“Mr. Anderson.”

I cut him off, my voice cold as ice.

“First of all, that was my card. I can stop it whenever I want. Second, if the company is using the car, why has it been charging my fuel card this whole time? The monthly fuel allowance Finance gives the driver, where exactly did that go?”

The line went silent.

That allowance did exist. However, where it ended up—Noah knew, as did John.

Before, I didn’t argue because I thought the company was just starting out, and everyone had it tough.

Now, I wasn’t going to tolerate it anymore.

“Fine, Ava. Fine.” Noah gritted his teeth. “The company will pay for its own fuel! From now on, don’t expect to benefit from anything in this company!”

“That’s fine,” I said lightly.

After hanging up, I looked out at the pitch-black night and let out a soft laugh.

The real show was just beginning.

On Sunday night, I made copies of all the receipts for the expenses I had covered over the years, and then I pulled out the lease agreement.

The contract clearly stated the end date, which was tomorrow.

If it wasn’t renewed, their continued use of the space would count as illegal occupancy.

After thinking for a moment, I sent a message to the agent.

[Tomorrow at 10 a.m., bring a new client to view the property.]

The reply came quickly.

[Got it, Ava. Your location is in high demand. A financial firm is willing to pay double the rent.]

[That works. As long as it’s not the current company, anyone can rent it.]

Once I had arranged everything, I poured myself a glass of red wine and gently swirled it.

Tomorrow was going to be lively.

Mr. Parker will be coming for an inspection. The agent will be bringing people to view the office. Winnie will also be trying to prove herself.

And I would start pulling in the net.

I took out a sheet of paper and listed everything that could be calculated, one by one.

Vehicle value: 4,000,000.

Purchase tax: 320,000.

Three years of insurance: 120,000.

Three years of maintenance: 100,000.

Three years of fuel: 80,000.

Rent difference: 1,500,000.

Salary advances: 600,000.

Total: 6,720,000.

That was only what could be calculated.

It didn’t include my connections or the three years of effort I had put in.

Looking at that number, I felt nothing but irony.

I had spent millions raising a group of ungrateful people.

Not only that, but they even turned around and accused me of taking advantage of the company.

A penalty of $128,000?

What a joke.

Tomorrow, I will make them pay it all back with interest.

…

The next morning, the company was filled with a tense yet excited atmosphere.

Everyone was pretending to be especially busy.

Winnie wore a brand-new white business suit, her makeup flawless. She stood straight at the company entrance like she was waiting for an inspection, her face full of anticipation.

John parked the car in the most visible spot at the entrance.

The car’s body was polished spotless. Even the tires were jet black, without a trace of dust.

Noah had also changed into his most presentable suit. He kept rubbing his watch nervously, his expression tense.

“How much longer until Mr. Parker arrives?” he asked urgently.

“He just landed. He should reach the park in about forty minutes,” Winnie replied immediately. There was undeniable excitement in her voice.

Meanwhile, I sat at my desk, slowly packing up my personal belongings.

Photo frames, a mug, a small potted plant, and neatly organized stacks of documents.

Everyone else was so busy tidying the office and adjusting the setup that no one paid attention to what I was doing.

Or rather, they didn’t care.

In their eyes, I was already a sidelined former director, while Winnie was the company’s future.

At 9.30 a.m., Winnie’s phone suddenly rang.

“Mr. Parker has arrived at the park entrance? Okay, okay, I’ll have the driver bring the car over to pick you up right away!”

As per usual protocol, to show respect, Mr. Parker’s convoy would stop outside the park, and we would send a reception car to escort him in. It was standard business etiquette.

Winnie immediately turned and shouted, “John, quick! Drive the car to the entrance to pick up Mr. Parker!”

John responded and got into the driver’s seat, pressing the start button.

Nothing happened.

He pressed it again, harder.

The car still didn’t move.

Sweat instantly formed on John’s forehead, his face turning pale.

“What’s going on?” Winnie rushed over in her heels, her voice sharp with urgency. “Hurry up! Mr. Parker is waiting!”

“It won’t start…” John fumbled with the controls. “It was fine just now. Why won’t it start all of a sudden?!”

“That’s impossible! Did you forget to press the brake?” Winnie stomped her foot.

“I did! I definitely did!” John hurried to explain.

Noah heard the commotion and ran over, his face dark.

“What’s going on? Why now of all times?” he asked, suppressing his anger.

“Mr. Anderson, the car… It’s locked.” John stared at the flashing red light on the dashboard, his voice trembling. “The anti-theft system activated. The engine’s locked.”

“What?” Noah’s expression changed instantly. He yanked John out of the seat and got in himself.

No matter how many times he pressed the ignition, the car gave no response.

It was like a massive white piece of scrap metal.

“Where’s the spare key?” Noah roared.

“In… in the admin safe,” Winnie stammered.

“Go get it!”

Winnie ran back into the company in a panic. Two minutes later, she rushed out, breathless, clutching the spare key.

However, even with the spare key, the car remained completely unresponsive.

This car’s anti-theft system was top-tier. Once remotely locked, no one without the owner’s authorization could start it.

Time ticked by.

At the park entrance, Mr. Parker’s convoy had already been waiting for five minutes.

Winnie’s phone rang again.

It was Mr. Parker’s secretary, and his tone was clearly displeased. “Mr. Anderson, what is the meaning of this? Are you going to keep Mr. Parker waiting outside?”

Sweat ran down Noah’s forehead, soaking into his collar.

Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at me.

At that moment, I was standing at the company entrance, holding a box filled with my things, watching the scene unfold.

“Ava!”

Noah strode over and grabbed my arm, his grip shockingly tight.

“Was this your doing? Why won’t the car start?”