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?”

I glanced at the hand gripping my arm, frowned, and stepped back, pulling free.

“Mr. Anderson, if the car’s broken, you should call a mechanic. Why are you asking me? I don’t fix cars,” I said calmly.

“Don’t play dumb! You’re the only one who can control this car!” Noah shouted, his eyes red. “Unlock it now! Mr. Parker is still waiting at the entrance!”

“Unlock it?”

I smiled and set the box down.

“Mr. Anderson, did you forget? Last Friday, Ms. Taylor took this car ‘under company management’. The keys are in her hands, and the management rights are with you. If something’s wrong with the car now, how does it have anything to do with me?”

“You…” Noah was trembling with anger.

Winnie ran over as well, her eyes red. “Ava! Did you do this on purpose? Are you trying to ruin the company? Do you know how important Mr. Parker's project is?”

“Of course I do.”

I nodded.

“But what does that have to do with me? I’m just an employee under suspension for self-reflection. Shouldn’t something as important as client reception be handled by someone like Ms. Taylor, who has ‘strong principles’?”

“Are you going to unlock it or not?” Noah’s tone turned threatening. “Ava, I’m ordering you to unlock it now!”

“Ordering me?”

I looked up at him, the smile gone.

“Noah, what gives you the right to order me?”

“Because I’m the boss!”

“The boss?”

I took out a document from my bag, which was a copy of the vehicle registration, and held it out to him.

“Then let me remind you that this car is my personal property. When it runs and when it doesn’t is up to me.

“Right now, I’m not happy. So it doesn’t move.”

Noah froze.

Winnie stood stiffly beside him. Even her sobbing stopped.

At that moment, a white car slowly pulled up to the company entrance.

The window rolled down, revealing Damien’s stern face.

Clearly, he had grown impatient and had his driver pull in directly.

His gaze swept over the immobilized car, over Noah drenched in sweat, the tearful Winnie, before finally landing on me holding a box.

Damien frowned, his expression darkening.

“Mr. Anderson, is this how your company receives guests?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a heavy pressure.

Noah hurried over, bending slightly with an apologetic smile. “Mr. Parker, I’m so sorry! The car suddenly had an issue. We’ll fix it right away!”

However, Damien didn’t look at him.

“Ms. Clark?” He stepped out of the car and walked over, glancing at the box. “Are you… leaving?”

I looked at him and gave a faint smile.

“Yes, Mr. Parker. This company has no place for me anymore. Even my own car has been taken. Being pushed out is only a matter of time.”

The air fell silent.

Noah’s face turned instantly pale, his body swaying.

…

Damien’s expression grew even darker.

After years in business, he understood the situation at a glance.

“Mr. Anderson,” Damien said, turning around, his voice low. “Three years ago, I chose to work with you because of Ms. Clark.”

Noah nodded frantically, sweat pouring down his face. “Yes, yes, Mr. Parker, this is all a misunderstanding—”

“A misunderstanding?” Damien let out a cold laugh. “You occupy Ms. Clark’s personal car and push her out of the company. Is that what you call a misunderstanding?”

He pointed at the car.

“I’ve sat in that car. Back then, Ms. Clark told me it was her personal vehicle used to receive clients. So how has it now become a misused company car?”

Winnie trembled at the side, opening her mouth to explain.