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.

“Mr. Parker, actually, Ms. Clark violated company policy—”

“Shut up!”

Noah shot her a fierce glare.

He knew that bringing up company policy now would only make things worse.

Turning back to me, his tone almost pleading, he said, “Ava, I’m begging you. Please explain things to Mr. Parker. It’s just an internal conflict. We can settle it privately…”

I looked at him, so humbled now, and felt nothing.

“Mr. Anderson, now you’re worried about losing reputation? When you issued that notice criticizing me, why weren’t you worried then? When you had Winnie throw my things on the ground to be trampled, why weren’t you afraid?”

I lifted the box.

“Mr. Parker, I’m sorry you had to witness this. From today on, I have nothing to do with this company. I’m taking this car back, too.”

I took out my phone and opened the remote control in front of everyone.

Then I said softly, “Unlock.”

The next second, the car lights flashed twice, followed by two crisp beeps.

The lock was released.

“John, step out of the car,” I said.

John had been frozen in fear. Only after hearing me did he scramble out.

“Mr. Parker, if you don’t mind, I can drive you to your next appointment. As for this company…”

I glanced at Noah, slumped on the ground, and Winnie, crying uncontrollably.

“I think they’d be better off taking a taxi to their meetings.”

Damien couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Good! Ms. Clark, I like your style! As it happens, I have a new project that needs a reliable partner. Shall we talk on the way?”

Noah completely panicked.

He knew very well that if Mr. Parker walked away, the company would lose its biggest source of funding.

“Mr. Parker! Please don’t go! We haven’t finished discussing our cooperation!”

He rushed forward, trying to grab Damien.

The bodyguards immediately stepped in to block him.

“Mr. Anderson,” Damien said coldly. “Before doing business, learn how to be a decent person. Without integrity, business won’t last.”

With that, he walked toward the back seat of my car.

I opened the door.

“Mr. Parker, please.”

Then I got into the driver’s seat.

The engine roared to life with a low hum.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Noah collapsed on the ground, his face ashen. Winnie covered her face, crying uncontrollably.

The colleagues who had once mocked me all stood frozen at the entrance, their expressions panicked.

The car slowly drove out of the park, leaving all the chaos and humiliation behind.

“Ms. Clark, that was beautifully done,” Damien said with a smile from the back seat.

“You’re too kind,” I replied calmly.

“But,” he continued, “are you really just going to leave like this? That’s letting them off too easily.”

I glanced at the clock in the car.

The agent should have arrived at the building by now.

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from the agent. [Ava, we’ve arrived downstairs. Mr. Anderson looks in bad shape, and the front desk won’t let us in.]

I replied.

[Call the police directly and report illegal occupation of my property. Give them copies of the lease and property documents.]

The response came quickly.

[Understood. We’ll handle it immediately.]

I put down my phone, a cold smile slowly forming on my lips.

The real show was just beginning.