After passing five rounds of interviews, I secure an offer from Larson Group based on my own abilities.

I can't wait to share the good news with my boyfriend, Noah Gardner. However, he reports me to HR, causing me to lose the job.

"Isabelle can't find a job and is really anxious, so I gave the position to her. You can just send out a few more resumes. It's not like a few extra days matter," he said nonchalantly.

After Isabelle Buchanan starts working at Larson Group, everyone showers her with praise.

I laugh in exasperation and call my older brother. "Mr. Larson, can our company hire me as the CEO's executive assistant?"

Jacob Larson, my older brother, gasped on the other end of the phone before chuckling. "What, has our heiress finally understood how cruel society can be and decided to return home to take over the family business?"

There was silent support and encouragement in his familiar, lighthearted teasing.

Unfortunately, I was in no mood to joke. "Yes. I'd like to go back. Can you arrange it?"

Sensing something amiss, Jacob had a feeling that I was upset and hurt. He wasted no time in agreeing to my request. "Come back, then. The doors of Larson Group will always be open to you."

I'd just hung up when Human Resources called to apologize and rehire me.

Not long after, Noah Gardner called. "Eloise, it's been a day since you've given me the cold shoulder. Have you calmed down?"

He spoke arrogantly, putting on what he thought was a generous front.

"Cut me some slack. Isabelle couldn't get a job and ended up sick from anxiety. Try to understand, Eloise."

Tears sprang to my red-rimmed eyes as I shook with anger. "I'm your girlfriend, yet you reported me to HR because of Isabelle Buchanan! That's outright betrayal, Noah!"

"I mean, it's not like I had a choice!" Dismissive of my concerns, Noah launched into a lengthy analysis as if I were a child in need of lecturing. "Isabelle couldn't find a suitable job and got so anxious that she'd burst into tears for seemingly no reason.

"The work at Larson Group is simple but pays well, and the company has a great platform. It's perfect for her.

"Besides, you're highly competent; you could get a new job with just a few more applications. I don't know why you're getting so worked up."

I sputtered. "You knew that I stayed up late for several nights in a row and was super stressed over this job, Noah.

"I only applied to Larson Group because you have an internship there, but you made a report about me just as I was about to get in! What's the big idea?"

Upon hearing this, Noah growled, "Is your heart made of stone, Eloise? How have I never realized this selfish side of you? Isabelle is your junior, so shouldn't you help her out?

"It's just a job. Are you going to suffer humiliation over it?"

"Did you just snap at me?"

My hands and feet went cold. I couldn't believe these scathing words had come out of Noah's mouth. "If it's 'just a job', why did you report me and let Isabelle in instead? Why not let her find her own job?"

"Why should we go through the trouble when there's already a position open?" Noah seemed pleased with my misfortune. "Just hand in a few more applications.

"In the time you took to hash things out with me here, you could have been job-hunting. You're just wasting time here!"

He let out a long sigh. "Eloise, I've always thought of you as generous and gracious. I never expected you to be so petty. I'm really disappointed in you.

"Are you taking this out on me because you flunked the interview and couldn't show off in class?"

The venomous words stabbed through my heart and made it bleed. Petty, he'd called me. Why should I have to be petty about an internship?

His internship at Larson Group was the only reason I even bothered with the interview in the first place. I'd simply wanted to be with him.

If I'd wanted to get into Larson Group, Jacob would only need to say the word, and I'd be appointed to management. The internship was nothing to me.

But I didn't want to waste my breath on Noah. My heart was shattered. All I wanted was to get back at Noah and Isabelle and have them punished.

I sighed quietly, but Noah seemed to think I'd compromised and been forced to accept his decision. Emboldened, he pointed out with mock charity, "Alright. I know you've had it hard. How about I hook you up with a few smaller companies?

"One of them is bound to take you in. It won't be like working for Larson Group, of course, but it's still a decent jumping-off point for you."

He was insistent, as if he were granting me some heaven-blessed favor.

I cut him off coolly, "No, thanks."

Noah snorted. "You're graduating soon. Are you sure you can land a good job without me?"

"Oh, I'd hate to bother you, Noah. God forbid I get through an interview only for someone to report me, then swoop in and steal my job before I even start. I'll figure out my own career, so you and Isabelle can quit worrying your pretty little heads."

My sarcasm pissed him off. "At least show some self-awareness, Eloise! You wouldn't have passed Larson Group's interview without my coaching! Use your brain, woman. You're nothing without me!"

Bullshit! Who did Noah think he was?

I wanted to swear at him, but my voice of reason prompted me to shut my mouth. I had to keep it together until I could show Noah and Isabelle how wrong they'd been to underestimate me.

I took a deep breath. "All I'm saying is that you won't have to worry about me. I'll figure this out."

Pleased by my apparent acquiescence, Noah eased up and replied, "I'm glad you've come to your senses. Now, stop brooding and prepare for your next interview.

"In the meantime, I'll check on Isabelle and see how she's doing. She was so wrecked with guilt about this, she couldn't even eat."

"Sure." I hung up calmly, refusing to say anything else to him.

Larson Group sent me a new letter of employment. This time, I was recruited not as an intern, but as an official employee.

I'd just filled in the application when Noah texted me again. "Are you applying for jobs? Have any other companies reached out with an interview invite?"

"I didn't apply," was all I wrote back.

My answer caught Noah off guard. He appeared to be at a loss.

A while later, he decided on an appropriate reply. "Well, that's job hunting for you. It takes time. Also, Isabelle is unbelievably kind. After hearing I'd reported you, she felt so bad that she offered to buy you a meal to properly thank you."

Through the screen, I could picture how disingenuous Isabelle and Noah were. I doubted Isabelle wanted to buy me a meal as much as she wanted to poison me at the dinner table.

Before I could respond, Noah followed up with, "By the way, I need a favor from you."

There it was.

I girded myself, fixing my icy gaze on the phone screen as I waited for his text. "Isabelle's starting at Larson Group soon. It so happens that the rookies have plenty to do during their training.

"I'm concerned that Isabelle won't be able to cope with the work. She is, after all, just a young lady."

"Could you give her the materials on Larson Group you'd compiled before? You won't need them anyway."

I clenched my fists.

I stayed up late compiling those materials alone in the library and emerged with bloodshot eyes, only to secure an internship offer from Larson Group. Noah had only ever texted me and urged me to go home, annoyed that our calls were getting in the way of his gaming.

He'd never sympathized with me for working so hard, yet he'd joined hands with Isabelle to steal the internship right out from under me.

And now, he was casually asking for the results of my blood, sweat, and tears so he could gift them to my replacement.

I was so disgusted by Noah that I almost retched.

Noah pressed me relentlessly when I didn't reply. "It's not like you've found a job. You must be bored being all by yourself. How about you help Isabelle with her work remotely so she can breeze through probation?

"Larson Group is a behemoth. You could stand to learn a thing or two by working remotely for Isabelle. The way I see it, it's good for you."

I took a deep breath, bottling my rage.

I could refuse to cough up the research I'd done on Larson Group, but that wouldn't do any good for the payback I'd planned for Noah and Isabelle. This was a long game, and my wholehearted performance was the key to winning it.

Tapping on the screen, I punctuated each word with cold contempt. "Sure, no problem. Leave it to me."

Noah was extremely pleased about this, but probably thought that he could take his disgusting behavior further.

He made me a big, fat, empty promise. "Don't worry. I'll put in a good word for you with management once Isabelle's secured her footing at Larson Group.

"Maybe then, if the right opportunity comes along, you'll be recommended to work in one of the company's subsidiaries."

Subsidiaries? Please. The entire Larson Group was run by my family. I didn't need Noah to put in a good word for me with anyone.

I snorted inwardly as I read Noah's charitable offer.

Very well, then. I'd like to see what other tricks this weasly pair could pull.

Oblivious to my inner monologue, Noah wrapped up our conversation with a brief, "Alright. Talk to you later. Isabelle called me. Send me the materials, okay?"

I toss my phone aside, shed my composure, and bolt into the restroom to retch. My disgust for Noah and Isabelle had reached its peak.

I ignored all their texts after that. Instead, I reached out to the C-suite of Larson Group for more information about my onboarding process and the purview of my role.

The next day, Isabelle's texts went off in the class group chat.

She first sent a pretty picture of herself at her intern workstation in Larson Group, followed by a profound caption that read, "With new environments come new challenges. I'm grateful to take them on with the help and guidance of a certain someone."

The "certain someone" was no mystery, for she deliberately tagged Noah.

The group chat blew up at once with our peers, all oblivious to the truth, congratulating her. They also rallied to persuade Noah and Isabelle to buy them a celebratory meal.

Noah replied to Isabelle's loaded text with an even more loaded hugging emoji. Their back-and-forth continued for some time, as loving banters did.

I snorted at their crude performance and wished them the best. I hoped their love lasted forever.

The day before my official first day at Larson Group, I kept count of the minutes and seconds that ticked by as I readied to leave home.

As expected, I hadn't gone far from my place when I accidentally-on-purpose ran into Noah and Isabelle, who were walking in the opposite direction.

The latter was dressed in brand-new work attire, head to toe in designer. Delicate makeup colored and accentuated her face, which was awash with a happy glow as she linked arms with Noah.

Noah was staring at her with concern as he muttered something to her, presumably sweet pleasantries, looking like the perfect boyfriend.

But when he noticed me, his gaze immediately became critical. He appraised my well-worn blouse and nondescript slacks, her eyes full of arrogance as he openly judged me, the pathetic loser.

I met his silent critique fearlessly. "Get out of the way."

Noah frowned at my comment. He cleared his throat, then said in an authoritative tone, "Eloise, how are the materials coming along? I figured I'd save you a trip and head over to your place with Isabelle."

I highly doubted they wanted the materials more than they wanted to mock me for my failure.

He eyed my outfit again. "Are you going for an interview? Did you get a job? Whereabouts is the company?"

Isabelle immediately dropped Noah's arm and stepped forward. She made to take my hand like we were old friends, but I smoothly dodged her touch.

Her hand paused mid-air, awkwardness flashing across her features. But she didn't take long to recover from the snubbing and resume her usual ostentatious, sickeningly sweet self.

"Eloise, don't be too hard on Noah. He was only looking out for me… How's job-hunting going for you? Would you like me to ask around? If you land a job near my workplace, we could even rent a place together!"

"No need. I'm not looking for a job," I said.

Isabelle's eyes twinkled wickedly. "What? Haven't you found a job? What are you going to do? The season for hiring soon-to-be graduates will be over soon!"

Noah looked grim. "That's incredibly lazy behavior, Eloise. I told you to apply to other companies as soon as possible. Are you expecting Isabelle and me to pay for your upkeep if you continue to be jobless?"

For some reason, his baseless sense of superiority nearly made me laugh.

Isabelle muttered something to placate him, then blinked her large, innocent eyes at me. "Eloise, if you're having trouble landing a job, I have a friend who's looking for an outsourced administrator.

"It's hard work, but you could learn something from it. I think it suits you."

An outsourced administrator? Me? Was this Isabelle's roundabout way of calling me incompetent and suited for menial work?

Beside her, Noah spoke up in favor of her ridiculous suggestion and began to lecture me as if he stood on higher ground. "Isabelle's right. It's about time you get a reality check, Eloise, and stop dwelling on fantasies.

"Not everyone could get into a big corporation like Larson Group. You only got the job offer the last time because you were lucky."

I stared at the pair of weasels before me. They sang the same tune as if they were already winners in life. To them, I was nothing more than a pathetic loser, disqualified and unwanted.

"Thanks for your concern, but I've already found a new job," was all I said.

Noah and Isabelle exchanged a look. Clearly, they didn't believe me.

The former sputtered. "Y-You found a new job? A small company, I bet. Tell us the name, and we'll see if it's a good fit for you."

Isabelle had the nerve to look worried. "Be careful, Eloise. You don't know if it's a scam. There are plenty of shady companies preying on college students desperate for work like you."

Their disgustingly pretentious expressions were a study in theatrics.

A snort escaped me. "You'll find out what my job is tomorrow."