I looked at the printed resignation form, and whatever shred of goodwill I still had evaporated on the spot.

They'd really come prepared.

They'd even printed the resignation letter for me.

"And if I don't sign?" I asked calmly.

"Don't sign?" Tasha let out a cold laugh. "Chloe, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. The core data is all on our servers now, and we've already changed the passwords. If you don't leave, just wait for tomorrow's acceptance review—you'll be left high and dry.

"When the client blows up and the company investigates, you, as the nominal project lead, will take the fall for everything."

It was a naked threat.

Using the authority I'd given them to turn around and choke me with it.

"Chloe, if you sign it, I won't make things too ugly for you. After all, we were colleagues once." Tasha suddenly switched to a tone of feigned concern. "I've been thinking about your future, too."

She pulled a wrinkled recruitment flyer out of her pocket.

"My aunt manages logistics. They're short a cleaning team leader. It's dirtier and more tiring, sure, but at least it's stable.

"It's right on this floor. If we have empty bottles left over after drinks, we can save them for you to sell. How about that?"

Patricia covered her mouth and laughed. "Tasha, you're really something. You even lined up her next job. But cleaning does suit Chloe—hasn't she been doing all kinds of odd jobs these past few months anyway?"

Vinny chimed in with a grin. "Yeah, Chloe, look how good we are to you. We even paved a way out for you. Shouldn't you be thanking us already?"

I stared at Tasha coldly.

"You want me to clean toilets? This is what you call planning for my future?"

"Don't be picky," Tasha said righteously. "With your current abilities, getting into logistics at all is already more than you deserve. I only pulled strings for you out of old sentiment. Plenty of people would kill for this chance and still wouldn't get it."

I nodded, then poured the water from my cup onto the floor.

"Fine. Since you're all so capable, I'm done with this project."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Behind me came their triumphant cheers.

"I told you she was a paper tiger—one scare and she folded!"

"This is great! Money, money, here we come!"

I stepped out of the break room, took out my phone, and sent a message to headquarters.

"Inspection complete. Prepare to close the net."

When I returned to my desk, my computer had already been locked.

A glaring red "ACCESS DENIED" flashed on the screen.

Petty—more so than I'd even expected.

Tasha sashayed over, looking down at me from above.

"Oh, Chloe, sorry about that. My hand slipped just now, and I deleted your account."

She said she was sorry, but her face was full of barely concealed glee.

"Anyway, you've already signed the resignation. No point keeping this computer. You should pack up early and make room for the new intern."

As she spoke, she kicked one leg of my chair.

Colleagues nearby shot over curious, uneasy looks.

I ignored her and quietly packed up my personal belongings.

Seeing me stay silent, Tasha took it as fear and grew even more brazen.

"Chloe, don't blame us for being ruthless. That's the workplace—survival of the fittest. People like you, who coast by on connections, are bound to be eliminated sooner or later."

"Connections?" I paused and looked up at her. "Whose connections am I relying on?"

"Don't play dumb."

Tasha leaned closer and raised her voice. "Everyone in the company knows how you got in back then. If you didn't have some shady relationship with that former VP who resigned, do you think you'd still be sitting in this position?"

"Exactly," Vinny snickered. "You don't even dress that well—those bags you carry are probably knockoffs, right? Saved all your money to keep a pretty boy on the side?"

That smear was impressively vicious.

Not only did it erase my competence, it conveniently trashed my personal integrity too.

Sure enough, the murmurs around us grew louder.

"So that's how it is… no wonder she never works overtime."

"You never really know people…"

I looked at their faces and found it ridiculous.

Back when they needed my help, it was all "Chloe is beautiful and kind," "We owe everything to Chloe's support."

Now, for a bit of bonus money, they'd turned into rabid dogs in the blink of an eye.

"Are you done?" I asked.

I slipped the red folder into my bag and stood up.

"If you're done, move aside. Good dogs don't block the road."

"Who are you calling a dog?" Vinny snapped, his face twisted with humiliation and rage as he shoved me hard.

I couldn't dodge in time. I stumbled, my lower back slamming into the edge of a desk. Pain shot through me, so sharp I couldn't straighten up.

"Damn bitch! Don't push your luck! You think you can just leave? Not anymore.

"Pay up for the equipment you damaged earlier. That testing machine we used for last week's demo—the screen's scratched. You must've done it."

Vinny pointed at a dust-covered old computer in the corner. "Depreciation plus repair costs. Five thousand."

That computer was scrap—salvaged from the junk storeroom. I'd been using it to prop up a monitor.

"That machine was already decommissioned. It came from the scrap room."

"Cut the crap!" Tasha chimed in. "It was at your workstation, so you're responsible. Either you pay up, or we call the police right now and report you for damaging company property. If you don't pay, you can forget about passing any background check when you job hunt in the future."

These were the colleagues I'd once treated with my whole heart.

For five thousand, they'd thrown away every shred of dignity.

"I don't have a cent. Call the police if you want."

I hugged the cardboard box to my chest and headed for the door.

Tasha shot Vinny a look. He suddenly lunged forward and knocked the box out of my arms.

Documents, my water bottle, and a small figurine scattered across the floor.

And there—my external hard drive.

"What's this?" Vinny shouted. "Well, well, Chloe. So you dared to secretly copy company confidential data!"

Tasha pointed at the hard drive on the floor. "A commercial spy like you is a disgrace to the entire industry! We even treated you like a sister. Who knew you were this dishonest?"

The onlookers began to whisper and point.

"Wow, you'd never guess—she looks so proper, but she steals."

"I heard she was already shady back in her old department."

"So she doesn't just steal men, she steals company secrets too!"

"How did someone like her get in here?"

Seeing the crowd turn, the three of them grew even bolder.

"What's going on here?" A potbellied middle-aged man walked over.

"Mr. Jackman!" Tasha hurried up to the manager in a sugary voice and retold the story, embellishing every detail.

"How dare you commit crimes right under my nose? Chloe, you really have a death wish!"

Patricia leaned in, malice dripping from her tone. "Mr. Jackman, even if we've recovered the hard drive, what if she already transmitted the data? For safety's sake, shouldn't we destroy it?"

Mr. Jackman nodded. "Good point. We can't risk any leaks."

As he spoke, Tasha lifted my hard drive and smashed it hard against the floor.

The casing shattered, pieces flying everywhere.

My heart sank straight to the bottom. Inside were critical data I hadn't yet uploaded to the cloud.

These idiots had no idea what they'd just destroyed.

"You'll pay for this," I said, my voice cold as ice.

Mr. Jackman snorted. "Pay? You should be worrying about yourself. Security. Drag her out. Don't let her dirty our premises."

Two security guards stepped forward, roughly reaching for my arms.

I shook them off. "Don't touch me."

Patricia raised her phone and started snapping photos nonstop, chanting as she did.

"Everyone, take a good look—this is what happens to a corporate spy! Anyone who hires her in the future will be inviting disaster! Get out! Leave now, or I'll have security throw you out!"

Tasha, Patricia, and Vinny all flipped me off, exaggerating the shape of their mouths as they silently mouthed, Go—get—lost.

I smiled.

If they wanted to push things this far, then they had no one to blame when I showed no mercy.

"Fine. I'm leaving."

I picked up my bag and walked out without looking back.

I just hoped that this time tomorrow, they'd still be smiling so brightly.

The next morning, in the company's largest conference room, the project acceptance meeting began right on schedule.

Although I'd been "forced out," I was still the project's nominal lead, and my name remained on the client's invitation list.

So I deliberately changed into professional attire and arrived at the company entrance on time.

The moment I reached the front desk, I was stopped.

"Well, if it isn't Chloe the Great Idler."

Patricia, dressed in a brand-new red suit and flawless makeup, was directing Vinny as he moved materials around. When she saw me, she cried out theatrically.

"Why are you here? Got fired and still won't give up—came back to steal things?"

The young woman at the front desk looked torn. "Chloe, Mr. Jackman instructed us that your access card has been deactivated. You can't go in…"

"Did you hear that? You're not allowed in!"

Patricia folded her arms and strode over, chin lifted. "Today's a big day—headquarters' top boss is personally here for the acceptance. We can't afford someone with a stain on her record like you going inside. If you offend an important guest, we won't be able to take responsibility."

"Headquarters' top boss?"

"Scared now?" Tasha walked over as well, a thick stack of documents in her hands. "I hear HQ is taking this very seriously. The president himself is leading the team. We're about to show our faces in front of him. Once the acceptance goes through, promotions and raises are a done deal."

"As for you…" She looked me up and down and snorted. "You're only fit to carry trays at that coffee shop across the street."

"Why waste time talking to her?" Vinny urged impatiently. "Hurry up and chase her off. We don't need her bad vibes here."

Patricia's eyes flicked, and she suddenly smiled.

"Don't rush. Since she's here, why not let her go in? Let her watch with her own eyes as we collect the bonuses and receive commendations. That kind of contrast—doesn't it feel even better?"

Tasha immediately caught on. "You really think things through, Patricia. That's a kill without spilling blood."

Patricia turned to the front desk. "Let her in. Just say she's someone we invited… a cleaner. The conference room could use someone to pour tea anyway."

The receptionist didn't dare defy them and silently opened the door for me.

I said nothing and walked straight in.

The conference room was already full.

In addition to the client representatives, senior management was present. Mr. Jackman was at the front, fussing over the equipment like a lapdog.

When he saw me enter, his expression changed, and it looked like he was about to explode—until Patricia hurried over and whispered a few words in his ear.

After listening, Mr. Jackman broke into a malicious smile.

"Since you're willing to contribute what little value you have left, go stand over there. When the president arrives, be sharp about it. Don't let the tea run dry."

He pointed to a spot by the water dispenser in the corner.

There was a pile of disposable paper cups and a trash can beside it.

Everyone in the room looked at me, their eyes filled with mockery and disdain.

I walked to the corner, but instead of grabbing the cups, I pulled out a chair and sat down openly.

"Who told you to sit there?" Patricia shrieked. "That seat is reserved for leadership! Do you think you're worthy?"

"Get up! Go pour water!" Vinny rushed over, reaching out to grab me.

At that moment, the conference room doors were pushed open.