Chapter 2

Chloe had been with me since she started her internship, acting as both an assistant and a general helper.

Honestly, whether she’d get her full-time offer in two weeks depended entirely on my signature.

Chloe received the file, remotely sent it to the printer, grabbed her water bottle, and headed to the print room, apparently intending to get some water as well.

Three minutes later, Chloe placed a stack of documents on my desk.

I stared at the code on my screen, grunted, and planned to give them to Derek later.

First, the new project topic list needed more discussion. I still needed to think it over and talk about the specifics with Derek.

Second, since the beginning of the year, our team lead had become surprisingly chill. He dragged his feet on projects even more than we did. I figured he wasn’t in a hurry.

I’d heard a rumor that he landed a massive side gig last year and raked in a fortune!

Honestly, working when you're broke, that’s sacrificing your soul!

But working when you're loaded? It's just... a lifestyle choice.

To be honest, if I weren't broke, I'd probably be just as chill…

"Al-Alex…"

Chloe hadn't left, her voice thick with tears.

"What's wrong?" I looked up and asked.

"Alex, look…"

My eyes scanned the printed documents, and I instantly flared up: "What the hell? Why did you print it in red ink? If I give this to Derek, he'd totally ream me out!"

"I didn't, Alex!" Chloe cried, her voice trembling. "I really didn't! I don't know how, but it just printed like this!"

"Is the printer broken? Then switch to another one and print it again!"

"I… I don't dare…"

"Huh?"

I glared at Chloe again, but the next second, I realized something was wrong, and my heart sank.

The words on the document were vivid red, abnormally so. Something wasn't right!

I ran my finger over the paper, and a bright smear spread!

This wasn't red ink at all. It looked more like… blood!

I shot up from my chair: "Which printer?"

"Number 3!"

"I'll go check!"

I took a step, but then my body tensed, and I froze: "Chloe, go back to your desk first."

Chloe meekly nodded, pulling her neck in, and sat back down.

"...Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger!"

That warning echoed in my mind.

Could it be…

"Ah…!"

Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the direction of the print room!

"Someone's dead!"