Chapter 4

As soon as the engineering department restored the power, Dad called.

He asked me to get a crucial set of data from the marketing department.

He said this file was needed for the group's board meeting that afternoon, and I absolutely had to handle it personally, without any mishaps.

I took a USB drive, copied the data from the marketing director, and went to the print room.

I had just finished organizing the file, clipping the papers together, when the print room door was pushed open.

Leo sauntered in, holding a can of soda.

He immediately spotted the stapler next to my hand, his eyes lighting up.

"Hey, can I borrow this? My snack bag came open."

He said, reaching out to grab it as if it were his right.

Instinctively, I moved the file and stapler back, avoiding his hand.

All the files here involved company secrets.

His hand grasped empty air, and his body lurched forward from inertia. His foot caught on a cable.

The soda can in his hand flew out.

The brown liquid arced in the air, a precise parabola, and splashed, without missing, all over the confidential files I had just printed.

The thick stack of A4 papers was instantly soaked through with soda, becoming a sticky mess.

I stared at the ruined files, unable to maintain my detached composure any longer.

I looked up, my gaze locking onto Leo's face.

He showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, he seemed annoyed that I hadn't lent him the stapler.

My voice was icy.

"Can you take responsibility for the loss of this file?"

Leo was probably speaking to a company employee with such a questioning tone for the first time.

He froze for a moment.

Then, anger flared on his face.

"How dare you speak to me like that?"

"Do you even know who I am?"

He puffed out his chest, looking completely justified.

"I'm Ms. Hayes's husband!"

I looked at him, feeling absolutely nothing inside, even a little amused.

"Oh?"

I calmly retorted.

"Ms. Hayes's partner can just destroy company property at will? You can disregard company rules and regulations?"

My retort clearly challenged his authority.

He became enraged, pointing a finger at my nose.

"Of course, I can!"

"This company is all Ellie's, so it's *mine*! I can do whatever I want!"

"Who do you think you are? Some new hire, trying to lecture *me*?"

Colleagues who heard the commotion started gathering around.

They saw the scene and were too terrified to even breathe.

A few administrative staff members subtly tugged at my sleeve, their eyes pleading, urging me to apologize quickly.

I didn't move.

I just watched him calmly.

Seeing me unfazed, Leo felt he was losing face in front of everyone.

He pulled out his phone, a smug, cold smile on his face.

"Fine, you want to be tough, huh? You think I can't handle you?"

"I'll have *your* boss tell you who I am, and who *you* are!"

He directly FaceTimed Ellie.

The call connected quickly.

He held the phone screen towards himself, ready for Ellie to back him up.

The moment the video call connected, Leo's voice immediately turned aggressive.

He spoke into the camera, his voice full of righteous indignation:

"Ellie, how do you even run this company? A new hire dared to bully me!"