Chapter 1

It was the company's year-end dinner, and everyone was allowed to order one favorite dish.

When my turn came, Derek, the new intern, snatched the menu from my hands.

"That's enough. No more orders."

I ignored him and looked at the server. "I'd like a salmon fillet, please."

Derek slammed the menu hard against my cheek.

"I said no more orders!"

A red welt rose on my skin. Heat rushed to my face.

I picked up the menu and slammed it straight back into his.

He shrieked, then roared, "Do you have any idea who I am? My mother is Evelyn Jonathan-this company's biggest client! Even your CEO wouldn't dare touch me! I'll bet you fifty grand your bonus vanishes and you never work in this city again!”

I froze.

Evelyn Jonathan was my aunt. She'd been single for forty years.

Since when did she have a grown son?

Seeing me stunned and silent, Derek grew even more smug.

"What, cat got your tongue? A kept boy like you, coasting on your face-your presence at this dinner pollutes the room. You think you're fit to order a single dish?”

Coasting on my face?

I'd pulled all-nighters drafting proposals. I'd worked eight-hour days on-site until I was sunburned beyond recognition. And he had the nerve to say that?

I pushed back my chair and stood, meeting his glare head-on.

"Watch your tone, Derek. I earn my results. My work speaks for itself. You have no right to talk to me like that.”

"This dinner isn't on your dime. If I'm not fit to order, then neither are you. No wonder the air felt foul the moment I walked in-you've been spewing garbage."

The entire room of colleagues lowered their heads, trying to hide their smiles. They had long been fed up with Derek's arrogance.

In the month he'd been interning, he treated every colleague like a personal servant.

Chloe, a new employee, once refused to get him coffee.

He then poured a full cup of hot coffee over her head, scalding her scalp and leaving a blister.

Not only did he not apologize, but he also threatened Chloe.

"If you dare make me apologize, I'll make sure you're fired!"

In the end, the company had to cover her medical bills.

I had wanted to step in at the time, but my colleagues held me back.

I was baffled why they all seemed angry but too scared to speak up.

Turns out, they were intimidated by his title as "Evelyn Jonathan's son."

Derek's face flushed crimson with rage, and he pointed a finger at my nose, yelling, "Leo! Don't try to out-talk me. This company would go bankrupt without my mom's support, I'm telling you, I call the shots at this dinner! If I say you can't order, then you can't!"

"Who the hell do you think you are, getting arrogant with me? If you dare order one more dish, I'll make sure you're out of here tomorrow!"

The server looked at me awkwardly after hearing this.

"Sir, would you still like to order the dish?"

"Yes!"

I blurted it out without hesitation.

I just couldn't believe it. I brought in tens of millions in revenue for the company with a single project. And I wasn't even allowed to order one dish?

"What's all this commotion about?"

Mr. Henderson, the CEO, pushed open the door, his face clouded with displeasure.

"Company dinners aren't for arguing. What's going on?"

Derek didn't give anyone a chance to speak, twisting the entire story with a look of feigned grievance.

Before I could explain, Mr. Henderson's stern gaze landed on me.

"Leo, you've been with the company for a year now. Don't you know frugality is a company principle?"

"Derek is doing this for the company's benefit. Are you really going to starve if you don't eat one extra dish?"

"And hitting someone is even worse. You need to apologize to Derek right now and pay him ten thousand dollars for emotional distress. Then, we can put this matter to rest."

I almost laughed, but it came out as a sneer, as I stared directly at him.

"Mr. Henderson, are you sure you want me to apologize and pay compensation?"

Mr. Henderson's expression was unreadable, and Chloe quickly tugged at my sleeve.

She whispered, "Leo, don't be stubborn. Derek is Evelyn Jonathan's son, you can't afford to offend him. Mr. Henderson is really counting on Derek to close the deal with Skyward."

I couldn't help but scoff.

"He says his mom is Evelyn Jonathan, and you all just believe him? Did he show up with his birth certificate and a family tree?"

Chloe pulled out her phone and opened Derek's social media.

"It's true. Ms. Jonathan herself brought him on his first day."

I looked at the photo and nearly dropped my jaw.

My breathtakingly beautiful aunt, looking absolutely radiant, stood in front of a luxury car, and next to her was indeed Derek.

Derek had even captioned the post:

"Thanks, Mom, for taking time out of your busy schedule to bring me to my internship. I won't let you down."

I immediately called my aunt, but the call went straight to voicemail.

Seeing my refusal to apologize, Derek looked at me with an evil glint in his eye.

"Leo, don't you dare regret this. I'll make you pay for it!"