Chapter 2

I didn't touch the plastic trophy.

I looked up, meeting Mrs. Smith's face, stiff from too much botox.

"Mrs. Smith, if I'm not mistaken, the only thing Brittany did on this project was accidentally spill coffee on my original draft while I was pulling all-nighters revising the technical proposal twenty-three times."

"And I, to secure that fifty-million-dollar exclusive distribution right, practically lived under the Hayes Group building for half a month, ending up with a bleeding stomach ulcer from all the stress."

My voice wasn't loud, but every word resonated in the quiet banquet hall.

"Now you're telling me she gets a hundred thousand, and I get a fifty-dollar discount voucher? You call that having a 'bigger picture'?"

Mrs. Smith's face instantly changed.

She slammed her hand on the table, making the wine glasses hum.

"Luna Miller! What is your attitude?!"

"The company pays your benefits, gives you a base salary. Clients are company resources. You just ran an errand!"

"Without the company's backing, who do you think you are for Mr. Hayes of the Hayes Group to even know your name?"

She pointed at my nose, her shrill voice piercing everyone's ears.

"Don't think just because you closed one deal, you can get a big head! The company will run perfectly fine without you!"

Mr. Smith, the owner, waddled over with a glass of wine at that moment.

Always one to play the good cop, he patted his beer belly and chuckled awkwardly.

"Oh, Luna, Mrs. Smith speaks her mind, don't take it to heart."

"The company's cash flow is indeed tight lately, as we had to front the security deposit for this project. We're all pulling through tough times together, you know."

"As a veteran employee, you should be considerate of the company's difficulties. You're getting so much commission from this deal, why quibble over such a small amount of money?"

Considerate.

Pulling through tough times together.

Looking at the couple, I felt a surge of nausea.

Last month, when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, I mortgaged my own property to inject capital and help us survive the crisis.

At that time, they were vacationing in Hawaii.

Now that the fifty-million-dollar deal was secured, they wanted to talk about pulling through tough times together?

I stood up and ripped the fifty-dollar gift card from the plastic trophy.

"Since the company is in such dire straits."

I slapped the gift card onto Mr. Smith's chest.

"Keep this fifty dollars, Mr. Smith. Maybe buy some brain food."

"After all, you'll definitely need it soon."