Chapter 1

839words2026-01-19 04:22

Just as I was about to clock in late for work, a woman blocked my path right after I entered the building. "Newbie, don't you know the rules? Stepping in with your left foot first—that's a hundred-dollar fine!"

I opened my mouth to explain when she thrust her payment QR code in my face. "What's with that look? I'm the HR supervisor. Keep staring and I'll claw your eyes out!"

"Who do you think you're impressing with that pathetic expression? Can't pay up? Then don't bother showing up today—beat it!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity.

As the newly appointed CEO, I was genuinely curious to see how this petty HR supervisor thought she could force me out the door.

Everyone around seemed painfully familiar with this routine, scurrying into the building with downcast eyes.

Her badge prominently displayed her name: Ruby Carter.

I sighed and tried to explain: "You've got it all wrong. I'm actually the direc—"

Ruby cut me off with an icy snort:

"From now on, you don't call me 'you'—it's Miss Carter. When you see me, you smile. And those eyes of yours? They'd better stay down where they belong."

"To show proper respect, you'll treat me to dinner every weekend. And if your performance slips? Your entire month's salary becomes mine!"

Studying Ruby's arrogant posture, I noticed something odd. "HR supervisor appointments require specific procedures. Funny, I don't recall seeing your name on any appointment list."

Ruby's face flushed with instant rage. "What the hell? Are you questioning my position?"

"That's rich! You know the senior HR manager? He's my childhood friend—we practically shared diapers. Your job hangs by a thread, and he holds the scissors!"

As she ranted, she snatched my phone from my hand. "Just transfer the damn money already. All this talk just to avoid paying? It's only a hundred bucks! Cheapskate!"

Her brazen extortion made me laugh from sheer disbelief. No wonder Dad had insisted on tossing me into this subsidiary for "training" after graduation.

If a minor HR supervisor wielded power like a medieval lord, I could only imagine the corruption festering at the top.

"A senior manager? Please. That's barely a blip on the corporate radar."

I snatched my phone back with a contemptuous smirk.

She shoved me hard against the wall. "You little bitch! Taking the hard way instead of the easy one, huh?"

I caught her wrist mid-air as she tried to slap me.

A malicious smile spread across her face as her fingers darted to my throat, yanking my necklace away. "Well, this looks worth something. Since you're too broke to pay up, this'll do nicely instead."

My blood ran cold. That jade pendant was irreplaceable—a protective charm my mother had obtained from a temple years ago when I was deathly ill.

I had never taken it off since that day.

"Give that back to me. Now!"

Fury surged through me as I lunged for the necklace, but Ruby hurled it to the floor before I could reach it.

She ground her heel into it with savage delight. "Pfft! Thought it was something valuable. Just cheap junk after all!"

She jabbed a finger at my face. "God, I'm sick of you broke-ass interns! No money but flashing fake jewelry, playing pretend. If you've got the guts, why not earn real cash at the strip clubs!"

As she crushed my mother's gift under her heel, my body shook with rage. "Who the hell are you calling an intern? I'm the newly appointed CEO of this company. Now get the hell out!"

Ruby froze momentarily, then erupted into mocking laughter. "Oh, that's priceless! Someone barely out of college as CEO? Honey, you need psychiatric help!"

I knelt to retrieve the shattered pendant, brushing away the dust with trembling fingers. Suddenly, she grabbed a fistful of my hair. "So young and already delusional? That's a dangerous habit, sweetie!"

Pain seared through my scalp as she yanked upward. "Let go of me!"

"Who the fuck do you think you are to give me orders?"

She gripped my hair with both hands now, pulling with such violence I thought my scalp would tear.

Our struggle drew a crowd, their whispers and pointing fingers adding to the spectacle. "Jesus, did you hear? The new girl's claiming she's the CEO."

"What a nutcase! As if someone that young could run this place."

"Bet she slept her way to the top or something."

Now I understood why Dad hadn't simply announced my appointment with official documents.

This company was a snake pit—elevating sycophants while crushing others, with bystanders who watched the carnage with cold indifference.

He wanted me to establish my authority the hard way.

I smiled coldly. Ruby's pathetic attempt at intimidation meant nothing to someone with years of Taekwondo training.

In one fluid motion, I swept her legs and pinned her to the floor. "Who the hell do you think you are, putting your hands on me?"

A familiar voice cut through the chaos: "Stop this right now!"