Chapter 1

On Friday, I went to my dad's company to wait for him to get off work. I found an empty workstation and started playing games.

The CEO's secretary stormed over and yelled at me: "You've got some nerve playing games! Because of your negligence, the company missed a client email and lost twenty million dollars!"

"So, how are you going to pay for this?"

I shook my head, confused.

"I think you've got the wrong person. I'm not an employee here. I'm waiting for my dad to get off work."

She sneered repeatedly and slapped me across the face.

"Still pretending? Call the police! I suspect she's a corporate spy sent by our competitors!"

Tears welling up, I pulled out my phone watch and sent a message.

"Dad, your secretary hit me."

Dad must have been in a meeting—he didn't reply.

Secretary Eliot put her hands on her hips and snorted coldly:

"Look at all those designer brands you're wearing. Did you get them all by selling out the company?"

"Confess! How many deals have you sabotaged?"

She shoved me hard, and I fell heavily to the ground.

Mom taught me to be strong. I bit my lip and didn't cry.

"I didn't do anything. Why did you push me? Pushing people is bad."

Eliot shrieked and grabbed a handful of my hair.

"So rude!"

It hurt so much. I struggled desperately.

"Let go! You're hurting me! I'm going to tell my dad to fire you!"

Eliot mocked me brazenly: "Who does your dad think he is? Fire me? I'll have HR fire you right now, and you'll still have to pay the company twenty million in damages!"

She dragged me all the way to the HR department without giving me a chance to explain.

More and more employees gathered to watch.

Someone couldn't bear it and advised Eliot to stop.

She raised her voice to announce: "Don't be fooled by her pitiful act!

Because of her negligence, the company lost a twenty-million-dollar deal. Everyone's year-end bonus will be affected. I'm seeking justice for all of us!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Sympathy turned to disgust. No one spoke up for me anymore.

I kept calling out: "Dad, save me."

Eliot sneered contemptuously: "Is he your real dad, or one of those sugar daddies?"

"Shameless! With that seductive face of yours, entry-level employees only make five thousand a month base salary.

That Balenciaga you're wearing—did your sugar daddy buy it for you? And you dare to flaunt that Van Cleef & Arpels in public!"

Eliot yanked hard, and the necklace my mom gave me for my twelfth birthday broke.

"You evil woman! Don't touch the gift my mom gave me!"

I struggled hard, and my hand hit Eliot's calf.

She kicked me twice viciously and picked up the broken necklace, stuffing it in her pocket.

"Say another word and I'll tear your mouth apart!"

I trembled all over.

When we reached the HR office, Eliot knocked on the door obsequiously.

"Molina, I brought over the culprit who lost the company's deal."

HR manager Molina glanced at me impatiently.

"Where's your ID badge? Which department? What's your name?"

I shouted urgently: "I'm only thirteen years old! I'm not an employee here!"