I was starving from overtime when I tore open a pack of spicy strips at my desk. The next second, my manager exploded. He lunged across the office like I’d set the place on fire, pointing straight at my face.

chapter 5

The next morning, I met Mr. Carter.

At a café.

Not the office.

He arrived with Shawn.

Confident.

Like he had already won.

“Good you came,” he said, sitting down. “Young people should know when to step back.”

I raised my hand.

“Let’s skip the speech.”

I placed my phone on the table.

Pressed play.

His wife’s threats echoed through the café.

His face turned dark.

“First. Transfer my two hundred thousand. Plus one hundred thousand compensation.”

“Second. Apologize.”

“Third. The contract with Mr. Zhang includes a key-person clause. If I leave, he can terminate it.”

Silence.

Dead silence.

Shawn snapped first.

“This is blackmail!”

I smiled.

“Try me.”

Mr. Carter clenched his fists.

Then—

Exhaled.

“Apologize,” he said to Shawn.

Minutes later—

Money transferred.

Apology given.

I deleted the recording.

Stood up.

“Oh, by the way… I’ll be at the bidding.”

His smile froze.

The war—

Had just begun.