Chapter 1

I was docked down to $3,500 from my usual $20,000 salary because I spent a few minutes in the bathroom during work hours.

When I went to my boss to argue for fairness, she acted impartial on the surface but spoke with veiled sarcasm:

"Last month's surveillance shows you spent a total of 40 minutes in the bathroom. You weren't working in there, were you?"

"One minute in the bathroom, $500 fine."

"It's a new company policy. As a senior employee, you should set an example. I actually went easy on you."

I've been a key player at this company for ten years. The deals I've closed brought in at least a hundred million in revenue.

But now, even my most basic rights are being stripped away.

Seeing I had no response, she smiled coldly:

"If you don't like it, leave. Think you're irreplaceable? Don't forget, your five-year contract hasn't expired yet. Who would dare hire you?"

I didn't argue further. But when my contract expired just five days later, she panicked.

She kept going on and on:

"Sarah, you've been at this company for several years. You should know the rules, right?"

"Do you know how hard it is to find work these days? I'm only docking your pay because we go way back. If it were anyone else, I'd have kicked them out ages ago!"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but laugh.

In my five years at the company, I'd worked diligently, focused entirely on closing deals.

Thanks to my exceptional work ability, plenty of companies were willing to pay breach penalties to poach me, but out of loyalty to past relationships, I never considered such things.

Even with just five days left on my contract, I'd been thinking about renewal.

But now it seemed renewal wasn't necessary.

That glaring pay stub was thrown in my face without a shred of consideration.

"Think it over. Stay or go!"

I picked up the paper and said calmly, "I understand. I won't use the bathroom during work hours anymore."

She froze for a moment, seemingly surprised by my submission.

But seeing my defeated appearance, she smiled smugly.

"That's right. Don't waste even a minute."

As I was about to leave, she mocked me: "Who do you think you are, acting tough? After all that fuss, you're still going back to work like a good little dog. I hate people like you the most!"

I opened my mouth but said nothing and left.

Outside the office, everyone was celebrating payday.

Seeing my low spirits, some colleagues offered me snacks.

But Ruthie, a new intern at the company, was different. She silently walked past me and took my pay stub without asking.

After looking at it, she feigned surprise. "Sarah only got $3,500? That's less than one of my pairs of shoes!"

"Isn't Sarah supposed to be our company's star performer? Look how far she's fallen."

She passed the pay stub around, constantly repeating, "Sarah, did you make some huge mistake? This is so little."

My colleague Lisa asked with concern, "Sarah, why did they only pay you this much? Did they make a mistake?"

I forced a smile at her. "One minute in the bathroom, $500 fine."

She looked confused. "What nonsense is that? The company never had such a rule."

My expression froze instantly.

"Alright everyone, I have an announcement."

Manager Ruth slowly walked out of her office.

She spoke self-righteously, pretending it was nothing: "Our company has a new policy—one minute in the bathroom, $500 fine."

"This month we tested it on our team leader Sarah, and it worked well. We'll implement it starting next month."

"Also, certain people shouldn't think being senior employees gives them the right to boss others around. Everyone should do their own work and follow company rules."

After speaking, she patted my shoulder. "Sarah, bear with it!"

I stood there stunned, unable to react for a long time.

So that's what this was about—she was deliberately targeting me.

Only docking my pay, then insinuating I was bossing people around.

But in her forgetfulness, she overlooked one thing: my five-year contract had only five days left.

And the one who'd actually been ordered around all this time was me.

In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless.

With that thought, I opened last night's message from a rival company and replied:

"I'll resign in five days. I'll report on time."