Chapter 4

Jake's eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief.

"Maya, you'll regret this! Who else would ever want you besides me?"

Chloe looked at me, a defiant smirk on her face.

"Maya, don't be so impulsive! Jake's company is about to go public. So many women would kill to be with him!"

I looked at Chloe.

"In that case, I'll give him to you. You two can be together, for all I care."

With that, I picked up the things I'd already packed and turned to leave.

As I reached the door, I heard Jake kick a desk and angrily curse.

"Maya, when you regret this and come crawling back to me, crying, I won't want you then!"

After arriving home, I lay down on my bed for a short rest.

My phone rang beside me.

"Hello, is this Ms. Maya?"

I hummed in affirmation.

"This is the Food Safety Administration calling. Congratulations, you've passed the final interview and can begin your appointment within the month."

Hearing this, I suddenly remembered. My mom had always wanted me to pursue a stable job. When she was gravely ill, I'd just casually applied to the Food Safety Administration, never expecting to pass the interview.

Now, I was jobless after quitting. I looked at my mom's framed photo.

"Mom, thank you. You helped me again."

I arranged to start work in three days.

Over the next three days, after handing over my work at Jake's company, I went to work at the Food Safety Administration.

A month into my job, we received a report of food poisoning.

I looked at the files. Coincidentally, it was the chocolate produced by Jake's company.

I accompanied my superior, Mr. Harrison, to Jake's factory. We collected ten samples for testing. An hour later, the results were in: the product contained excessive amounts of flavor enhancers, posing significant harm to human health.

And, coincidentally, one of the victims of the poisoning was Mr. Harrison's daughter. Upon learning this, he immediately ordered Jake's company to be shut down for a full investigation and fined thirty million dollars.

Mr. Harrison then instructed me to lead the team to seal Jake's company.

I arrived at Jake's company entrance just as he and Chloe were getting out of a car, arm-in-arm.

Seeing me, Jake wore a condescending, triumphant smirk.

"Maya, I knew you'd regret it and come begging! But our company is full now. If you want to come back, you'll have to be a cleaner, and I'll pay you a thousand dollars a month."

I rolled my eyes at Jake.

Then I pulled out the official notice and plastered it on his company door.

"Your company's products have violated food safety regulations. Your company is now being shut down for a full inspection of all products and fined thirty million dollars."

Jake heard my words, unfazed, and scoffed mockingly.

"Maya, did you go crazy after breaking up with me?"

I pulled out the ID badge from around my neck.

My colleagues behind me also stepped forward.

"Please cooperate with our work."

Only then did Jake realize this wasn't a joke. He looked at Chloe.

"You must be mistaken! We just paid the Food Safety Administration a fifty-million-dollar deposit a month ago!"

Another one of my colleagues spoke up, sounding exasperated.

"The Food Safety Administration never charges anything called a 'deposit'."

Jake's face went pale.

"That's impossible! We transferred fifty million!"

Chloe's hands shook as she redialed the number. A pre-recorded, robotic message filled the air: "The number you have dialed is not in service."

Panic rising, Jake shoved the transfer receipt at my colleague.

"This is your official account! I wired the money here!"

My colleague took one glance.

"Sir, this is not our account. It's registered overseas. This is a classic wire fraud scheme."

Jake froze, stunned.