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I’ve been married to my best friend’s brother for six months, and we still haven’t consummated our marriage. In a fit of rage, I called my best friend. “I can’t live like this anymore. I’m going to divorce your brother.” To my surprise, my best friend wailed through the phone: “I can’t live like this either! I’m divorcing your brother tomorrow!” 01 Hearing those words, I froze. I almost forgot that my best friend and I had married each other’s brothers. Thinking about it, my best friend’s situation seemed slightly more tragic than mine. Married for six months, and she hadn’t even had the chance to deeply explore her own man’s body. Unlike me. At least I had seen it. I let out a heavy sigh, and like two souls stranded on the same deserted island, I said with deep sympathy: “Babe, meet me at the club.” “Let’s go find some hot male models to feel up.” … I arrived earlier than my best friend. I secured a VIP table, ordered a fruit platter, and cracked open some sunflower seeds while I waited. Five minutes later, my best friend, Chloe, strutted in. She was rocking five-inch stilettos and fierce “wildcat” makeup, looking absolutely devastating. She raised her hand and immediately ordered a round of shots. I leaned in, hungry for the gossip: “What happened with you and my brother?” After all, what are best friends for? The moment I asked, she raised an eyebrow and shot the question right back at me. “What about you? What happened with my brother?” The ultimate standoff. Neither of us wanted to crack first. I let out a dramatic, soul-crushing sigh: “He won’t let me sleep with him!” Chloe and I got our marriage licenses exactly one day apart. Initially, all I knew was that she had a brother who was a doctor. I had no idea what he looked like. That was, until a nightmare client stressed me out so badly I developed a breast nodule and had to go to the hospital to get it checked. Chloe, terrified that I’d be groped by some creepy old doctor, specifically called in her young, handsome brother. I was thinking, how handsome could he really be? And then reality slapped me in the face. The moment I saw Dr. Liam Hayes’ face, my heart went into overdrive. For the first time in my life, I felt the electric jolt of a high school crush. Even with a surgical mask covering half his face, leaving only those beautiful, aloof eyes visible, I knew one thing for certain: every single part of him hiding under that white coat was dancing perfectly on my aesthetic sweet spot! As soon as the exam was over, I immediately demanded Chloe give me his number. She warned me that her brother was pretty cold and unapproachable. I confidently declared that no man could resist the offensive of my unparalleled beauty. And then, reality slapped me in the face for a second time. During my aggressive pursuit, I playfully texted him: [Dr. Hayes, what did you have for lunch today? :3] He replied an entire day later: [I didn’t have lunch. I had a sandwich yesterday.] Me: […] Furious, I shifted to a real-world offensive, forcing Chloe to orchestrate a movie date for us. In the dark theater, a horror movie was playing. Liam watched with clinical detachment. I let out a delicate “Ah!” and shrank into his arms, pretending to be terrified. He looked down at me. I blinked my eyes rapidly, reciting the script I had practiced in my head: “My chest still hurts a little… Dr. Hayes, could you rub it for me?” I thought I nailed the tone—the perfect mix of pitiful and helpless. However, he just stared at me heavily. Behind those silver-rimmed glasses, his eyes were like deep whirlpools, making my heart flutter wildly. The vibe was so perfect, I genuinely thought he was going to lean in and kiss me. But the very next second, he stiffly pushed me away. His Adam’s apple bobbed: “Ms. Davis, please just watch the movie. Otherwise, you’re wasting your ticket.” “…” 02 How do I even describe the expression on my face at that moment? It was absolute garbage. Turns out, even I can capsize in a shallow ditch! “I can’t live like this! I seriously can’t. Your brother must be asexual, or he’s got issues down there!” I couldn’t even eat my sunflower seeds anymore. I popped the bottle of liquor open, ready to get blackout drunk. Chloe wailed in frustration and aggressively clinked her glass against mine: “I can’t live with your brother either! Such a waste of a gorgeous face. He must have a lymph node attached to his vocal cords because his mouth is absolute poison!” “Remember that dress I bought a few days ago? The one you said looked amazing? I took a picture and sent it to him, and he actually said it was so tight it looked like it was made for a praying mantis! Has he ever even seen a praying mantis with a body this good?!” I burst out laughing. Chloe was also obsessed with looks. She fell for my brother, Ethan, at first sight. The two of us basically forced ourselves on these men, forcefully matchmaking our own marriages. We originally thought married life would be sweet and passionate. Instead, we were living more celibate lives than nuns in a convent. “And I just don’t get it. Is your brother, Mr. Big Shot Corporate Lawyer, really that busy with cases every single day? He’s always holed up in his study. The place we talk the most is on iMessage. I seriously suspect he has someone else on the side!” Chloe’s voice rose with righteous indignation. I stared at the swirling liquor in my glass and nodded in heavy agreement. “I think your brother has someone else too. I parade around him in flimsy silk slip dresses, and he actually manages to resist throwing me on the bed! Just the other day, I asked him what flavor of condoms he liked, and he dead-ass told me ‘There’s no rush’ with a completely straight face!” “Everyone knows that if a man has no desire for a woman, nine times out of ten, he’s just not interested. I hate this! We’re literally married and I still haven’t gotten any action!” “Two absolute dog men.” Chloe patted my shoulder with intense mutual hatred: “Let’s divorce them. I’ll file tomorrow, you file the day after. We’ll take their assets and go live our best lives.” That was exactly what I had in mind. 03 Chloe and I are both women of action. The very next day, we went back to get our marriage certificates. Since she was divorcing first, I accompanied her back to the Hayes family home. The main estate was in the neighboring city. When we arrived, we hadn’t told anyone we were coming. We originally thought the massive mansion would only have the domestic staff. So when we walked in and saw a table of wealthy socialites playing Mahjong, we were dumbfounded. I leaned into Chloe’s ear: “Didn’t you say your mom was on a vacation abroad?” She was equally bewildered: “She literally posted vacation photos on Instagram yesterday! We’re screwed. What if she realizes what we’re doing?” Me: “Be stealthy. Do you know where the marriage certificates are kept?” “I know!” she swore confidently. Mrs. Hayes noticed us, her eyes lighting up as she asked with pleasant surprise what brought me here. Chloe, nervous, mumbled an excuse and hurriedly pulled me into the elevator. However, after searching for a long time without finding the documents, I slumped onto the sofa, completely drained, before getting up to help her look again. Right then, Liam sent me a text. [Mom said you went back to the main house?] I thought for a second, then sent a cute “Mhm-mhm” sticker. Liam: [Have fun. I’ll come pick you up after work. I’ll have Maria make your favorite sweet and sour ribs.] I stared at that sentence for a long time. What was going on? Was Liam in a really good mood today? But last night, he had clearly rejected me again… Thinking about it made me angry. Last night, Chloe and I got drunk, and both he and my brother showed up at the club. One man grabbed one woman. Chloe was throwing a massive tantrum, while I was as quiet as a mouse. I originally wanted to bring up the divorce, but I accidentally fell asleep in the car on the way back. When I woke up, Liam was carefully taking off my makeup with a cleansing wipe. His face was a massive bonus point in my book. At that moment, the alcohol rushed to my head, and I was dazzled by his long, pale, aristocratic fingers. I grabbed his hand, pressed it against my chest, and blearily repeated my old trick. “Dr. Hayes, my heart beats so fast when I see you. Can you rub it and calm me down?” Muttering, I leaned heavily into his chest. His breathing hitched. He told me to lie down properly and quickly finished taking off my makeup. As he spoke, his warm breath brushed against my ear, sending shivers straight to my heart. So I started taking off my clothes. My outer cardigan was tossed aside, leaving me in just a thin slip dress, a bright expanse of pale shoulder exposed. Un-dried droplets of water from the makeup wipe slid down my collarbone, dampening the plain fabric of my dress. Completely oblivious, I felt a rush of liberation and threw myself at him with hazy, half-lidded eyes. “Dr. Hayes, we haven’t consummated our marriage yet, have we?” We were so close. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The rice was practically boiling in the pot. I thought we were finally going to go all the way. But he just pinched the bridge of his nose, his large hands stopping my fingers from unbuttoning his shirt. “Maya, you’re drunk. Be good and stay here. Let me go make you some hangover soup, okay?” I was instantly stunned. I completely failed to register the tenderness in his voice. All I saw were those deep, dark pool-like eyes, completely devoid of any lust. Liam Hayes truly felt absolutely nothing for me. I immediately burst into loud, ugly tears. “…” Remembering that shameful scene, and now looking at his text messages, I irritably locked my phone and ignored him. Right then, the bedroom door cracked open, and Mrs. Hayes poked her head in. “What are you girls looking for?” Chloe’s brow was deeply furrowed. She was clearly frustrated from the search and blurted out without thinking. “Looking for our marriage certificates!” “…” 04 Disaster struck. The entire house was in an uproar. The Mahjong socialites had been politely ushered out. Living room. Mrs. Hayes sat the two of us down on the sofa, looking at Chloe with high alert. “You want a divorce?” Knowing she couldn’t hide it, Chloe nodded with the resolve of a martyr: “Yes. It’s pointless.” Mrs. Hayes gritted her teeth, reprimanding her with deep disappointment. “Back then, you were crying and screaming that you had to be with Ethan! Who was it that said she couldn’t live without him? And now what is this nonsense?!” I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Truth be told, I had used every trick in the book to hook Liam, too. But who knew he was practically a monk? I hated that I wasn’t a man, otherwise I could just run away with my best friend! “Mom, you can’t force love,” Chloe sighed, looking incredibly wronged. “Ethan doesn’t love me at all.” “I’m planning to stay in the city. The city has great male models. I could pull any random guy off the street and he’d be better than that jerk Ethan!” Just as she finished her sentence, a tall, imposing figure appeared. My brother, Ethan Davis, looked like he had rushed over in a panic. The usually immaculate elite corporate lawyer actually had a loosened tie and a frantic look in his eyes. “Chloe.” He walked right up to her, his tone stiff. “You want a divorce?” “Everything is fine. Why do you suddenly want a divorce?” The family group chat had exploded, bringing everyone who heard the news rushing over. Seeing Liam striding into the room, I pressed my lips tightly together. He radiated a cold, aloof aura. As he walked up to me, I quietly took a step back. “Not feeling well?” Seeing my pale face, he leaned in and asked softly. I didn’t say anything. I’m only feeling unwell because I’m looking at you! The atmosphere was incredibly tense. Ethan’s brow was deeply furrowed. He tried to go over and hug Chloe, but she slapped his hands away. “There’s nothing to say. I’ve already made my decision.” She glared at Ethan with pure hatred. “Go spend the rest of your life with your legal briefs! You venomous snake!” Saying that, she grabbed her purse and tried to drag me away with her. Liam quickly grabbed my arm, his tone deep and serious. Finally, he spoke up: “Chloe, marriage isn’t a game.” “Also, don’t drag Maya into this mess of yours.” Hearing this, Chloe looked at her brother in absolute disbelief: “Why are you trying to stop me? You’re about to get divorced too.” “…” As the words dropped, everyone’s eyes instantly locked onto me. … 05 “He… he doesn’t treat me well.” Faced with an avalanche of questions, I could only bury my head, twist the hem of my shirt tightly, and whisper softly. Damn it. I couldn’t very well say that Liam has this incredibly fresh, juicy body, but he refuses to let me even taste it, and that a literal sex toy is more fun than him, right? That would make me sound absolutely desperate and horny. I had barely finished my excuse when Mrs. Hayes, wielding a walking cane that appeared out of nowhere, delivered a solid whack to Liam’s back. She held back her strength, but the loud ‘Thwack’ echoing off his back was especially sharp. She expressed her deep disappointment once again: “What did I tell you? I told you to be more proactive, you absolute blockhead! Now look what happened, you’re about to lose your wife!” Mrs. Hayes cursed Liam out furiously, then immediately turned to coax me. She said Liam had never been in a relationship before. Before I showed up, he didn’t even have female mosquitoes around him. She begged me to reconsider. If this dead-brained idiot didn’t fix his behavior, she promised she would personally introduce me to other, better men. Hearing this, Chloe wasn’t having it: “Mom, your son definitely doesn’t act like he hasn’t dated. He acts like a cold, emotionless robot! He’s a young man living the life of an 80-year-old monk. Our Maya is suffering so much being with him. We cannot just let this slide.” I silently gave my best friend a mental thumbs-up. Liam’s thin lips pressed into a tight line. A rare look of guilt appeared on his usually indifferent, ascetic face. He tried to reach out and take my hand to say something, but I dodged him like he had the plague. Holding hands? That costs extra! The room fell into a heavy silence again. Ethan couldn’t help but let out a soft cough. I shot him a glare. “Brother, let me be clear. Chloe doesn’t want you, and you need to take a long, hard look in the mirror! With that razor-sharp tongue of yours, even a dog walking past you would get verbally assaulted. You’re destined to die alone.” “…” Chloe secretly gave me a thumbs-up. Mrs. Hayes clutched her chest, sighing heavily. “Liam, it was a miracle Maya even looked your way, you should be burning incense in gratitude. And you actually neglected her? That’s crossing the line!” My mom was also currently on the phone, cursing Ethan out from head to toe. “…” An hour later, Liam and Ethan were still obediently standing in the center of the room, taking their verbal beatings. Dignity—the pride of men—shattered all over the floor. I thought they would finally cave and agree to the divorces. Instead, the two of them unanimously declared that even if we divorced, there was a mandatory 30-day “cooling off” period anyway. They each pulled out a black Amex card, asking us to give them one month to prove they had changed. Liam pushed his silver-rimmed glasses up his nose, walked up to me, and said with absolute seriousness: “Maya, I’ve been so busy with work lately that I haven’t paid enough attention to you. That is my fault. Please rest assured, I will spend this month correcting my mistakes, and I promise to cherish you properly from now on.” “That Hermes Birkin in the exact color you mentioned you liked will be delivered to you very soon. Take this card, and go wild at the Bulgari high-jewelry salon in a few days.” I froze. Before I could even process Liam’s impeccably smooth, flawless speech. My brother, refusing to be outdone, straightened his tie and looked at Chloe: “Ahem, Chloe, I admit I had a bit of an occupational hazard. I’m used to being sharp-tongued, but those were never my true feelings. I didn’t mean a single word of it.” “Take this card for your pocket money. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy a Steinway grand piano for your social circle events? I’ll have it arranged for you. Just please, calm your anger.” “…” And then. The two of them stared at us with eyes overflowing with tenderness, as if pouring an entire lifetime of deep devotion into this single moment. “We absolutely refuse to agree to a divorce!” “…” Those two black cards sat there, radiating an intoxicating, irresistible glow right in front of us. Chloe and I exchanged looks, both of us seeing the golden dollar signs shining in each other’s eyes. Everyone was waiting for our reaction. My heart was itching to take it. But I couldn’t bear to look like I was losing the upper hand. My brain spun, and I swiftly snatched my brother’s card from his hand. “Do you think Chloe cares about this tiny bit of compensation?” Chloe instantly caught on and lightning-fast grabbed her brother’s card: “This little bit of money isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between Maya’s teeth!” Saying that, with the cards securely in our hands, terrified they might ask for the money back, we linked arms and speed-walked toward the exit. Our steps were perfectly synchronized. Every two steps, we’d look back over our shoulders to establish our firm stance. “Heh, you really think we can be bought off with just a few measly bucks?!” 06 Late at night, at my private villa. Chloe and I swapped the cards we had taken, stared at each other in silence for two seconds, and then burst out laughing. Me: “I had no idea your brother was this loaded.” Her: “I also had no idea your brother was hiding this much cash.” Out on the open-air balcony, we comfortably sank into the plush sofas, poured some red wine, clinked our glasses, and happily put on a movie. While we were watching, Chloe tilted her head and suddenly asked: “Wait, what did they actually give you for your ‘hush money’?” Me: “You go first.” She gave me a look of exasperated fondness, got up from the sofa, and came back holding a velvet box. Opening it, she revealed a crystal-clear, flawless, icy-white jade bangle. “Your mom had the butler courier it to me. Honestly, she has amazing taste. I’ll get you one just like it later.” “What did my mom give you to compensate?” I pulled out my phone and showed her the message: “She said she’s getting me a private fashion show viewing.” As soon as I said it, I realized my mistake and corrected her. “What do you mean ‘your mom’ and ‘my mom’? That’s our mom.” Chloe blinked, then nodded enthusiastically. “Ah, right, right, right.” My phone dinged. Liam had sent a message. In a groundbreaking first, he was actually asking if I had eaten. He said he had made my favorite sweet and sour ribs. The photo attached showed the dining table, looking lonely and empty. Except for the ribs, which looked glossy, red, and perfectly coated in a thick sauce. You could practically taste how delicious they were through the screen. I stared at it intently for a good while, then pulled my craving eyes away, with absolutely no intention of replying. Unexpectedly, he immediately sent another photo. A picture of his bare torso, showcasing his abs. Before I could even click to enlarge it, he un-sent it. Liam: [Sent to the wrong person.] Me: “…” Sent to the wrong person, my foot. Like anyone actually wants to see it anyway. I locked my screen. I noticed Chloe had fallen asleep, so I grabbed a light blanket to cover her. Her phone kept dinging constantly. I just reached over and put it on silent. I did my pre-sleep yoga and was just getting into bed when my phone rang again. I didn’t notice it was a FaceTime call and accidentally hit accept. When I finally looked at the screen, a massive expanse of skin flooded my vision. 07 The lighting in the room was dim. My little kitten, Pip, was pressing his soft, cute paws into Liam’s chest, giving an adorable little “meow” towards the camera. Except, my gaze shifted to the sharply defined abs and the swelling contours of his chest muscles. I was stunned. Was Liam… trying to seduce me?! On the other end of the video, Pip seemed to sense I was admiring the view. He very obligingly hopped off Liam’s chest, and in the process, dragged down the grey silk blanket that was barely covering Liam’s waist and abdomen. This perfectly exposed his Adonis belt. I felt like I was going to get a nosebleed. Mhm. Exactly the same as when I accidentally walked in on him showering last time. The absolute peak of lean muscle. The sexual tension was off the charts. It was just missing a view of his lower half. My heart traitorously started pounding. After I stared for a good while, Liam suddenly looked at the camera, his tone laced with a smile. “Maya, do I look good?” “…” Our eyes met. I widened my eyes in feigned outrage and stuttered: “W-who’s looking at you? Shameless.” “Okay, my fault.” He chuckled softly, his expression infuriatingly gentle. “Did you see the picture I sent you? Pip hasn’t been eating much.” That was a reference to the photo of Pip eating that Liam had sent a few hours ago. He had messaged: [Since you’ve been gone, his appetite hasn’t been great. He probably misses you.] Through the lens, Pip looked at me pitifully. Hah. He sure cares about Pip. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the one missing me. I indulged the hidden meaning behind his words: “It’s fine. I’ll come pick him up and bring him here in a few days.” “…” Liam went silent. I was just about to hang up when he suddenly lowered his voice, and asked somewhat unnaturally: “Then what about me?” My phone was about to die. While scrambling to find the charger, I blurted out without thinking: “What about you?” “…” And he shut his mouth again.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “410912”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was the official “mascot” of our company. My boss went out of his way to keep me around, even creating a cushy, specialized position just for me. Then, a new Sales Director swooped in. A staunch pragmatist and skeptic. He couldn’t stand seeing me so relaxed and was incredibly jealous of my job. While our boss was off on a digital-detox meditation retreat in the mountains, this new director used every dirty trick in the book to force me out, all so he could slide his little “boy toy” into my position. My life went from flexible, easy hours to a grueling 9-to-10 nightmare. I was utterly miserable. I planned to grit my teeth and hold on until the boss got back to put him in his place. But the day before the boss’s return, he posted a company-wide memo calling me out for spending more than five minutes in the bathroom. He publicly humiliated me, accusing me of slacking off and neglecting my duties, tearing me to shreds. It was bullying, plain and simple. Furious, I quit on the spot. And then, I smoothly accepted a job offer from the nearly bankrupt company right across the hall… the very company my boss was planning to acquire. 01 When my mom was pregnant with me, my uncle—who was really into astrology and horoscopes—calculated my due date. He pinpointed a specific day and claimed that if I were born then, I would bring immense wealth and good fortune to my parents. Unfortunately, I’ve never been one to follow the plan. Two days before that “lucky” date, I decided it was time to make my entrance. Even though my mom, desperate for me to bring them fortune, tried to hold it in and refused to go to the hospital, I was born smoothly and effortlessly. And just like that, I completely blew my chance at being a trust-fund baby. My uncle recalculated my birth chart and consoled my deeply disappointed parents, saying I was destined for a life of hard work. The silver lining? When I grew up, I’d be able to make a lot of money through my own hustle, so they wouldn’t have to worry about me living in their basement forever. My parents stressed over this for years! They often looked at me with deep pity. They were working-class folks themselves, yet they were already mourning the future working-class life of their little girl. But I bet they never imagined that my “destined life of hard work” would actually mean becoming a corporate mascot. It’s a funny story. When I interviewed for this company, the boss, frustrated by poor business performance, suspected bad feng shui. He hired a Feng Shui Master to evaluate the office. After touring the space, the Master asked HR for the employee files. After reviewing them, he told the boss that the feng shui was fine; the problem was the people. The boss was dumbfounded, thinking they had corporate spies. The Master elaborated, claiming that the zodiac signs of certain employees were clashing with the boss’s, and their astrological charts were negatively impacting him. When the Master pointed out the problematic individuals, the boss almost declared bankruptcy on the spot. Because those people, as luck would have it, were all top executives or shareholders. If they were just entry-level clerks, he could just fire them. But firing several top executives? That was basically the same as shutting the company down. Just as the boss was falling into despair, I arrived for my interview. As HR led me past the Master, he pointed at me and told the desperate boss that I had a “wealth-attracting” aura. After looking at my birth chart, the Master excitedly slapped his thigh. He declared that not only would I attract wealth, but I would also neutralize the negative energy from the other employees. He told the boss that if he wanted to save the company, he absolutely had to hire me. I was there for all of this. Hearing this nonsense, I thought I had stumbled into a scam company. This had to be some new kind of fraud. Terrified, I was ready to bolt. The boss, honestly, was only half-believing the Master’s words. But the Master, anxious for the boss’s sake, pleaded with me not to leave. This only made me more convinced it was a scam, and I pulled out my phone, ready to call 911. At that critical moment, a major client the boss had been trying to land for months showed up unannounced. The client said he was in the area for errands, remembered the boss’s office was nearby, and decided to drop in. The Master insisted the boss have me accompany them during the meeting. Under the condition of being paid a thousand dollars upfront before even doing any work, my fresh-out-of-college self completely caved to the temptation. That day, the client happily signed a massive contract, pulling the company back from the brink and turning a profit. 02 The boss had now witnessed my wealth-attracting power firsthand. But… I still didn’t plan on staying. I had interviewed for the R&D department, but the Master told the boss I belonged in Sales. And further, he claimed that whenever they were signing contracts with difficult clients, my presence was required to close the deal and ensure the company’s continued prosperity. It sounded like absolute BS. I didn’t believe a word of it. I was more inclined to believe the client signed so quickly because of the groundwork the boss had previously laid. But the boss… he bought it hook, line, and sinker! To keep me around, he offered a package I couldn’t refuse. He created a brand new role: “Sales Department Contract Specialist.” The salary was $10,000 a month plus commission, full benefits, no clocking in, and flexible hours. My job description? Sit in on meetings when sales reps brought clients in or were closing deals. And just like that, I stayed at the company for six years. Over those six years, as the boss grew the company, my salary steadily increased, and my reputation as the corporate mascot grew increasingly legendary. I thought I’d be at this company for the rest of my life. Then, everything changed half a month ago. The boss, planning another major expansion, promoted the original Sales Director to CEO of a new branch. He then poached a hotshot from a competitor with a hefty salary to drop into the headquarters as the new Sales Director. On his very first day, the boss called me into the new director’s office, Arthur Vance, specifically to introduce us. The boss explicitly told him not to assign me any actual work. Other than being present for client meetings and contract signings, I was free to do whatever I wanted. Right to the boss’s face, Arthur agreed perfectly. Feeling secure, the boss headed straight for the mountains for a two-week digital-detox meditation retreat, aiming to prolong his life so he could enjoy his wealth. The boss never could have imagined that the second he left, Arthur would turn on me… He called the entire sales department into the conference room. There, he aggressively insinuated that I was a shameless fraud who preyed on the boss’s superstitions to create a “wealth-attracting” persona, essentially freeloading off the company. I was so furious I almost fought him right then and there. The sales colleagues I was close with desperately tugged at my clothes under the table. They whispered for me to stay calm, saying he was just trying to provoke me into quitting. That way, even when the boss returned, Arthur could just claim I left on my own accord and wash his hands of it. Well, that wasn’t going to happen… My colleagues told me to endure it for now and complain to the boss when he got back. Fine! I’ll endure it… But my silence only made him more convinced I was a fraud. The next day, when I rolled into work after sleeping in (as usual), he immediately had HR notify me that I was three hours late. He docked my pay for the day and revoked my monthly perfect attendance bonus. He was messing with my money… The HR lady quickly comforted me, telling me not to be impulsive and fight the new director. She assured me the money would be refunded once the boss returned. Sure, she said that, but I still felt incredibly wronged. Seeing me looking so down, my sales department colleagues started feeding me snacks every few minutes. In no time, my desk was covered in boba tea, cake, cookies, chips, spicy snacks, fried chicken, fries, burgers… Sarah, the sales team lead, whispered in my ear, “Chloe, hang in there. When the boss gets back, we’ll make him apologize to you.” Sipping the boba a colleague had brought, my mood improved slightly. “It’s only day two without the boss, and I miss him already…” Sarah couldn’t help but laugh, then smoothly pulled out her phone and held it out to me, pleading, “Stop thinking about the boss for a second. Please make a call for me! I have to land this client. We were having a great conversation, but I couldn’t reach him all day yesterday. I’m sure a competitor is trying to poach him. You call him…” Under Sarah’s expectant gaze, I took the phone and pressed call. “Hello, Sarah…” The call connected instantly. Sarah took the phone back, giving me a thumbs-up while enthusiastically greeting the client on the other end: “Mr. Johnson!…” 03 I watched Sarah leave satisfied and checked the schedule. No sales reps had clients coming in today. Which meant my schedule for the rest of the day was completely open. But to prepare for sudden changes—like a client suddenly having free time or wanting to reschedule—I usually stayed at the office until the end of the workday anyway. Unlike other colleagues who, even when free, had to pretend to be busy, I could openly slack off, watch shows, and read novels when I had no work. My colleagues in the sales department, having worked with me for six years, had absolutely no problem with this. They even frequently recommended good novels and TV shows to me. They were actually terrified that I’d get bored sitting in the office, suddenly decide not to waste my life, and quit to pursue actual hard work. In the beginning, there were those who were resentful, but they were eventually slapped in the face by reality. They wholeheartedly agreed that I deserved the title of “mascot.” I had earned it. Because in my second year, feeling the job was too boring and not wanting to do sales, I begged the boss to transfer me to R&D. The boss couldn’t withstand my persistent begging and finally relented. The moment I left, bizarre things started happening. Several clients who were on the verge of signing inexplicably backed out. At first, the sales team hid this from the boss, thinking it was just a coincidence. They believed closing deals relied on negotiation skills and the company’s products, not on me. They stubbornly kept contacting the clients, trying to change their minds. But the clients were resolute. After all, the products we offered, other companies offered too, at the same price. But those other companies were larger, had better brand recognition, and naturally had an edge. It was tough for our company to compete. Seeing the clients slipping away, the sales team, not wanting to lose their commissions, went to the boss and explained the situation. The boss, furious, yanked me right out of R&D and back to the sales department to hold the fort. Then, the magic happened. A client who was literally on their way to sign with another company almost got into a car accident. Shaken, they decided halfway there to change course and sign with us instead. After that incident, the boss and the entire sales department were absolutely convinced of my metaphysical aura. Even the boss, who might have harbored a tiny sliver of doubt before, treated me even better after that. Except for forbidding me from ever returning to R&D. No matter what I said, I wasn’t allowed back… I was nervous! I had no confidence in this myself! I felt very insecure about my own so-called mascot aura. The boss and my colleagues noticed my restlessness and my desire to leave. That month, they took turns trying to persuade me. The sales team worked tirelessly to find clients and negotiate deals, targeting the top 100 on the “impossible to close” list. If they couldn’t get a meeting, they had me make the call. One call, one meeting. One meeting, one signed contract. That month, the company’s performance broke all records. It was a win-win-win for the boss, my colleagues, and me. The boss made money, my colleagues got their commissions, and my salary went up. From then on, I settled comfortably into the sales department. I ate, I drank, I played… The boss had no objections, my colleagues had no objections… But the new Sales Director had a massive problem with it. Arthur had just penalized my pay this morning for being late. Now, walking past my desk and seeing me watching a TV show, he immediately pivoted and stood beside me. He frowned, his face stern, and tapped his index finger on my desk. “Watching shows and slacking off during work hours is strictly prohibited. Didn’t you know that?” I took off my wireless earbuds and looked up at him. “What did you just say? I didn’t hear you.” His face grew even darker, and he barked, “Warning one for watching shows during work hours! That’s a $200 fine. Three warnings and you’re automatically terminated. I do not allow employees who lack drive and ambition to work under me.” Arthur said this very loudly, immediately panicking the colleagues who were secretly observing the situation. I was so angry I stood up and confronted him. “The boss allows me to watch shows! The boss hasn’t said a word, what right do you have to fine me and issue warnings?” Arthur calmly retorted, “The right of being your direct supervisor. As long as you are in the sales department, I have the authority to manage you.” A colleague stepped up to defend me. “Director Vance, Chloe is different…” Before the colleague could finish, Arthur rudely cut them off. “There is no ‘different.’ There are no special privileges here. If everyone in the sales department acted like her, how would this company ever grow? Do you have too much free time, standing up for her? If you have that much free time, why don’t you make a few more calls and find some new clients? What are you all staring at? Stop working and you can go drink the north wind!”