Chapter 1

"Really? Well then, if you're a man, I'll chew up this coffee cup and swallow it whole today!" the HR manager, Karen Beech, sneered as she jabbed a finger at my nose, doubling over with laughter.

Some makeup powder even fell loose from her heavily made-up face due to her exaggerated expression.

She continued scrutinizing my body, her eyes full of contempt as she said, "Look at your non-existent boobs and your narrow hips! You look so withered, yet you think you're the star of some movie show here just because you're covering it up with a gender neutral outfit?

"Don't think I don't know what you low-level female employees are always up to, dressing differently just to catch the eye of the company's higher-ups. Let me tell you, to Mr. Lincoln, people like you with no feminine charm whatsoever are nothing but a liability to the company!"

Then, she splashed her coffee on me again, just like she did yesterday.

I pulled a few paper napkins out and tried to dab off the wet coffee stains on my shirt that were still dripping. I took a deep breath, forcing down the disbelief rising in my chest.

"Ms. Beech, you do know you can donate your eyes to someone who actually needs them if you're not going to use them properly, right?

"I am a man. Also, throwing coffee at an employee for no reason constitutes workplace harassment."

Karen crossed her arms at her chest and sneered. "Harassment? I'm just teaching you how things work around here! Mr. Lincoln already said that we won't be keeping any loafers at the office, and certainly not troublemakers like you!"

Just then, the glass door to the office slid open, and a man in a custom-made suit and a Rolex on his wrist walked in.

It was Remy Lincoln, the company's newly appointed "king". Officially, he was only the branch's general manager, but for some reason, everyone treated his word as law.

Sandra Leach followed closely behind, all smiles and eager deference.

"What's all the noise about? Don't you know that I'm meditating in my office?" Remy demanded, with a frown, adopting an air of superiority.

Karen immediately put on a fawning smile and nodded her head respectfully at him.

"This is the situation, Mr. Lincoln. Alex Sutherland here is a full 30 seconds late today, and I was just following your instructions to optimize costs and increase the office's efficiency."

Remy glanced at me, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.

"Alex Sutherland? The highest-paid person in the whole office, right? 10,000 dollars?

"Yet, with how much you're being paid, you can't even manage something as basic as showing up to work on time. Do you even think that you're worthy of the company's investment in you?"

I looked at his pasty face and laughed in exasperation.

"I was late because somebody decided to padlock my door shut this morning, Mr. Lincoln."

I then turned to Sandra, who was hiding behind him, and said, "And the only person who has ever been to my house is Sandra."

Sandra stiffened at once. Then, she puffed out her chest and said defiantly, "Don't you dare make false accusations against me, Alex! I was only doing it for your own good!"

She then walked over to Remy's side, looking like a loyal, devoted lackey, and said, "Mr. Lincoln, I was only trying to teach her how to handle a crisis. After all, young people nowadays are too pampered and spoiled, making excuses for every difficulty they run into.

"I only locked the door to see whether she could still make it to work on time despite the adversity!"

I was rendered speechless for a long time, stunned by her absolutely absurd remark.

"You call illegally restricting someone else's personal freedom and physical movement 'crisis management training'?"

Sandra rolled her eyes. "Why can't you just accept that it's all for your own good? You're so ungrateful. I went to great lengths to train you to embody the workplace culture Mr. Lincoln is trying to promote!"

Remy nodded in agreement.

"Sandra is right. See how these veteran workers get the assignment, Alex? And now, look at yourself. Not only are you slacking off, but you're also talking back to your superiors and slandering your colleagues!

"Now, pack your things and get out! Your salary for the month and your year-end bonus will be deducted as compensation for the reputational damage you caused to the company!"

I clenched my fists and stared at Remy.

"You have no legal right to withhold the wages I've earned, let alone my 200,000-dollar year-end bonus. I want to see the Chairman, Mr. Richard Lincoln!"

Remy looked at him as though he'd just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. He slammed his hand on the table and barked, "How dare you call him by his full name! He is my father! And here, everything I say is law!

"Who the hell do you think you are to think you're worthy of seeing my father?"

Karen chimed in, her disdain apparent on her face.

"Have you gone out of your mind, Alex? Trying to bypass your superiors? Did you really think that your little tricks would work on Mr. Lincoln?

"Security! Where are the security guards when you need them? Throw this madwoman out!"