Chapter 3

3

Once I started playing dumb, life became much more entertaining.

"Chloe, go pick up a client. We're having dinner at The Golden Oak Bistro tonight," Lydia commanded a few days later.

I shook my head slowly. "The car is out of gas."

"Then go fill it up!" she yelled.

I pulled out the massive employee handbook and opened it to a marked page.

"Clause 18,888 states that employees cannot take company property off-site for personal reasons."

"Getting gas isn't a business trip. I cannot drive it to the station without a written permit, or I'll lose my bonus."

I repeated this pattern constantly. Every time Lydia tried to have a quiet night with her lover, I bombarded her with calls.

Three in the morning became my favorite time to "check-in" on company business.

After a week of no sleep, Lydia had bags under her eyes that reached her chin.

"You are doing this on purpose!" she hissed at me in the breakroom.

"How could you say that, Lydia? I'm just following the rules you gave me. I'm being a model employee!"

"If Mr. Miller found out I wasn't following policy, I would be in so much trouble."

It looked like there was trouble in paradise, though. Lydia and Richard seemed to be fighting more often.

Usually, Lydia would be posting photos of new designer bags every single day. Lately, her social media was silent.

Then, she did something insane. She actually started docking everyone's pay.

She even implemented a "Pay-to-Work" system for anyone who dared to take a vacation.

"You've been away for days. The work has piled up," she told the silent office.

"The office rent isn't free. The factory delays cost us money! Anyone who takes more than three days off must pay a fee!"

I expected the staff to revolt. Instead, they were too scared to even talk to me.

I spent my days gathering evidence on my phone and reading the handbook while doing zero actual work.

At night, I was the "dedicated" employee who called the boss to report issues.

Two days later, a company-wide memo went out.

Richard Miller had sent an email blasting me for "neglect of duty" and "disrespecting management."

He docked a full year of my salary as punishment.

I rolled my eyes and waited.

Lydia marched over to my desk, her new stilettos clicking aggressively on the floor.

"Chloe, the CEO has spoken. The handbook is officially void for you. From now on, you answer only to me."

"You are my personal driver and assistant. You are on call twenty-four hours a day!"

The coworkers started their usual chirping from the sidelines.

"About time! We were sick of her 'rules' anyway. Serves her right for bullying Lydia."

"Look at her clothes. She probably got them from some old sugar daddy. I saw her in the city once, kneeling to tie an old man's shoes!"

I laughed so hard it actually hurt. I ripped off my ID badge and threw it right in Lydia's face.

"I'm done. I don't work for losers or thieves. And we all know who is really being kept here!"

"I've recorded everything you've done this month. Get ready to meet my lawyers!"

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