Chapter 1
I got no manners, so I never wasted energy on mental overthinking.
During Christmas, when relatives asked about my salary, I asked if their pension was enough to cover an ICU stay.
When some brat came over and destroyed my figurines, I shredded his homework right back.
With that attitude, I had built a reputation across town as a total loose cannon; even the neighborhood dogs gave me a wide berth.
Then came the company team-building dinner.
I'd just returned from touching up my makeup in the restroom when I overheard the admin, Vanessa Warren, the one who tried way too hard to act young, gossiping to our boss, Kevin Drew.
Vanessa said, "These Gen Z kids show up to work with Hermès bags, but anyone can tell they're fakes.
"They're all done up like they're heading to a club, not the office. Who knows if they're here to work or just to snag a rich guy?
"Mr. Drew, you really need to keep your eyes peeled. People like her will do anything to climb the ladder; they've got no morals at all."
I kicked the door open and flashed her a sweet smile.
I asked, "Vanessa, did you just come from cleaning toilets with your mouth? The smell is absolutely rancid."
*****
The whole room froze.
Vanessa's face, caked with foundation, turned a nasty shade of purple.
She was still clutching her half-finished glass of red wine, jabbing a shaky finger at me.
She shouted, "Charlotte. Is that any way to talk to your elders? You're so rude."
I was just about to fire back when Kevin, sitting at the head of the table, slammed his glass down hard.
"That's enough," he said.
Kevin was the boss, and he was always checking out the legs of the female employees. He was so sleazy, one could fry up a whole meal with the grease he oozed.
He shot me a cold look, his voice dripping with threat.
He said, "Charlotte, Vanessa's a big deal in this company. You're just an intern; do you even know how things work around here?
"Go make a toast to Vanessa and apologize, or you can kiss your internship evaluation goodbye."
Here we went again with the same old tricks.
Trying to hold my internship review over my head, as usual.
Normally, I would've just flipped the whole table.
But then that bet suddenly popped into my head.
My dad said, "Want to get your hands on billions? Fine, go undercover, slog it out at the bottom for three months. No family connections, no letting anyone know who you really are."
I glanced at the calendar on my phone; there were only fifteen days left.
If I lost my cool now, all those days surviving on plain meals and cramming into packed subways would've been for nothing.
For those apartment blocks my family owned, the mansions, and all that crazy spending money, I could suck it up.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Mr. Drew, you're right. Guess I really don't know how to behave," I said.
I grabbed my glass and made my way over to Vanessa.
"Here's to you, Vanessa," I said.
Vanessa looked down her nose at me and snorted dismissively.
Just as I tipped my head back to drink, her hand gave a little accidental shake.
With a splash, half a glass of red wine was dumped all over the front of my brand-new white shirt.
The dark red wine seeped down my collar, icy and sticky as hell.
The whole room burst out laughing.
My coworkers were snickering all around, some nearly doubled over.
"Oops, looks like Vanessa's hand slipped," someone said.
"Well, Charlotte was standing way too close. Doesn't she know better?" another said.
"Seriously, she's totally clueless. Serves her right," someone else said.
Vanessa covered her mouth in fake surprise, but the smugness in her eyes was obvious.
"Oops, my bad, total accident. But honestly, that shirt looks like something you grabbed off a bargain rack for ten bucks tops. Whatever, I'll pay you back later, okay?" she said.
Kevin lit a cigarette, blowing smoke rings with a mocking sneer.
"Enough. Stop embarrassing yourself and clean it up," he said.
I lowered my head, scrubbing at the stain with a tissue.
My nails dug deep into my palm as I tried to keep it together.
Dinner wrapped up.
The tab came to $3,000.
Vanessa was digging at her teeth with a toothpick, not even bothering to look up.
"Consider this a little initiation for the newbie. Charlotte, go pay the bill," she said.
I was stunned, saying, "Vanessa, this is a company team-building event."
"Company team-building? Give me a break; this is your initiation dinner. Seriously, don't you even know how things work around here?" Vanessa said,
Kevin got up, dusting himself off, clearly ready to bail.
"Charlotte, if you want a permanent spot here, you'd better learn some people skills. If you can't even treat us to dinner, how are you ever going to handle clients?" he said.
I stared at their faces, all smug and acting like a bunch of bloodsuckers who thought the world owed them.
Fine.
I pulled out my debit card, already on its last legs.
"Swipe it," I said.
As I got the notification that my account was wiped out, Vanessa couldn't help but get snarky.
"Look at you, hand shaking just from swiping your card. Quit fronting like you've got money when you're flat broke," she said.
We walked out of the restaurant into a downpour.
Kevin's beat-up BMW was parked at the curb.
He tossed me the keys, saying, "I've been drinking, so I'm not driving. Vanessa lives way out, so you're our chauffeur tonight."
Seriously? Were they treating me like their free chauffeur?
I gripped the car keys, reeking of sweat, and glanced in the rearview mirror at those two, practically glued together.
Vanessa's hand was already on Kevin's thigh.
"Mr. Drew, about that VP spot," Vanessa said.
"No problem, no problem. Let's talk it over at my place tonight," Kevin replied.
I hit the gas, a cold smirk curling at my lips.