Chapter 3
"It's her. Mr. Paul, this new hire isn't simply refusing management, she's talking back to her superior too. Issue her termination notice right now and put a major demerit on her record," Jessica ordered, pointing at me.
Paul stuck out his beer belly and looked me up and down. Seeing my plain casual clothes and the lack of any designer logo, he immediately sneered. "Natalie Shaw, right? Your onboarding is canceled.
"You violated the company's number-one rule: absolute obedience to management. Pack your things and get out of this building right now."
I stayed in my chair. "Mr. Paul, was it? What clause in the Labor Contract Law says employees have to pay fines to someone's private account? And what clause says you can fire staff whenever you want without any formal review?"
Paul's face stiffened, then he flew into a rage. "Cut the legal crap. Around here, Mr. Warren's rules are the law. If we tell you to get out, you get out. Security. Get up here right now."
"Looking at their ugly faces, I picked up the tablet. It had taken a hit earlier, but the shockproof case had done its job. Only the outer glass was cracked, and it still powered on.
"
I quickly opened the back-end system, entered the top-level password known only to the chairwoman, and went straight into the branch office's financial records. After only a few seconds, my eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No wonder you're so eager to get rid of me." I raised the tablet. "The branch's procurement budget ran three hundred percent over last quarter, and every extra dollar went into a shell company called Jess Trading Ltd.
"You're not only bleeding rank-and-file employees dry. You're looting the whole group."
Paul went ghost-white, and big beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"
Jessica froze for a second, then shrieked, ""What nonsense are you spouting? Where did you get this fake data? Give me the tablet."" She lunged at me like a madwoman, trying to snatch it out of my hand.
"
As if I'd let her. I shifted slightly aside, and Jessica missed completely, crashing into a pile of files in a heap.
Scrambling up from the floor, Jessica screamed, "Paul. What are you standing there for? She stole the company's core secrets. Grab her and call Mr. Warren now."
"Only then did Paul snap out of it. He grabbed his radio and barked, ""Security Team One, third-floor business department, now. We've got a corporate spy here.""
"
The atmosphere instantly turned explosive. Employees all over the office shot to their feet and backed away, terrified of getting dragged into it. Lina was nearly in tears. "Natalie, what are you doing? Run. They're capable of anything."
"I gave her a reassuring look. ""Don't be scared. Today, they're the ones who should be running."" A mess of footsteps rang out. Six burly guards rushed in with rubber batons and surrounded my cubicle.
"
"Then the crowd parted for a middle-aged man in a bespoke suit with his hair slicked straight back.
His brow was furrowed, and his eyes were dark and vicious.
It was David, the branch office's general manager."
"David, thank God you're here." Jessica said.