He then took out his phone. “Someone’s trying to extort money at my doorstep, and my wife is nearly scared to tears. What are you security guards doing? How do you let just anyone in? Come up here and remove this person immediately.”
“M–Mike?”
Mike’s face darkened. “I’m petty and vindictive. If you harass my family again, don’t blame me for being unki-
nd.”
4
When we got home, I thought Mike would ask about what had happened.
Or at least be suspicious about my sudden “personality change.”
But it seems I was overthinking things.
Not only did Mike never mention the incident again, he became even more attentive toward me.
Early the next morning, just as I started work, messages from Mike, began flooding in.
“Honey, why aren’t you chatting with me? Do I look illiterate to you?”
“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow… With so many tomorrows, let’s save work for tomorrow.”
“When do you get off work? I’ll come pick you up for a date right now. Let’s end your workday here!”
Is it really okay for a CEO to publicly slack off like this?
With Mike’s current work attitude, I figured he wouldn’t need the male lead’s efforts to ruin his company–he
could accomplish that all by himself.
I flipped my phone face–down on the desk, completely ignoring him.
The original Sarah was a reporter for a business weekly, and since I studied journalism in college, the profe-
ssion was a good fit.
Just as I opened my computer to start writing, the editor–in–chief brought someone in.
“Put your current work on hold. Let me introduce our new intern.”
Looking over, I was surprised to see Emily.
Then I remembered that Emily, as the positive ray of sunshine, was a hardworking part–timer in the early
parts of the story.
The novel mentioned that Mike, unable to bear seeing Emily work so hard, had pulled strings to get her plac-
ed at a magazine.
2316
Chapter 1
Later, Mike also used his connections to help Emily secure exclusive interviews with major business leade-
- rs.
With Mike’s backing, Emily quickly established herself in the industry, rising from errand girl to editor–in–chief of a top industry magazine.
But I hadn’t known that Emily and the original Sarah worked at the same place.
Thinking about it now, Mike was truly despicable.
Not only did he arrange for his crush to work at the same company as his wife, but he also gave all the reso-
urces to his crush.
Damn, I want a divorce even more now.
True to her female lead status, Emily quickly won everyone over by running errands and buying milk tea for the office, maxing out her likability meter in no time.
Originally, I had no intention of acknowledging Emily.
But she approached my desk with milk tea in hand. “Sarah, I’m here to apologize.”
Her voice was just loud enough for the entire office to hear.
Someone asked curiously, “You two know each other?”
Before I could speak, Emily nodded. “Sarah’s husband is like a brother I grew up with. My good friend was sick recently, and he wanted to lend me money for an emergency, but Sarah found out and scolded me.”
Then she turned to me. “I’m sorry. I was just too anxious that day. My friend was waiting for money for surg- ery, so I… Don’t worry, I’ll figure out the money situation myself. I won’t bother you and my brother again.”
What a masterful way to twist the facts and reverse cause and effect.
LAT
My colleagues‘ looks toward me immediately changed. One told Emily, “You’re so young, how much money could you possibly have? Everyone has emergencies. Some people these days are just too materialistic- quick to take advantage but avoid any trouble. What disease does your friend have? How much more do you
need? Let’s see if we can help.”
The original Sarah had been a pushover, often working overtime for colleagues.
But they never appreciated her, instead often mocking her behind her back for being foolish.
Hearing these barbed comments, I tossed my mouse onto the desk.
“Her friend suffers from ‘assault and battery,‘ a mental disorder where you beat someone half to death and can’t pay compensation. The shortage isn’t much, just a few hundred thousand.”
Colleagues: …
