After Rebirth, I Let the Intern Dig Her Own Grave

"Go live!"

The numbers on the big screen started moving like they'd lost their minds.

$1 million.

$5 million.

$10 million.

In less than thirty seconds, total transactions blew past $10 million.

Cassie ripped the wire off a champagne bottle and sent foam spraying across the room.

"We did it!"

The entire floor erupted.

David grabbed her and kissed her right in front of everyone.

"Babe, you are incredible. You're a genius!"

Jason launched himself off the couch, his whole face vibrating with excitement.

"Yes! This is it! We'll hit $100 million in ten minutes, easy!"

He immediately dropped ten $2,000 Venmo requests in the company Slack.

"Everyone here tonight gets triple bonuses this month!"

The cheering nearly took the roof off.

People were hugging strangers. You could practically see them all picturing the Nasdaq opening bell ceremony tomorrow.

Cassie filled a champagne flute and walked straight over to me, chin up.

"You see this, Erin?"

"This is what the new playbook looks like."

"That penny-pinching, risk-averse mindset of yours? It's dead."

I watched her calmly and glanced back at my screen.

"Nothing to say? Did the numbers just break your brain?"

Cassie fed off my silence and got bolder.

"It's okay. I get it, you're just not built for this anymore. But honestly? Since you were so cooperative tonight, I might just let you keep your job. As my assistant. Coffee runs, filing, that kind of thing." She laughed like it was the funniest thing she'd ever said.

There's no room for you in this company anymore, you washed-up has-been.

Right at the peak of her laughter, the doors to the ops floor slammed open.

Tom, the CFO, came charging in and collapsed to his knees. The financial report in his hands scattered across the floor.

"The company accounts... they've been wiped out."