I Just Hit a Button, Not on Him

Confronted with the official transfer document I had thrown down, Bruce froze for a second. His beady little eyes locked onto the red corporate seal, and his whole expression shifted.

"Cut the crap!"

Bruce lunged for the document, snatching it off the desk. Without a second glance, he ripped it in two and hurled the scraps directly into my face.

"You seriously think you can waltz in here pretending to be the new branch manager with some cheap fake you printed at a corner shop?" Bruce jabbed a finger in my face, howling with derision.

"Take a good look in the mirror, sweetheart. Mr. Norton's daughter wouldn't be caught dead in a 200-dollar knockoff. What, you think I was born yesterday?"

Seeing this, Carmen immediately seized the moment to incite the entire workforce.

"Everyone heard that, right? This woman isn't just a shameless slut—she's also a lunatic. Forging an official corporate seal can land your ass in prison!"

She turned around and yanked Patrick out from where he was hiding behind the crowd. Then, she shoved him forcefully to the front.

"Patrick, tell Mr. Farrell and everyone exactly what happened in that elevator. Was it she who came on to you first?"

Patrick stumbled from the shove. When his eyes met mine, he noticeably flinched.

"I…" Patrick opened his mouth, cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

Bruce chimed in menacingly from the side, "Patrick, just tell the truth. The company's got your back. If anyone tries to threaten you, I, as assistant manager, will be the first to put a stop to it."

Patrick shut his eyes and steeled himself.

"That's right! It was her! We were alone in the elevator and she threw herself all over me. S-She even grabbed my hand. I tried to push her away, but she wouldn't let go!"

"You're lying!" I barked sharply.

"You heard him!" With Patrick's "testimony", Carmen went completely berserk. "Why waste words on a gold-digging tramp like this?

"She's probably some fly-by-night company's sales rep, and the moment she saw how honest Patrick is, she tried to use those dirty tricks to reel in business. She's nothing but a shameless filthy whore!"

Before she even finished speaking, Carmen lunged and slapped me hard across the face.

The blow was brutal. My head whipped to the side; a high-pitched ring filled my ears as I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth.

"Get her! Rip her clothes off! Let's see how she seduces men then!" Carmen shrieked, rallying several of her close cronies who usually sided with her. They swarmed toward me, shoving and tearing at my clothes and hair in a frenzy.

A sharp pain shot through my scalp, but I wasn't about to take it lying down.

I planted my feet and snapped down hard on the wrist Carmen was using to yank my hair. At the same time, I raised my right leg and delivered a brutal kick straight to her stomach.

Carmen let out a miserable shriek, reeling backward from the kick before sprawling onto the floor.

At the sight of this, Bruce flew into a rage.

He pointed at me and barked at the entire staff, "What are you all standing around for? This woman isn't just a fraud—she's a corporate spy. She came here to steal company secrets. Where's security? Hold her down now!"