Quit Job — HR Demanded $200K

When I saw several male colleagues actually closing in on me, I almost revealed everything right then and there.

At that moment, a message from my assistant popped up on my phone:

[Ms. Miller, the video conference with the New York Headquarters is about to begin. Everyone is waiting for you.]

I gave in—not out of fear, but because I didn’t have time to waste on Chloe Reed.

“Fine. I’ll pay.”

I pulled out my phone and transferred two hundred thousand dollars on the spot.

I turned, eager to leave this disgusting place, but Chloe yanked me back by the arm.

“Where are you rushing off to?”

“What you just paid was for training. But since you shoved me, I was frightened. You owe me another two hundred thousand—for emotional damages.”

My chest tightened with rage.

“Two hundred thousand for a shove? Don’t tell me you’re that fragile. This is nothing but extortion!”

She lifted her chin, pride and arrogance dripping from her face.

“So what if it is? This is my husband’s company. I make the rules. Upset me, and I’ll bleed you dry. If I say you’re not leaving, you’re not leaving this building!”

I refused to argue with her any further and moved toward the exit.

Two security guards suddenly rushed forward, one on each side, gripping my arms and dragging me back with brute force.

These guards were former veterans I had personally hired in the early days of the company, worried about instability during the startup phase.

Now they were being used against me.

I struggled, but their grip was iron, locking me in place.

“Let me go!”

Never had I imagined that in broad daylight, people in a legitimate company would dare to act like gangsters.

“Leave? Did I say you could leave?”

Chloe stepped in front of me, raised her hand, and slapped me hard across the face.

The sting burned; my cheek swelled, and blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

“I’ll give you one more chance,” she hissed. “Hand over the money, or I’ll let my men do it the hard way.”

The onlookers egged her on.

“Mess with Ms. Reed, and you’re asking for trouble.”

“Exactly. Who dares disrespect the CEO’s wife? Pay up and get lost.”

My whole body trembled with fury. Never in my life had I been slapped in public.

But right now, survival came first.

Grinding my teeth, I forced the words out: “Fine. I’ll pay.”

Chloe smugly shook the payment code in front of me.

When the chime confirming the transfer rang out, I thought she would finally let me go.

But she just smirked, eyes gleaming with malice.

“Two hundred thousand? That was just compensation for shoving me.”

“You’ve wasted my time and ruined my mood. That comes with a separate price.”

She theatrically tapped on a calculator and named her figure.

“Another five hundred thousand. A total of seven hundred thousand. Not a cent less. Otherwise, you’re not walking out of here.”

The guards tightened their grip, their strength crushing my arms until I felt my bones might snap.

It was beyond outrageous.

My fury nearly consumed me, but I knew a head-on clash would only leave me at a greater disadvantage.

I stared at Chloe’s vile face and forced each word through clenched teeth.

“Fine. I’ll pay.”

Her lips curled into the grin of a victor, as if she could already see the money flowing into her account.

I quickly added, feigning helplessness,

“But I don’t have that much in my account. I’ll need to make a call and have someone bring it.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge whether I was telling the truth.