Chapter 1"Your grandma died. And? Reed's girlfriend was CRAMPING! Like you can even compare!"
On my last day as an intern, HR used my "bogus time-off excuses" as a reason to fire me.
"Clear out your desk. NOW. We don't need need sneaky slackers like you."
I had to stop myself from laughing.
"He called out TWENTY-ONE days for his girlfriend's cramps?!"
"I just took three. Even followed every rule!"
"He gets hired and I get fired? Why?!"
She gave me this disgusted look.
"He OWNS this company. What do you think?"
He owns it?
Wait—this is MY SISTER'S company, OK?!
...
On my last day as an intern, I got called into HR Manager Bridget Carlson's office.
"Harper Graves. Your full-time application has been denied."
Honestly, I wasn't surprised.
"Also, due to too many absences during your trial period—which seriously hurt our workflow—per company policy, all wages for the past three months will be kept."
I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"Bridget, I need an explanation."
That seemed to set her off. She instantly sat up straight, her sharp eyes boring into me.
"Explanation? What explanation do you need? It's in black and white—no more than two days off. How many did you take?"
"Three," I said calmly.
"First, it was funeral leave. For my grandmother. That's company rule."
"Second, I submitted all the required documents and got approval from my direct supervisor."
"Third..."
I glanced past her, out toward the hallway where Reed was messing around with some coworkers.
"Reed started the same time I did. Over the past three months, he called out three times—seven days each time—to take care of his cramping girlfriend. That's twenty-one days total. How is he getting hired?"
Bridget let out a sharp laugh and leaned back in her chair.
"Harper, did this internship mess with your head or something? You think you're on the same level as Reed?"
"Do yourself a favor and ask around. Find out whose family runs this place."
"Plus, Reed's girlfriend's cramps are no joke. That's about her health. Her ability to have kids someday. Real stuff. You?"
She looked me up and down with pure contempt.
"Just a dead grandma. So what?"
"Old people die. That's life. And you needed three whole days for that? Way too sensitive."
I didn't argue. There was no point.
While she kept talking, dripping with poison, I slipped my hand into my pocket and pressed the side button on my phone.
Right before the screen went dark, I caught a glimpse of the red timer still running.
Perfect. I had everything I needed.
Chapter 2
I grabbed my mug and walked back to my desk in the marketing department, face blank.
The second I stepped into the bullpen, the chatter died.
Every pair of eyes locked onto me.
Some looked sympathetic. Some curious. Most just looked entertained.
I could hear the whispers buzzing around me.
I ignored all of it, went straight to my desk, and started packing.
Keyboard. Mouse pad. A coffee mug I'd had since college. A few textbooks.
When I picked up the Starlight Initiative proposal, my hand paused.
I'd poured countless late nights into this thing. And it ended up as the crown jewel on Reed's résumé.
I remembered it clearly—my direct supervisor, Derek Walsh.
A middle-aged guy whose hairline was in full retreat and whose favorite phrase was "let's not make waves."
Remembered how he had handed the proposal to Reed in front of the entire department and called him "gifted" and "full of potential."
Meanwhile, the person who actually wrote it—me—got a quick "Harper helped out too. Good work."
Everyone clapped and kept kissing his ass.
Why? Because everyone was convinced Reed was engaged to the CEO.
"Whoa, Harper, what's going on?"
Reed strolled over, looking down at me with fake concern.
"Why are you packing up? Did Bridget say something harsh?"
"Come on!Don't take it personally. She's rough around the edges, but she means well."
He reached out to stop me from closing the box. I sidestepped him.
I didn't even look at him. Just kept sweeping stuff into the cardboard.
He seemed bored by my lack of response, so his tone shifted—smug now.
"Hey, don't feel too bad. Just because this company didn't work out doesn't mean you're done. Tell you what—I'll have my fiancée keep an eye out for you. Get you a solid referral somewhere. Sound good?"
I finally stopped. Looked up at him. Said nothing.
He shifted uncomfortably but puffed out his chest anyway.
Boring.
I picked up the box, turned around, and walked.
"Harper!"
Jessa, the receptionist, came running up and grabbed my arm. Her eyes were red.
"This is so messed up. They're ridiculous!"
She was the only person in this place who actually treated me like a friend.
I patted her hand and slipped the voice recorder into her pocket. Quietly, I said, "Hold onto this for me."
She blinked, then nodded hard.
I didn't look back. Just kept walking toward the elevator, box in my arms.
As I passed the giant glass wall, I could see all their faces—each one wearing a different flavor of smugness or pity.
Chapter 3
Three days later, the company held a welcome dinner for the new hires.
I wasn't planning to go.
Showing up to celebrate your own firing? That's a punchline, not a plan.
But Jessa wouldn't stop calling. She practically blew up my phone.
"Harper, you're really not coming?"
"It's free food! Plus, you should see the look on Reed's face when he gets his little award. Girl, the audacity."
I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror—pale, exhausted—and almost said no.
But part of me wanted to see it.
Wanted to watch Reed bask in his victory while everyone clapped him on the back.
Before I could make up my mind, my phone rang again.
This time, my sister. Sloane.
"Harper. Where are you?"
Her voice was familiar—a little tired, but steady as ever.
"Home. Wait, aren't you in Europe? I thought you were still on that trip."
"Change of plans. Just landed." She paused, and I caught the faintest hint of amusement in her tone:
"Got a surprise for you tonight. A little gift to celebrate my baby sister landing her first real job."
My stomach dropped.
"What kind of surprise?"
"Not telling yet. Get dressed. I'll pick you up soon."
She hung up before I could ask anything else.
I stared at the black screen, dread pooling in my chest.
Meanwhile, at the Celestia Hotel ballroom, the air was thick with perfume, champagne, and forced laughter.
Sloane Graves stepped into the room in a Dior runway gown from the current season.
Every conversation stopped mid-sentence.
Because no one expected the CEO to show up at such a new hire welcome dinner.
She didn't acknowledge the executives trying to get her attention. Her eyes swept the room, searching.
Once. Twice.
She frowned slightly.
Harper wasn't here.
Her gaze finally landed on the reception table. Jessa.
She knew Jessa. Harper had mentioned her before—said she was the only real friend she had at the company.
Sloane walked straight over.
"Ms. Graves!"
Jessa nearly spilled her champagne. She straightened up fast.
"Where's Harper?"
"Harper? She—she's not feeling great today, so… she didn't come."
Sloane's eyes didn't leave hers. Her fingers absently twisted the ring on her right hand.
"Not feeling great?" she repeated, her tone flat. "I was on the phone with her ten minutes ago. She didn't mention that."
Jessa's face instantly went white. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
That reaction told Sloane everything she needed to know.
Something was very wrong.
