I have the Midas touch. All I have to do is sit in an office, and deals start rolling in.

The vice president treated me like a queen, terrified I’d jump ship.

But then, the CEO’s childhood sweetheart parachuted into the company, taking the VP’s job.

She stormed up to my desk, picked up her coffee, and dumped it over my head.

“It’s working hours. Who gave you permission to nap? It’s because of corporate parasites like you that this company is failing!”

“Your bonus for this month is gone. And I want a five-thousand-word self-criticism on my desk by tomorrow morning.”

I stared at her, utterly bewildered. The whole situation was absurd.

I was tired because I’d spent all night closing a ten-million-dollar deal. My manager had specifically told me to catch a nap during the day if I needed it.

I hadn’t even been asleep for two minutes, and now I was being branded a parasite?

Before I could even form a defense, she had already clicked away on her high heels.

My manager, Mark, hurried over, his face etched with sympathy. “Aria, that’s the future Mrs. CEO. She has a thing against pretty girls. I’m afraid things are about to get rough for you.”

So that was it. Well, that made things simple. I’d just leave.

I had plenty of other companies trying to headhunt me. This one wouldn’t be a loss.

1.

The moment I got home, I contacted the CEO of Hudson Corporation.

They had previously offered me a seven-figure salary, but I’d turned them down out of loyalty to the vice president who had mentored me.

Now that she was gone and this lunatic was in charge, it was time to get out.

I sent a message and got an immediate reply.

“Handle your transition. You start next month. I’ll add another fifty thousand to your original offer. I look forward to working with you.”

My reputation as a business magnet wasn’t just talk. When I’d first joined this company, it was a second-rate firm that couldn’t land a major contract to save its life. After I arrived, not only did the deals start pouring in, but investors came knocking too.

But on any day I took off, the company couldn’t close a single deal.

The former VP, Ms. Miller, had even half-jokingly consulted a fortune teller who told her I had the Midas touch, better than any lucky charm. She did everything in her power to keep me, practically chaining me to my desk.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t fight the powers that be. A parachute promotion pushed her out.

I walked up to Stella’s office with my resignation letter in hand.

She didn’t let me in right away. Instead, she sat there, primping in a compact mirror while video-chatting and giggling with her friends.

I stood outside her door for a full thirty minutes before she finally deigned to speak. “Come in.”

As I held out my letter, she looked me up and down with disdain. “Your name is Aria Lin, right? This is a place of business, not a brothel. Who are you trying to seduce, dressed like that?”

“No wonder you have the most deals. So this is how you do it—with cheap tricks. Let me tell you something. My fiancé’s company doesn’t do dirty business.”

In my twenty-plus years, I had never been spoken to like that. I couldn’t stop myself from retorting.

“Ms. Xia, I’m wearing the standard company uniform. And I landed those deals with my own skills. If you continue to insult me, we can settle this in court.”

Stella’s eyes widened in fury. She grabbed a teacup from her desk and threw its contents at me.

Thankfully, I was ready for it and dodged sideways, avoiding the splash.

2.

“You little tramp, you dare to dodge? Don’t think you can do whatever you want around here just because you have a pretty face. Landon and I are engaged. I am going to be Mrs. Lu, and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get on your knees and apologize right now. If you do, I might consider letting you stay. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can never work in this city again!”

She was screaming like a madwoman, her finger practically in my nose. I took a few steps back, disgusted, and tried to treat her ranting like a yapping dog.

Just then, Mark, my manager, rushed in.

He shot me a sympathetic look before turning to Stella respectfully. “Ms. Xia, Mr. Hayes is on the phone. He says he has a deal he’d like to discuss with Aria.”

He leaned in and whispered, “Ms. Xia, there’s something special about Aria. She’s like a good luck charm. The company’s success has been riding on her since the day she got here. I know you don’t like her, but…”

Stella rolled her eyes and cut him off. “Are you insane, Mark? What kind of superstitious nonsense is that? I refuse to believe this company can’t function without this little tramp!”

She glared at me, her voice shrill. “So you’ve even seduced the manager. You really are shameless, aren’t you? You’ll jump into bed with anyone who can give you an advantage, is that it?”

The sheer venom was baffling. I felt a throb in my temples. I told myself a million times not to argue with an idiot, but I couldn’t help it.

“With all due respect, if you don’t have anything intelligent to say, you should probably keep your mouth shut. You start spouting filth the moment you wake up. Were you a sewer in a past life?”

“All you talk about is seduction and vixens. Anyone would think I stole your husband.”

“Then again,” I added, “if I looked like you, I’d probably feel insecure around beautiful people too.”

Screw it. I was quitting anyway.

Stella’s face contorted with rage. “So that’s it!” she spat. “No wonder Landon is always talking about you at home. You have been shamelessly throwing yourself at him!”

Aha. So Landon was the one who threw me under the bus.

Stella stared at me as if she wanted to tear a chunk out of my flesh. She turned to Mark. “From now on, all of Aria’s accounts are to be handed over to someone else. Her new job is cleaning the bathrooms. No pay until they’re spotless!”

Mark looked horrified. Who makes their top salesperson clean toilets? It was financial suicide.

“Ms. Xia, Aria’s clients are all long-term partners. If we suddenly switch their contact, I’m worried they’ll…”

Stella cut him off impatiently. “They’re long-term clients, so they won’t mind a new contact person. Just do as I say.”

She shot me a triumphant look, her eyes falling on the letter in my hand. A smirk played on her lips. “Is that the self-criticism I asked for? I don’t feel like reading it today. Go back and write twenty thousand words. By hand. I’ll be checking it personally.”

This woman was certifiable.

I was done. I placed the resignation letter on her desk. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have time for that nonsense. I quit. This is my resignation.”

3.

Mark looked like he was about to have a heart attack. “Aria, you can’t!” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “You’ve been with us for years, working so hard. You haven’t even gotten your year-end bonus yet! Don’t be impulsive!”

Stella tsked, picking up the letter with two fingers. She glanced at it and scoffed. “Quitting? What kind of act is this? Who else besides Lu Corp is going to pay you a million-dollar salary? I think we’ve spoiled you, made you think you can threaten me with leaving.”

For a top sales rep of my caliber, other companies were starting their offers at one and a half million. If it wasn’t for my history with Lu Corp, I would have been gone long ago.

I didn’t bother arguing. “I will ensure a smooth handover of my work. My last day will be the first of next month.”

Stella’s look was pure mockery. “Fine. I’d love to see who’d want a piece of trash like you who only knows how to sleep her way to the top.”

Mark looked like he was about to cry. The company’s golden goose was leaving. The company was doomed. He decided then and there to start looking for a new job.

I walked out. As soon as I got back to my desk, a colleague leaned over. “Aria, are you okay? I heard Ms. Xia yelling. She sounded vicious.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. Let her do what she wants. I’m leaving next month anyway.”

A collective gasp went through the office.

“You’re quitting? Oh god, we’re all finished!”

“Is Ms. Xia crazy? She’s kicking out her own money-maker!”

“Alright everyone, you heard her. Time to polish up those résumés. Let’s get out of here while we still can.”

The sounds of despair from the office reached Stella’s ears. Her face flushed with anger, she stormed out. “Who said you could gossip on company time? I’m docking everyone’s pay by a thousand dollars! If I hear it again, I’ll double it!”

Her eyes landed on me, and she gritted her teeth. “Aria Lin, get your ass over to Mr. Hayes and sign that contract. If you fail, you can forget about your commission for this month.”

She was clearly panicking. Mr. Hayes must have rejected her proposal to switch contacts and insisted on me.

This month, I’d closed seven major deals. The commission alone was over three hundred thousand dollars. I’d just bought a new penthouse and my savings were a little thin.

With that in mind, I grabbed my bag and headed for the restaurant.

Mr. Hayes beamed when he saw me. “Ms. Lin, you’re finally here! I have to tell you, the day after our last meeting, my company’s stock jumped several points.”

“It’s a shame you’re always so busy. It’s impossible to get a meeting with you.”

He pulled a box from his pocket and handed it to me. Inside was an exquisite Imperial Green jade bracelet. Other clients gave me gifts, but this was on another level. It was far too valuable.

I tried to refuse, but he feigned anger. “Ms. Lin, are you trying to disrespect me?”

Put like that, it would have been rude to decline. I accepted the bracelet and we signed the contract.

Back at the office, I went to the finance department to file my expense report for the meal. The accountant was about to process it when Stella, like a bad omen, burst in.

She snatched the receipt and her brow furrowed. “What kind of meal costs over three thousand dollars? Did you conspire with the restaurant to skim money from the company?”

Was she serious? It was a multi-million-dollar deal. Was I supposed to take the client to a street food stall instead of a five-star hotel?

Before I could respond, the accountant explained, “Ms. Xia, Mr. Lu’s policy is that any deal over half a million dollars can be celebrated at a five-star restaurant. Aria hasn’t broken any rules.”

Being contradicted sent Stella into a rage. “Who are you to question me? I see this little tramp has bought you off too!”

The accountant stared, aghast. “Ms. Xia, how can you say that?”

Stella sneered. “Accuse you? You’re not even worth the effort. You’re fired. Pack your things and get out. Now.”