Chapter 2

Right before clocking out, I called my assistant, Angela, into my office and had her announce the company’s latest layoff list.

Vivian’s name was right at the top.

But Vivian didn’t know yet, because she had already sneaked out early.

Using our friendship as an excuse, she constantly showed up late, left early, and did zero actual work. She just occupied a desk, collected a fat paycheck, and even managed to smuggle her lazy relatives into our entry-level positions.

She was using my money to fund her glamorous lifestyle.

Normally, if it didn't cause a major disaster, I shut my eyes for the sake of our history. But things were different now.

I wasn't about to spend another penny feeding ungrateful parasites.

Sure enough, before I even reached the parking lot, one of Vivian’s gossip buddies in the office leaked the news to her. My phone rang instantly.

"Sophia! Why is my name on the layoff list? You didn’t even give me a heads-up!"

I sneered in silence. I was the boss. Since when did I need her permission to fire someone?

But when I spoke, my voice sounded depressed and exhausted:

"Vivian, you know the company’s current situation isn't great."

"Plus, you’ve brought in so many of your relatives lately. The company payroll just can’t sustain them anymore."

The company was indeed facing a temporary hurdle, but I already had a solid solution in place. I just didn't tell her.

She snapped, panic dripping from her voice. "What? Then fire them! Why do you have to fire me?!"

Of course. If she got fired, where else would she find such an easy, high-paying job to maintain her fake, high-society persona on Instagram?

I feigned helpless guilt.

"But what would your relatives say if I only kept you?"

"Besides, you’ve been leaving early to go on dates every single day lately. I couldn’t even find you to discuss this."

She choked, suddenly flustered.

"What... what dates? There are no dates! I’ve just been feeling under the weather, so I went home early."

"Listen, Sophia, you’re the boss. Figure something else out! Fire them, but keep me on the payroll!"

With a loud beep, she hung up on me.

I didn't bother calling back to expose her lies. I knew exactly how many times she had met Marcus this week and what they talked about.