Watching the two of them scheme, I couldn't help but say:
"The boss isn't going to be interested in someone like you."
Maureen's face twisted with fury.
"You backwater nobody—what would you know?"
"Pay what you owe and shut your mouth. Once I'm the boss's wife, you won't even be worthy of kissing up to me!"
I said nothing.
Rupert's patience had run out. "I'm asking you one last time. Sixty-five thousand. Yes or no?"
I looked at him, my voice even. "No."
Rupert's eyes narrowed to slits, his tone dropping low.
"Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for what comes next."
He turned and waved over the security guards.
"Get this unauthorized factory grunt off the premises. Now."
On his order, several guards moved toward me, ready to drag me out.
Then, at the critical moment, someone in the crowd shouted: "Vice President Gallagher is here!"
Every head turned. The employees straightened up and greeted Desmond Gallagher with respectful nods as he approached.
Desmond scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed.
"What's going on here? Why is everyone gathered at the front gate?"
Rupert stepped forward immediately, wearing a sycophantic grin as he addressed Gallagher with exaggerated deference.
"Vice President Gallagher, I just caught someone who snuck into the company through the back door. No proper hiring process, no formal recruitment. He just slipped right in."
"And his attitude is absolutely appalling. Not only did he refuse to cooperate with my investigation, he was openly disrespectful to my face."
"I know the boss is coming today for the big meeting, so I wanted to get this guy thrown out before the boss arrives. Last thing we need is some nobody causing a scene in front of him."
Maureen chimed in from the side, nodding vigorously.
"Exactly! He didn't just weasel his way in through connections. He had the nerve to speculate about the boss's personal interests and hobbies, talking trash about him behind his back."
"Scum like that needs to be kicked to the curb immediately!"
Gallagher's expression darkened. "He dared disrespect the boss?"
"Take me to him. Now. I want to see who's got that kind of nerve."
Rupert jabbed a finger in my direction. "That piece of trash, right there!"
Gallagher followed the line of Rupert's hand, his gaze cutting through the gathered crowd until it landed on me.
The instant he saw my face, his eyes blew wide. His voice came out shaking.
"B-Boss?"
