Chapter 1

After a month of continuous overtime, my dark circles were worse than a raccoon's. I finally managed to complete the project successfully.

I was eagerly waiting for a promotion and a raise.

The manager called me into his office. "Flora, you've been doing great lately. Keep up the good work."

I nodded frantically, waiting for more.

?

Silence.

I waited a bit longer, still silence.

"Is that all?" I asked.

The manager seemed to snap out of a trance. "Oh right, I almost forgot the main thing."

I knew it. How could there just be verbal praise?

"Here are the materials for the new project. You'll be in charge again. Try to wrap it up in a month."

Looking at the pile of documents half a foot high, I felt as sick as if I'd eaten something rotten.

"Wasn't I supposed to be promoted to supervisor after completing this project?"

The manager got up from his chair and walked over to me, patting my shoulder. "Flora, you're still young. You'll have plenty of opportunities. Besides, this is just a small supervisor position. After you complete a few more projects, I'll apply to headquarters for an exception to promote you to manager."

I didn't buy his empty promises at all. "So who got it this time?"

"Erin."

A newcomer who'd been here less than six months.

"Leslie, what do you mean? You're not promoting me but a newbie instead? Did you hit your head or something?"

The manager wasn't just my boss but also my boyfriend. He knew better than anyone how hard I'd worked for this promotion opportunity.

Forget about holidays, I'd been working around the clock.

"Leslie, you'd better give me an explanation, or no one's going to have a good time."

Leslie's face darkened. "Flora, this is the company. I'm your superior. Just follow orders."

Then his tone became more soothing. "Flora, I'm your boyfriend. How could I hurt you? I worked hard to get this project for you. You'll get your rewards later, okay?"

It's always next time. "Stop making empty promises. I'm not falling for it."

When I returned to my desk with the documents, Erin was receiving congratulations from our colleagues.

As soon as she saw me, she rushed over and hugged me. "Flora, I'm so sorry. I don't know why the boss chose me. We all thought it would be you. You're not mad at me, are you?"

"I'll go ask the manager right away if there's been a mistake."

I pushed her away irritably. "Sure, why wait? Go ask him now."

Erin's expression changed. She lowered her head and said nothing. After a while, she sent a message in the group chat saying she wanted to treat everyone to dinner.

Instantly, the group chat was filled with congratulations.

It was so annoying.

"Flora, you're coming, right? I want your blessing the most. If it weren't for your constant help, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."

"Everyone says you're stupid and incompetent, but now it seems you're quite smart. You know you don't deserve it."

"Erin, weren't you going to ask the manager? Why haven't you gone yet? It turns out your gratitude to me was all fake." I deliberately softened my tone, sounding pitiful.

Erin stood across from me, speechless, her face awkward.

She really thought everyone would fall for her fake act.

How ridiculous.