Chapter 2

In the evening, Erin treated our department to dinner at a restaurant that cost $50 per person.

She was really generous.

With good food, everyone was naturally happy. Only I was out of place.

"Flora, it's all in the past now. Don't act like everyone owes you something."

I rolled my eyes at Leslie. "My salary this month is incorrect. I didn't get the project bonus."

Leslie turned away, pretending not to hear. I felt a sense of unease rising in my heart.

I pulled Leslie over. "The project bonus was $3,000. Why didn't I receive a penny?"

Seeing that I wouldn't let it go, he said, "The project is Erin's, so naturally the bonus is hers too."

No wonder she was being so generous today.

I lost the promotion, I can bear it.

I lost the bonus, I can bear that too.

But losing both the promotion and the bonus? I can't take it!

Leslie saw that I was angry and leaned in to whisper a warning in my ear. "Control yourself a bit. We'll talk about this later."

I threw a glass of red wine in Leslie's face. "Control myself? Screw you!"

The previously lively private room suddenly fell silent. Everyone stared at us in confusion.

Leslie struggled to contain his anger. "Haha, it's nothing. Flora just lost her grip on the wine glass. Please, everyone, carry on."

Erin was the first to react. She quickly grabbed some napkins and started wiping the wine off Leslie's face. "Flora, you're a grown woman. How can you be so clumsy?"

I used to think she was cute, having just graduated and with a baby face. Her soft-spoken manner made me instinctively want to take care of her more.

Now I see I took care of her too well. Even my boyfriend is hers now.

Just look at how intimate they are. If there's nothing going on between them, I'll eat my hat.

Erin finished wiping Leslie's face and was about to say something to me, but I spoke first. "Don't yell at me. I've been afraid of dogs since I was little."

Leslie slammed the table and stood up, pointing at me. "Flora, when will you stop? Everyone's here to celebrate Erin's promotion. Don't ruin everyone's mood with your emotions."

Siding with an outsider against his girlfriend, Leslie really outdid himself.

I busted my ass off, and now all my achievements have been stolen. I'm supposed to swallow my blood and tears and happily celebrate for the person who stole my bonus and position?

My life is just as valuable as hers.

I'm not happy today, so no one else gets to be happy either, especially Erin and Leslie.

I knocked down Leslie's hand pointing at me. "Your happiness is none of my business." Then I turned to Erin, "No merit, no hard work. I don't know what shady methods you used, but since you got it, keep your tail between your legs. Don't act like you're so capable. It's disgusting."

Erin's face turned red, unable to come up with a retort for a long time. She only knew how to play the victim. "Flora, I know you're upset about not being chosen. You misunderstand me, but I don't blame you."

Then she reddened her eyes, tears welling up, looking pitiful.

Seeing this, several male colleagues began to criticize me. "Flora, you're going too far. We've known Erin for so long. We know what kind of person she is. The company must have its reasons for choosing her."

Erin usually sweet-talks these guys, calling them "brother" this and that, acting cute. These men in the department just eat it up.

"Yeah, you're so generous. Since you completed the project, why don't you give her the credit? I remember last month's bonus was $2,000, right? Transfer it! Do it right in front of me! Let me learn what kind of reason it is."

I stood on the chair, looking down at the male colleague, holding his phone up to his eyes.

The male colleague stood there woodenly, not speaking or taking the phone.

"Use your brain before you open your mouth next time."

I turned to another male colleague who had criticized me. "I know you don't speak well, but you don't have to spew garbage with your mouth."

Seeing my increasingly arrogant attitude, Leslie put on his leadership act. "Flora, I order you to apologize to Erin right now."

"I'm not in customer service. I'm not good at apologizing for things that aren't my fault."

After I finished speaking, Erin's tears came pouring down. Even while crying, she didn't forget to disgust me one more time. "I'm... sorry. It's all my fault... for making everyone unhappy."

I didn't forget to keep fanning the flames. "That's right, it's all your fault."

"Flora, if you don't want to eat, just get out of here."

Who says I don't want to eat? When someone else is paying, why wouldn't I eat? Not only will I eat, but I'll eat well.

I called the waiter over to order more dishes. When he came in, his eyes darted frantically between us.

After all, at our table, some people had iron-gray faces, some had black faces, some were in tears, and then there was me with a smile I couldn't hide.

Today, I offended a lot of people at this dinner without realizing it. Sorry, I'll dare to do it again next time.

You need to know that although I can't make everyone happy, I can make everyone unhappy.