Chapter 2

There was one week left until New Year's Day.

I pulled out the work records, preparing to organize the monthly employee bonuses.

Ever since I took over the company my father founded, I'd always stuck to an employee-first principle.

Not only did I max out meal allowances and benefits, I also maxed out monthly bonuses. I even made sure all employees' family members had comprehensive health and accident insurance.

Just then, broken fragments of conversation drifted in through the crack in the door.

"Did you guys hear? Finance Manager Margaret just said our company hasn't had any income for three consecutive months!"

"Starting this month, they probably won't even be able to pay full salaries!"

The speaker's voice wasn't quiet. All the employees were startled, letting out sharp gasps of surprise.

"No way! Ever since Mr. Sullivan took over the company, he's never been late with our salaries. All the benefits have been even better than before..."

"Exactly... maybe... maybe the company's just going through temporary difficulties, so..."

A few veteran employees voiced their disagreement in small voices.

But the man who'd spoken first cut them off sharply with his piercing voice.

"You people are ridiculous! You've all been fooled by these little tactics the company uses to win hearts!"

"Why do we work so hard every day like corporate slaves? Isn't it all for that paycheck? If a company can't even pay salaries, why should we sympathize with capitalists?"

"If you ask me, we should get out before the company goes under. If we're lucky, we might even squeeze out some severance money!"

I raised an eyebrow and couldn't help standing up, walking to the one-way glass window to carefully examine the employees outside.

Perhaps because his words were too harsh, the employees who'd always been passionate about their work all wore thoughtful, worried expressions.

As for the person brazenly stirring up trouble...

It was none other than the young man my dad had just shoved into the company last month, supposedly the "son of a good friend"... Zachary Sullivan!

That afternoon, Zachary knocked on my office door with an embarrassed expression.

As soon as he entered, he plopped himself down across from me without ceremony.

"Mr. Sullivan! I'm Zachary Sullivan, a new employee who just joined last month. I'm here to ask a question on behalf of all the company's employees!"

I suppressed the urge to laugh and nodded slightly, indicating he should continue.

"It's like this! As far as I know, the company's financial situation is very bad. Even though we've always had projects in progress, starting three months ago..."

"None of our partners have delivered payments on time!"

"As the boss, don't you know the company account situation? Are you planning to delay our employees' salaries and benefits next?"

I lowered my eyelids slightly and responded at the right moment.

"Sullivan Corporation has been established for over ten years. In all that time, the company has never delayed employee salaries or benefits."

"In certain aspects, we at Sullivan Corp far exceed other companies."

"Where did you hear that we're about to delay employee salaries?"

Zachary was stumped by my response. He coughed dryly before stammering out a reply.

"I... I'm just... being cautious..."

"After all... after all, the company has so many employees. I'm just trying to find peace of mind for everyone!"

Under my half-smiling gaze, Zachary's face turned red and he turned to leave directly.

I didn't take this little episode seriously.

Because ever since my father founded Sullivan Corp, most employees had grown alongside the company.

Although the company wasn't huge, I believed no one would be foolish enough to trust a newly hired idiot over the company itself.

But that evening, a viral local post shattered my assumptions.