Chapter 3

On the day of the exit interview, I arrived on time.

HR Director Andrew said:

"You're Serena, right? Sit."

I sat down.

He flipped through some documents and looked up at me.

"Serena, I'll be direct. The company isn't satisfied with your performance."

"What about it isn't satisfactory?"

"All aspects, really." He shrugged.

"You don't fit in, you're not proactive, your work output isn't high..."

I interrupted him:

"That market analysis report—the one Maxwell praised on Instagram—I wrote that."

He paused.

"That... wasn't that from Rachel's team?"

"The byline said Rachel's Team, but I was the original author."

He frowned:

"Do you have proof?"

I smiled.

"Director, I'm here today to listen to what you have to say, not to argue with you. Please continue."

He was taken aback but quickly recovered.

"Anyway, the company's position is that we hope you'll voluntarily resign."

"What if I don't?"

"Don't?"

He took off his glasses and wiped them.

"That would be rather complicated."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear. If I didn't leave, the isolation would continue.

But I stood up and said bluntly:

"I'm not leaving."

He froze.

I looked at him calmly and said:

"I will not voluntarily resign. If the company wants to fire me, follow proper procedure. Labor law requires written notice with stated reasons for contract termination."

"You..."

"And let me remind you," I paused,

"Every time my work was credited to someone else, every time I was deliberately isolated—I have records. If the company wants to take this to court, I'm ready."

His expression changed.

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked out.

Walking out of HR, I took a deep breath.

Back at my desk, I noticed the atmosphere had changed.

Before, they treated me like I didn't exist. Now it was hostility.

I opened my document. It was already several pages long.

Dates, incidents, people involved, sources of evidence.

Before I came here, I'd done my homework.

This branch had been bottom-ranked in performance for three consecutive years.

This department had issues with expense reimbursements for two straight years.

This manager, Rachel—annual salary of $120,000, but virtually zero performance.

Headquarters had wanted to take action for a long time, but they didn't have evidence.

So they sent me.

My official title was "clerk." In reality, I was the head of headquarters' audit team.

I was here to fire them.