Chapter 3

The next morning, I arrived at the company on time, wearing high heels and exquisite makeup.

I didn't report to Ethan's office. Instead, I went straight to my desk, took out a cardboard box, and began packing my things.

Just as I placed a few professional books into the box, Serena Monroe stormed over, absolutely furious.

"Summer Reed! What garbage did you send me yesterday! All those messed-up templates and nonsensical copy—that's your 'creative library'?! You dared to mess with me!"

Her sharp voice shattered the quiet of the office, and everyone peeked out to watch the show.

I paused, slowly raised my head, looking at her with a half-smile. "Director Monroe, how can you call this messing with you? Aren't you an Ivy League graduate with top honors? True creativity comes from the mind; those basic materials are just a foundation for a genius like you. Or... can you not even understand these simple things and have to rely on copying my original drafts to get work done?"

"You!" Serena's face flushed crimson as I struck a nerve.

Her eyes suddenly darted around, and she spotted the black external hard drive on my desk, which I hadn't unplugged yet.

That was my personal hard drive, containing all my hard work from the past three years, including the preliminary outlines of several major, unreleased proposals.

She lunged at it like a madwoman, ripping out the hard drive, clutching it tightly in her hand, her face twisted in a sneer. "Fine! If you won't give it to me, I'll destroy it! I'll make sure you get nothing either!"

With that, she turned and ran towards the water dispenser, threatening to throw the hard drive into the boiling water.

"Serena Monroe! How dare you!"

I was utterly enraged. I charged forward, grabbed a handful of her hair, and yanked hard.

"Ah!" Serena let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her hand loosened, and the hard drive dropped onto the carpet.

I kicked the hard drive behind me and then delivered a resounding slap across her face.

"Smack!"

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the office.

Serena clutched her face, looking at me in disbelief, tears instantly welling in her eyes.

"Summer Reed! What are you doing!"

A furious roar came from behind me. Ethan Vance strode over, charging forward, and roughly shoved me away.

His force was immense. I was completely unprepared and crashed heavily into the corner of a nearby desk. An excruciating pain shot through my lower back, and I groaned, falling to the floor.

Ethan didn't even glance at me. He lovingly embraced Serena, carefully checking the red mark on her face.

"Serena, are you okay? Does it hurt?"

Serena leaned into Ethan's chest, crying her heart out, tears streaming down her face, and pointed at me, accusing, "Ethan, I just wanted to borrow some files from Assistant Reed's hard drive to look at. Not only did she refuse, but she called me useless and even hit me... I'm so scared..."

Ethan suddenly turned his head, his eyes like knives, glaring at me. "Summer Reed! You've gone completely out of control! Serena is your superior; how dare you lay a hand on her? Apologize to Serena immediately! Otherwise, I'll have HR fire you right now!"

I leaned on the table corner, struggling to stand.

The pain in my lower back made me break into a cold sweat, but my spine was ramrod straight.

I looked at the man I had once loved, hated, and now only felt disgust for, and suddenly I laughed.

A laugh that was incredibly relieved, incredibly defiant.

"Fire me? Ethan Vance, you've got it wrong."

I walked to my desk, picked up the already packed cardboard box, and slammed the pre-printed resignation letter onto his face.

"It's me who's firing you."

Ethan was stunned by the resignation letter. Then, his face twisted into an expression of extreme contempt and mockery.

"Resign? Summer Reed, have you lost your mind? What do you think you are without me? A useless associate degree holder, what else can you do besides writing a few cringeworthy copies? Believe it or not, the moment you walk out that door, no company in this industry will dare hire you!"

"Within three days, you'll be crawling back on your knees, begging me to take you back!"

I looked at his arrogant and smug face and felt only sadness.

"Ethan Vance, remember what you said today. I hope our paths never cross again."

Clutching the cardboard box, I walked out of the company doors without looking back, ignoring all the shocked, scornful, and mocking gazes.

The sunlight outside was blinding, but I felt a warmth and freedom I had never experienced before.

Begging you in three days?

Sorry, but I already have an offer for Creative Director at Starwing Media.