Chapter 1

On my first day at work, I received a carpool notice.

[I'm three weeks pregnant and the company is quite far from my home.]

[After verification, your car exceeds 400,000 dollars and has been on the road for less than a year. It meets my vehicle requirements.]

[From now on, you will be responsible for sending me to and from work every day. You mustn't be late.]

Looking at the message, I laughed out of sheer anger.

I usually had a dedicated driver for my outings. After starting work, I had my family buy this inconspicuous car to keep things low-key.

I replied directly: [No thanks!]

Unexpectedly, the next day, Xenia Salter exploited her authority over the attendance records and marked me as arriving late and leaving early and deducted my salary.

Since she was so shameless, she should not blame me for what was to come.

Chapter 1

I looked at the message and almost laughed at the sheer audacity of it. How could there be someone who took advantage of others so brazenly?

I simply ignored it.

Unexpectedly, Xenia Salter walked right up to my workstation and tapped on my partition. "I'm pregnant and need a private car for transportation. I think your car is quite good. Since you have to go home after work anyway, it wouldn't be a hassle for you to give me a ride on the way."

After a pause, she added matter-of-factly, "By the way, you have to leave work at 5pm. I also need to rush home to cook for my husband."

Her attitude was disgusting.

I usually had a driver for my outings. Who the hell was she, and what right did she have to make me her driver? Besides, I did not even know where she lived, so how could it be "on the way"?

Then I suddenly remembered that she was the company's HR; she must have checked the home address I filled in when I joined the company.

Not wanting to get into an argument, I directly said, "Sorry, Xenia. My driving skills are terrible; I can't differentiate between the accelerator and the brake, and I always brake too abruptly. For the safety of you and your baby, let's just forget it."

I thought a gentle refusal would deter her. Unexpectedly, her voice suddenly rose, "You can't drive, and you bought a car? You're way too young to own a car like this. Are you sure it's legit? Was it a gift from some 'sugar daddy' or ‘sugar mama’?

"Nowadays, young girls like to date rich men; are young men also chasing after wealthy women?"

Our colleagues around us all turned to look.

This pissed me off.

Yes, my dad was my "sugar daddy," so what was wrong with him buying me a car? This was already the most inconspicuous car in our home.

Just as I was about to speak, my team leader suddenly interrupted, adopting a peacemaker tone, "Alex Rockman, colleagues should help each other. Xenia had a hard time getting pregnant; what's wrong with giving her a ride? You're young and should learn more about social etiquette."

Listening to his condescending "lectures," I felt nauseous.

I wondered, 'I’m not the child's father; why should I give her a ride?'

I said nothing more. I simply stared at the screen and coldly replied, "I have to work."

After getting off work, I had just unlocked the car door when the passenger door was yanked open. Xenia nimbly climbed in and even fastened her seatbelt.

I stood frozen outside the driver's seat. "What are you doing? Get out. I want to go home."

"I'm going home too." She adjusted her posture without hesitation. "I notified you this morning. Look, it's already five minutes past closing time. This time, it’s just a reminder; next time you'll be fined according to the rules."

"I told you this morning that I’m a bad driver. It's inconvenient to give you a ride," I said curtly, my hand on the car door.

She chuckled, a smug glint in her eyes. "I checked the security footage and saw how you smoothly backed into that narrow parking space. You’re good. Why act like a newbie with me?”

The last bit of my patience dissipated. My voice turned cold. "Get out."

She crossed her arms, sitting firmly, even adjusting her seat back, with an attitude that said, "I won't get out; what can you do about it?"

I stopped arguing and turned to walk toward the security booth. "Security!"

I had just called out when a colleague who was about to drive away rushed over, grabbed my arm, and whispered urgently.

Chapter 2

"Alex! Stop shouting! Xenia is notorious for being difficult in our company. She has good connections with the higher-ups and her family holds influence here. You won't get anywhere by arguing with her!"

He glanced at my car and spoke earnestly. "Hear me out. Just give her a ride tonight. Just consider yourself unlucky. Just say your car broke down and you sent it for repair tomorrow. Take the subway for a few days and avoid her. If you can't beat her, just steer clear of her."

Why should I need anyone's permission to drive my own car? Why should I have to pretend to be poor or even pretend my car broke down just to avoid her?

This absurdity made my anger surge straight to my head.

"Thanks, but no thanks." I shook his hand away, my tone unprecedentedly firm.

I walked back to the car door and looked at the person sitting calmly inside, saying clearly, "Xenia, I'm telling you one last time. Get out of the car. Otherwise, I'll call the police right away.

"I'll sue you for illegally taking someone else's property and disrupting public order. There are cameras here and the evidence is conclusive."

Not expecting me to be serious, her expression changed instantly. "How do you call yourself a man? Have you no sense of compassion? Do you even understand what workplace camaraderie and mutual support mean? Look at me now..."

She deliberately stuck out her still-flat belly, her voice suddenly rising, sharp and piercing. "I'm pregnant and it's inconvenient for me. Is it too much to ask you to give me a ride? Isn't this what a man like you should do and take responsibility for?

"But what do you do? You’re making excuses and telling lies!"

She grew more and more agitated as she spoke, her fingers almost poking my face as her spit flew from her mouth.

"A grown man like you can't tell the difference between the accelerator and the brake? And you even want to call the police? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

"You wanna make things difficult for a pregnant woman over such a small favor? Where's your sense of responsibility? Where's your magnanimity? How do you call yourself a man?

"Men these days are so selfish! They have no sense of responsibility or manners!"

"How were you raised? What use is a man like you to the company? What use is a man like you to society? It’s your honor to have me ride in your car! I'm giving you a chance to learn how to be a cultured and compassionate man!

"Don't think I don't know just because you didn't say it. You actually have a crush on me, but you're unwilling to put in the effort, seeing that I'm pregnant and already taken. I'm giving you the chance to be my personal driver now. Don't be ungrateful; I'm giving you a chance!"

Hearing her shameless remarks, I was so angry I laughed instead. I rested my hands on the car roof, looking down at her.

"Where do you get the confidence to say I like you? And you're lecturing me about character? You illegally occupied someone else's private property without so much as asking, then had the nerve to threaten me with a fine. What right do you have to mention 'camaraderie'?

"You want a ride in my car? Let me tell you that there’s no way that’s happening. Not today, not tomorrow and not ever. Now, get the hell out immediately!"

A crowd of onlookers stopped to watch, pointing and whispering.

Xenia's face flushed red and then paled. "Fine! Alex, you've got guts!"

She abruptly unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed open the car door. "Just you wait and see!"

The next day, I found the company quite bustling as soon as I arrived.

"He's so young, yet he's driving an Audi worth over 400,000 dollars. Tsk, he's quite 'capable'."

"I was just trying to be helpful. Seeing how young he is, I was worried he might go down the wrong path, so I gave him a friendly reminder. Who knew he'd get so worked up, exploding at the slightest provocation? What kind of manners is that?" Xenia said.

A colleague who knew her well immediately chimed in, their voice loud. "Xenia, why are you taking this kind of guy so seriously? Men who want to take shortcuts have plenty of ways to do it. Don't they feel ashamed?"

Another colleague leaned closer. "Exactly! He’s driving a car like that at such a young age; who knows what kind of shady business he's involved in? We should all steer clear of him. Who knows what kind of dirty secrets he might have? Let's not get involved in anything disreputable."

Chapter 3

The group exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

I walked straight over. "Are you done? "

Their laughter abruptly stopped and they turned to look at me.

I glanced at Xenia and the others. "I heard every word you just said. The statements about me having a 'sugar daddy', 'shady', and 'having an infectious disease' — who among you has evidence? Photos? Audio recordings? Or proof?"

Xenia gave me a sideways glance. "Oh, panicking? If you don't want people to find out, don't do it. You're an intern driving a nice car, yet people can't even talk about you?"

I stared at her. "Spreading rumors without evidence is defamation. I can sue you."

"Sue me?" Xenia seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke. She crossed her arms. "Alex, haven't you figured out the situation yet? I'm the HR! I decide who joins the company and passes their internship! You want to sue me?"

She stepped forward, her finger almost touching my nose.

"Let me tell you, your internship evaluation is up to me. If I say you don't pass, you're fired! Trying to fight me? You're still too young!"

The air around us seemed to freeze.

Many people glanced over furtively before quickly lowering their heads.

Looking at the arrogant face before me, I suddenly felt it was pointless to waste words on someone like her. "Let's see if you have that kind of power and if you can do whatever you want."

With that said, I turned and went up to the rooftop.

I took out my phone and called my dad's assistant, Raymond Jarvis. "Investigate a few people for me: Enlight Technology's HR manager, Xenia Salter. Find out who hired her and what connections she has; the more detailed the better.

"Also, investigate the company's CEO, Kirk Wilson and what kind of dealings he has with Xenia or her connections. Yes, do it as soon as possible."

"Understood, Sir. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

Hanging up, I pressed the phone to my cool forehead and took a few deep breaths.

I came here to learn from the bottom and steadily accumulate some experience.

This was my father's way of tempering me, so I kept a low profile. I never drove the family car or used my family connections, so hardly anyone knew I was a wealthy heir.

However, it seemed like my humility and yielding had become a weakness some people thought they could take advantage of at will. It became their excuse to slander me after and hide their own failures at success.

'Fine. Since you're so eager to flaunt your pitiful power by trying to push me around, I don't need to go easy on you,' I thought.

That afternoon, I tried to focus on work, but I could always sense other people looking at me, their gazes containing different meanings.

Finally, it was time to leave work. I packed my things, clocked out and went downstairs.

When I reached the parking lot and saw the outline of my car in the distance, my heart sank and I ran quickly toward it. Then, I saw a scene that almost froze me where I stood.

I saw the scratch. It was long — from the front door to the back door, and it was painfully obvious.

The janitor lady stood to one side, looking uneasy as she rubbed her hands together.

Xenia came over, watching the spectacle. "The janitor lady was pushing her cart and accidentally scratched it. Ouch, it's quite a scratch."

Looking at the straight scratch, I suppressed my anger. "This doesn't look like it was done by a cart."

"Alright, alright, the janitor lady doesn't earn much. Your car is expensive; don't make her pay for it. You're not short of money, so have some compassion."

Not wanting to say anything more, I immediately called the police.

When the police arrived, I explained the situation.

The police officer looked at the scratch and questioned the janitor lady.

She was frightened, repeatedly claiming she did not do it.

"Is there CCTV footage?" the police officer asked.

The security captain came over, looking troubled. "Officer, unfortunately, the CCTV here broke yesterday and hasn't been repaired yet."

Chapter 4

"What a coincidence, huh?" I looked at the security captain.

The police officer examined the scratch, and then the janitor lady, before saying to me, "Sir, this scratch doesn't seem to be the result of an accidental scratch, but there's no evidence. She looks troubled and can't afford to compensate you. How about you handle it by yourself through insurance?"

I knew I could not do anything without evidence, so I nodded.

The police officer reminded us to take care and left.

As soon as the police car left, Xenia immediately came up to me, looking smug. "Alex, do you admit defeat now? I told you that every company has its rules. Anyone who offends me will face a miserable end. Did you think that was all?"

She took another step closer. "I've submitted your attendance record. Late arrivals, early departures, poor performance, and you failed your probation. You don't have to come tomorrow. You're fired."

I retorted, "You don't have the right to fire me. You're just the HR. The appointment and dismissal decisions are made by Mr. Wilson."

"Ha, don't believe me? Fine, let's go upstairs and talk to the manager now!"

We returned to the office.

Xenia's tone was aggrieved. "Alex Rockman has gone too far. He's always late and leaves early. His work performance is terrible, and today he even called the police, damaging the company's image."

"This is his attendance record and evaluation; it's written clearly. I recommend firing him." She placed several sheets of paper on the table.

Director Eden Rice picked them up and frowned. He looked at me and then at Xenia, pointing to a spot on the attendance record. "Xenia, I remember Alex went out with me for work that day, so he's not considered late, right?"

Xenia's expression changed. "Ah, maybe I'm mistaken. I'll go back and check."

"And this evaluation..." Eden put down the paper, his tone serious. "It's too subjective with no specifics. Xenia, HR records must be objective, not emotional. This won't do; take it back and redo it."

Xenia was stunned, not expecting the manager to be like this. "Mr. Rice, he..."

At that moment, the door opened, and Kirk walked in.

"What's all the commotion about?" He looked me over before staring at me, "Are you the new intern, Alex Rockman?"

"Yes, it's me."

"I heard about you! So what if you drive a nice car? We asked you to give a pregnant colleague a ride, yet you made all sorts of excuses, even to the extent of threatening to call the police! You aren’t helpful or a team player at all! Our company doesn't need selfish employees like you!"

He pointed at the documents in Xenia's hand. "Is the dismissal process complete? Keeping someone like this is bad practice! Let him go immediately! If he causes any more trouble, call the police and say he was causing a disruption!"

Xenia nodded immediately.

I looked at them, finding it a little funny. "Xenia, if I picked you up from work every day, brought you breakfast and good food, would you have let me stay?"

The office fell silent for a moment.

Xenia did not expect me to be so direct. Her expression was a little unnatural, but she quickly raised her chin.

She did not answer me, but instead said to Kirk in a magnanimous tone, "Mr. Wilson, he's young and doesn't know any better. Maybe he just made a foolish mistake. Why don't we give him another chance?

"As long as he admits he was wrong, follows instructions from now on, and gets along with his coworkers, I don't see why we can't keep him."

Kirk scoffed and glared at me. "Did you hear that? Ms. Salter gave you a chance! If she hadn't pleaded for you, you'd be out of here right now! Hurry and thank her."

I stayed silent as I looked at Xenia.

Thinking I had given in, she became more smug, even waving her hand hypocritically. "There’s no need to thank me. Just behave yourself and remember to pick me up on time tomorrow. For breakfast, the lobster roll and soy latte at Deluxe at the intersection are good. Got it?"

I did not answer. I merely turned and walked out of the manager's office.

The door closed.

Xenia's smiling voice came from inside, "Kirk, you really have authority. These youngsters need to be taught a lesson."

I walked to the fire escape, took out my phone and called my friend Andrew Sheffield. He was my childhood friend, and his favorite thing was racing.