A Man's Snack is His Downfall

"Choose wisely," I said.

Chase did not hesitate. "Impossible! My company operates by strict rules. I can't fire someone over private squabbles. You're asking me to abuse my authority."

I nodded and rose to my feet. "Understood."

I turned toward the door.

He sprang up and grabbed my arm. "Enough of this theatrical nonsense, Greta! I've had enough!"

"Hands off!" I slapped his hand away. "Why are you shouting at me over a choice you made? Last I checked, we are not in an open relationship. What are you now, some chieftain from ancient times with multiple wives? Should I start a harem of my own to make things fair?"

"Greta, listen to me—"

"No. Fuck off."

The first thing I did after returning home was remove Chase's thumbprint profile from our security doors.

The message was simple: "You're only allowed to come home after you finish the 100 cups of instant mac 'n' cheese!"

To his credit, Chase did not come back that night out of spite. That evening, however, I received another message from Eve.

Imogen had updated her status again, this time displaying a bracelet from Van Cleef & Arpels.

The caption read: [A special gift of comfort, bestowed only on a princess.]

"Well, well, well. I might not have been a Van Cleef & Arpels client before, but that's about to change."

After one phone call and several messages, the executive manager himself spoke with me. "My honorable ma'am, I assure you that I will prepare the exact number of jewelry pieces you require tonight and arrange delivery by tomorrow."

-

By the next afternoon, everyone at Grimm Co. had received a gift from the CEO's wife. The women received the same bracelet Imogen had flaunted, while the men received bespoke watches from the same jeweler.

There was only one condition. Each recipient had to take a photo of the gift and update their status with the caption: [A special gift of appreciation, bestowed equally on all of us by a queen.]

I had already shared screenshots of Imogen's post from the night before with my friends, and the office knew exactly what to do. After all, I employed several executives at the company.

[Yas, girl! Putting the "cess" in "princess." Girlbossing your way into being a mistress!]

[All that money on a bracelet. Should've paid for vision correction instead. Lol!]

[Help. Little sis thinks she's getting married. How do I tell her nicely?]

The office quickly began to ostracize Imogen. It took only a few thousand dollars to unite them under my banner. Even her so-called best friends at work had started giving her sideways glances and open contempt.

…

Imogen could not believe it. These were the same people who once admired her and showered her with flattery when the CEO first showed interest in her. Now she had become public enemy number one. Some even accused her of being a gold digger to her face.

The bracelet was supposed to be special. It was meant to symbolize one step closer to the position she truly wanted. Instead, it turned into a mark of humiliation, a source of ridicule and isolation at work.

In tears, Imogen knocked on Chase's office door and removed the bracelet from her wrist. "I appreciate the gift you gave me, Mr. Grimm. I truly do. But please take it back. I don't want it anymore."