It’s a Rough Ride from Here

"Are you delusional?" Anna asked sardonically.

Tears welled up in my eyes out of frustration.

I was just about to continue defending myself when Anna's laughter interrupted me once again.

"Maya, Mr. Aloe works really hard every day. You should stop with your pranks," she said blithely. "Besides, it takes two to tango. The customer wouldn't have complained about you if you hadn't given her a reason to, right?"

I slapped her across the face. I had tolerated her long enough. "Well? How does that feel? Does it really take just two to tango?" Her eyes instantly turned red rimmed and she dashed out of the office, cupping her cheek with her hand.

I didn't need to guess as to where she was going. She was definitely making rounds around the company and telling everyone how I slapped her.

Connor choked on his spit out of sheer fury. He hacked and coughed before finally pointing at me and yelling, "How could you hit her? This is workplace bullying!"

Even though I wasn't the one at fault, I didn't want to expend any energy on this entire farce.

There was only one week left until the job promotion.

So, I threw myself into my work with a vengeance, working overtime whenever I could.

I would often skip meals just to take another customer's call.

Just the thought that I would be kissing these frustrating calls goodbye in a week's time once I was promoted gave me a boost that worked better than any meal.

Promotion day was finally here and I had managed to gather enough points. Since I was the employee with the highest score in my department, I knew that the interview was a mere formality.

Nevertheless, I still prepared my speech diligently and performed beautifully.

Alas, I nearly fell to a dead faint when the results were announced.

I didn't get promoted to manager.

Oh, no. The person who got the promotion was none other than Anna the intern.

I had been working for the company for five years. Meanwhile, she hadn't even completed her internship!

I couldn't help but read the announcement over and over just to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

All my years of hard work had turned into ash. That thought wrapped around my organs and squeezed, nearly suffocating me.

This had to be a mistake!

I burst into Connor's office, intending to demand an explanation.

He didn't even bother looking at me.

"You hit someone at work, so I have every reason to suspect that you would mistreat your employees if you're promoted. Besides, Anna was slapped for no reason. The promotion is her compensation," he said blandly.

I screeched hysterically, "If one merely had to get slapped for a promotion, then what about all my hard work?"

He sneered. "Tough luck."

His attitude made one thing very clear. Anna's promotion wasn't an above-board decision. Alas, there was nothing I could do.

No one would give a rat's ass if I filed a complaint about this.

Plus, Connor had the power to choose who would become the department manager.

Moreover, he was also the husband of the regional general manager.

He had only managed to become a director with her support.

I trudged to my desk, despair nipping at my heels. Then, I wrote a resignation letter.

Yet, I overheard a juicy conversation between Connor and Anna just as I was about to have him sign the papers.

"Dad, you weren't lying. You really made me a manager! I love you!" she squealed. "You should've seen the look on Maya's face when she saw the announcement. God, it was hilarious. I've never liked her."

The words coming out of Anna's mouth struck me like lightning, leaving me dumbfounded.

Everyone knew that the regional general manager and the director had no children.

So how could Anna be their daughter?

I curled my lips into a mirthless smile and tore my resignation letter into shreds.