She Was Never Broke

The Boss' Test

When Carla saw the confusion on my face, she looked just as puzzled.

"The boss is Mr. Hale," she explained. "He was the one who arranged for you to work bottle service here in the first place."

Then, she gave me a small, almost pleased smile. "But you've finally made it! I'm sure Mr. Hale will treat you well from now on."

Only then did it hit me.

Preston introduced me to this nightclub four years ago.

Back then, I had just stood up on the blind date Adrian arranged for me and fled from the Whitmores out of anger.

That was when I met Preston.

He thought I was some poor girl from the countryside, running away from a family that had tried to force me into marriage.

I thought he was a broke, unlucky man with no future.

We agreed to work hard together and build our rags-to-riches story.

He sent me here to work at the bottle service, where I had to smile at customers, flatter them, and put up with their wandering hands just to sell more liquor.

And what did he do?

He claimed he was out chasing business when he was really spending his nights drowning in luxury and pleasure.

Carla hesitated before continuing, "What Mr. Hale did was a little excessive. Some of the rich guys who hang out with him would sometimes pretend to be customers and get handsy with you. Mr. Hale said he was worried you wouldn't be able to resist temptation."

Then, she looked at me as if I should feel grateful. "You passed the test, though. I guess that's the silver lining here."

So this was what they called passing the test, and this was what they called a silver lining.

How ironic.

Preston was the one who had trapped me in four years of misery. He was the source of my harassment, and he was the one who had sent his friends to pose as customers just to toy with me. To them, my suffering was their twisted form of entertainment.

He knew how hard I was slaving away just for money, and that I'd suffered from health issues due to pushy customers.

And yet, he continued to lounge in his private room at the nightclub with his rich, useless friends. He continued to watch with cold eyes as I stumbled through the traps he had set.

The more I thought about it, the closer I came to laughing through my tears.

Carla was still calling after me when I finally left the office.

I ignored her, took out my phone, and called Adrian again.

I said, my voice shaking, "Adrian, I want to go home now. Can you come get me?"

What I did not expect was that Adrian was currently overseas on business.

"Nora, don't be scared," he replied immediately. "Send me your location. I'll have someone pick you up."

I had just sent him my location when a sardonic voice sounded behind me.

"Well, if it isn't Nora, the bottle-service girl. What are you doing standing around? Shouldn't you be selling drinks?"

It was Mia.

She stood in front of me with her arms crossed, looking down at me as if I were gum stuck under her shoe.

Her gaze swept over me with open contempt before her lips curled into a smug smile. Then, she tilted her chin toward the hallway. "We need more liquor. Bring us a few good bottles."

Her smile sharpened. "As for whether you can actually sell them… Well, I guess that'll depend on your luck."

I stared into her malicious eyes and instantly cottoned on to what she was planning. They intended to use the excuse of purchasing liquor to humiliate me. However, I no longer needed to worry about their feelings now.

I answered coldly, "Sorry, I've already resigned. So, find someone else."

I turned to leave, but someone grabbed me hard from behind.

It was Preston.

He stared at me with anger written all over his face.

"Nora, you resigned?" he demanded. "Why didn't you discuss it with me first?"

Then, his voice turned sharper. "What about the money you owe Mia? Are you trying to run from your debt?"

I almost laughed. 'The money I owe Mia? He really has the nerve to say that.'

Now that I'd seen his true colors, I couldn't help but wonder whether my brain had turned into mush for the past four years.

The men behind him started pointing at me and jeering.

"She owes someone money, but now she's quitting. It sounds like she's trying to run from her debt."

"Preston, your girlfriend's ghastly."

"A shameless woman like that isn't worthy of you. It's a good thing that you never made the relationship public..."

His friend nearly let something slip.