The Price of Greed

I glanced at the hand gripping my arm, frowned, and stepped back, pulling free.

“Mr. Anderson, if the car’s broken, you should call a mechanic. Why are you asking me? I don’t fix cars,” I said calmly.

“Don’t play dumb! You’re the only one who can control this car!” Noah shouted, his eyes red. “Unlock it now! Mr. Parker is still waiting at the entrance!”

“Unlock it?”

I smiled and set the box down.

“Mr. Anderson, did you forget? Last Friday, Ms. Taylor took this car ‘under company management’. The keys are in her hands, and the management rights are with you. If something’s wrong with the car now, how does it have anything to do with me?”

“You…” Noah was trembling with anger.

Winnie ran over as well, her eyes red. “Ava! Did you do this on purpose? Are you trying to ruin the company? Do you know how important Mr. Parker's project is?”

“Of course I do.”

I nodded.

“But what does that have to do with me? I’m just an employee under suspension for self-reflection. Shouldn’t something as important as client reception be handled by someone like Ms. Taylor, who has ‘strong principles’?”

“Are you going to unlock it or not?” Noah’s tone turned threatening. “Ava, I’m ordering you to unlock it now!”

“Ordering me?”

I looked up at him, the smile gone.

“Noah, what gives you the right to order me?”

“Because I’m the boss!”

“The boss?”

I took out a document from my bag, which was a copy of the vehicle registration, and held it out to him.

“Then let me remind you that this car is my personal property. When it runs and when it doesn’t is up to me.

“Right now, I’m not happy. So it doesn’t move.”

Noah froze.

Winnie stood stiffly beside him. Even her sobbing stopped.

At that moment, a white car slowly pulled up to the company entrance.

The window rolled down, revealing Damien’s stern face.

Clearly, he had grown impatient and had his driver pull in directly.

His gaze swept over the immobilized car, over Noah drenched in sweat, the tearful Winnie, before finally landing on me holding a box.

Damien frowned, his expression darkening.

“Mr. Anderson, is this how your company receives guests?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a heavy pressure.

Noah hurried over, bending slightly with an apologetic smile. “Mr. Parker, I’m so sorry! The car suddenly had an issue. We’ll fix it right away!”

However, Damien didn’t look at him.

“Ms. Clark?” He stepped out of the car and walked over, glancing at the box. “Are you… leaving?”

I looked at him and gave a faint smile.

“Yes, Mr. Parker. This company has no place for me anymore. Even my own car has been taken. Being pushed out is only a matter of time.”

The air fell silent.

Noah’s face turned instantly pale, his body swaying.

…

Damien’s expression grew even darker.

After years in business, he understood the situation at a glance.

“Mr. Anderson,” Damien said, turning around, his voice low. “Three years ago, I chose to work with you because of Ms. Clark.”

Noah nodded frantically, sweat pouring down his face. “Yes, yes, Mr. Parker, this is all a misunderstanding—”

“A misunderstanding?” Damien let out a cold laugh. “You occupy Ms. Clark’s personal car and push her out of the company. Is that what you call a misunderstanding?”

He pointed at the car.

“I’ve sat in that car. Back then, Ms. Clark told me it was her personal vehicle used to receive clients. So how has it now become a misused company car?”

Winnie trembled at the side, opening her mouth to explain.