Year-End Bonus: Three Zoo Passes, One Phone Call, Zero Mercy

The conference room was already packed early the next morning.

Mandy was sitting in my seat, gazing at William with open admiration. Even Jack was there, boldly sitting right in the front row.

The moment I walked in, all eyes turned toward me.

"Well, look who finally showed up. I thought you'd be too embarrassed to come." William sneered. "Since everyone's here, care to explain about how you abused your position to take kickbacks from clients and even stashed company funds at home?"

He waved a hand, and Jack immediately stood up to place a document envelope on the table.

"Hello, everyone," Jack said. "I'm Suzanna's husband. Inside this envelope is the cash she hid in the safe at home, and the draft copies of the fake expense claims she prepared.

"She always complained at home that the company's commissions were too low and said she'd make up for it by skimming from deals. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen. I couldn't just stand by and watch her keep going down the wrong path."

The room erupted as soon as he finished speaking.

"Even her husband is testifying against her. Surely it has to be true!"

"Wow, you can never judge a book by its cover. She always looks like she has her own principles, but turns out her hands are filthy."

"How big do you think the kickbacks for a 50-million-dollar deal were? No wonder she wasn't impressed by her bonus."

Mandy stood up, eyes red and looking devastated. "Mr. Lewis has always treated you well, Suzie. He trusted you with the most important projects. How could you betray the company like this?

"Someone from Mr. Skylar's side just called me earlier. They said you extorted him last night, told him you'd tank the contract unless he paid you extra. That's just too greedy!"

Accusation piled on one after another. By then, everyone in the room was looking at me with open anger and contempt.

William took the opportunity when the heat was at its highest and slammed his hand on the table. "We have witnesses and evidence, Suzanna. What else do you have to say?"

"For the sake of your years with the company, I won't call the police. We'll put this behind us as long as you voluntarily resign as the sales director, hand over all client files, and admit your mistakes. Otherwise…"

His tone hardened. "Even if you're our top performer, I'll handle this strictly by the book and make sure you spend your years behind bars!"

William then slapped a Notice of Termination for Cause down in front of me.

I slowly pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing at Jack. "William, when you slipped Jack that 300 thousand, did you forget one thing?"

William paled and struggled to steady his tone. "What 300 thousand? Stop making things up to change the subject!"

"You know best whether I'm making it up or not," I said, pulling out a voice recorder from my bag.

It was a habit I built from years of being in sales. I'd never go anywhere without it. "Jack, you just said this cash came from the safe at home?"

Jack stiffened, then answered firmly, "That's right! It's on the third shelf."

I then turned to Mandy and smiled. "You said Mr. Skylar called you? Do you want to repeat what he said?"

"Stop twisting things, Suzanna!" William yelled, sensing the tide turning. "No matter what, you're signing this today! Whether you want it or not! Security, hold her down!"

The security guards immediately grabbed me, forcing my head onto the conference table, and reached for the recorder in my hand.

At that moment, the door to the conference room was pushed open. "You've put on quite the show, Mr. Lewis. Let her go!"