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The live chat filled up with sympathy in seconds.
"Which intern is this rude? The boss is crying and she still won't apologize."
Abigail stepped in front of the camera and held up a screenshot of her transfer.
"I'm just a regular employee and even I paid $9,999 to make our baby happy. Cecilia's only been here seven days. She eats the company's afternoon snacks, uses the company's computer, and she can't show even this much gratitude. She doesn't deserve to work here at all!"
I looked at her, still unable to believe it.
"So you know you're just a regular employee. Then you should also know the computer is here for company work. Was I supposed to bring my own?"
The chat froze for a second at that, and Rachel cried even harder.
"Baby sent you a gift on your very first day, and even had Constance train you personally, and now you humiliate baby in front of all these people. You're just jealous of baby!"
On my first day, Constance only sent me an account and password and told me to finish editing six videos by end of day.
For a full seven days after that she didn't say another word to me, just hounded me about my progress or blamed me for being too slow.
I lifted my head and stared straight into the camera.
"I make $3,800 a month, and for my boss's birthday she wants me to gift $9,999. But when it's an employee's birthday, she sends $0.52. You tell me who's humiliating who?"
Different voices started showing up in the chat.
"$3,800 salary and a $9,999 gift? Is she even human?"
"Great company. You don't earn a dime, you walk in already owing the boss money!"
The crying froze on Rachel's face, replaced by a spite that matched her age all too well.
Constance quickly blocked the camera.
"Cecilia, don't twist things around. A gift is just goodwill. A salary is a salary."
"Fine, let's call it goodwill."
I pointed at Rachel and stripped away her act.
"She gave me $0.52, so I gave her $0.52. If she's not happy, she can give my $0.52 back. Either way my birthday wishes were delivered. Whether she accepts them is her business!"
Abigail shot me a furious glare, every inch the lackey.
"Is that any way to talk to your boss? It's baby's birthday, and you have to make a scene so nobody can save face?"
She reached out and shoved my shoulder.
I stepped back half a pace, and the cord Constance was holding behind me cut into my neck until it ached.
Constance smiled sweetly, acting like nothing had happened, and warned me under her breath.
"Stand still. You come down when baby's satisfied, not before."
Rachel wiped her tears and made a show of being gracious.
"Cecilia, baby will give you one more chance. Transfer the money now, say happy birthday to the camera, and baby can forgive you."
"And if I don't transfer it?"
She glanced at the viewer count and her eyes lit up.
"Then let the family vote on whether someone this ungrateful still deserves to stay. Baby couldn't be more fair. As long as the family in the chat wants you to stay, then I don't mind taking a little hurt!"
A poll box popped up on the screen.
"Let her stay" "Fire her now"
I looked around.
The same people who'd dumped their work on me a few days ago, making me fix their graphics, were all keeping their heads down and tapping the poll.
Rachel watched the fire-her count climb higher and higher, and finally couldn't hold the corner of her mouth in place.
"See, Cecilia? It's not that baby can't tolerate you. Everyone thinks you don't fit in."
What was I still expecting from this pack of ungrateful animals!
I ripped the payment code off my chest, walked up to the nine-tier cake, and jammed the sign straight into the top layer.
The frosting caved in under it, and the pink sugar plaque tilted to one side.
Rachel shrieked and shot to her feet.
"What are you doing! That's baby's birthday cake!"
"Perfect fit, isn't it!"
I patted the payment code and gave a cold laugh.
"The thing you want most today should go where everyone can see it."
Abigail rushed over to grab me. I threw her off, walked to the big screen's control console, and yanked the main power cord out.
That pink castle I'd stayed up three nights straight to build flickered twice, then went completely dark.
All that was left of the livestream backdrop was a wrinkled white wall.
Rachel was so furious her voice cracked.
"Cecilia, you're fired! Get out right now!"
I took off my badge and slapped it down on the desk.
"Happy to go. Settle my seven days' pay first. I don't work for you for free!"
