The sting bloomed hot across my face, my head swimming.
I cupped my cheek and stood there dazed for a long moment before I came back to myself.
On instinct, I started to hit her back.
The second my hand came up, a powerful grip clamped around me and flung me aside.
I caught myself on the edge of the desk, off balance.
When I looked up, Robert, who'd been hiding offline in the group chat just moments ago, stood planted firmly in front of Claudia, shielding her.
His eyes were ice cold.
In a daze, I thought back to my first year at the company.
Because I was good at the job and climbed fast, someone had pointed at my face and called me a whore who slept her way up.
Back then Robert had stood in front of me just like this, shielding me so completely no one could touch me.
Now the blade was pointed at me.
Tears slid down my face.
I looked at Robert and let out a bitter laugh.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
Not just the group chat. This, too. Right now.
When he saw me, his eyes wavered for a single instant.
Then they turned cold and resolute.
"Everything my fiancée said is true."
"Miss Mason, please stop harassing us from now on."
He didn't raise his voice, but it was loud enough for everyone around the office to hear.
In an instant, the office buzzed deafeningly with talk.
"Oh my God, the man himself stepped in. That settles it, right?"
"And this is the woman they want to promote to director. God help whoever ends up reporting to her."
With someone to back her up, Claudia tucked herself behind him and shot me a taunting look.
Robert took a few steps forward, leaned in close, and dropped his voice.
"You took Claudie's promotion. She's very upset."
"Just let her vent, and once she's gotten it out of her system it'll be fine. I'll clear things up for you later. You'll still get to be director."
That line again. "I'll clear things up later."
I scrubbed the tears away hard and pulled up my chat history with Robert with shaking hands, trying to prove myself.
But my phone was wiped clean. Even the photo album had been emptied.
In an instant, it clicked.
The only person who knew my passcode and could slip out alone during the sales department meeting to get hold of my phone was him.
To let Claudia have her satisfaction, Robert hadn't just smeared me as a mistress. He'd sealed off every way out.
All that was left in my head was disbelief.
The chatter, the insults, droned in my ears.
Another message popped up on my phone.
【HR: Given the talk in the group chat, the higher-ups are going to suspend your promotion.】
The last string in my head snapped.
"Enough!"
I heard my own voice, shrill to the point of despair.
The room went quiet for a moment.
A thought that had been buried deep in me surged up wildly.
I grabbed the mouse, opened the company intranet, and sent in my resignation.
This place, this city. I wasn't staying for any of it!
