The Office Thief Didnt Know I Was a Hidden Tycoon

Since I started at this company, the coworker at the next desk has made a habit of stealing my proposals.

At first, he would change a few characters. Later, he stopped pretending altogetherhe wouldn't even alter the punctuation before submitting them as his own.

I tried to report it, but because his seniority outweighed mine, not a single person in the company stood up for me.

Today, the proposal I had tampered with was stolen again.

I was just waiting for the show to start.

Because I had modified the core data, that proposal was guaranteed to cost the company a net loss of eight million dollars.

The next day, the boss stormed over and slammed a stack of payment demands onto my desk.

"Because you submitted a defective proposal, the company has suffered massive losses!" His voice cracked like a whip through the silent office. "You are going to cover every cent of this! Be sensible and pay up, or I'm going to the police station to file a report. You'll rot in prison!"

When there was credit to be taken, it never landed on my head. But the moment disaster struck, he was in a rush to make me the scapegoat?

I looked at him with the sort of pity usually reserved for the brain-damaged.

"Boss, do you know what I did before I came here?"

*I was a professional litigation shark. I have never lost a case.*

1.

The boss frowned. "I don't care what you did! Even if you were the Jade Emperor himself, you owe this money, and you will pay it!"

He scoffed, disdain dripping from every syllable. "I'm telling you, this company only cares about results! And the result is that the original draft of that disastrous proposal is on your computer. Clearly, you made it! You bear the responsibility!"

I nearly laughed out loud.

"The original draft is mine, that's correct. But did I ever say that proposal was finished?" My voice stayed calm, almost bored. "Did I say it had no errors? Did I personally submit it? Did I force you to send that file to the client? Can't I save a draft before I finish my work?"

Three questions in a row.

The boss's face turned a sickly shade of purple.

I knocked on my desk to emphasize my point. "Someone stole my unfinished work and, without authorization, provided it to the client, causing a loss for the company. Instead of finding the thief, you come here to harass me?"

A scoff escaped my lips. "Is this how you run a business?"

The boss's defenses shattered. He slammed his palm against the table and pointed a trembling finger at me. "You don't get to evaluate how I run my company!"

The surrounding coworkers were so terrified they didn't dare breathe.

"I'm telling you, no matter what, you wrote it!" His voice climbed higher. "Andrew Whitney just remembered incorrectly. He thought your proposal was hishe even kindly helped you perfect it!"

His finger still shook in my face, his expression thunderous. "Who could have known that your data was a minefield? You tricked the company out of eight million dollars!"

Hearing this, I actually laughed.

"Remembered incorrectly"? "Kindly"?

To describe theft in such fresh and refined termshis skin was thicker than a city wall.

But I wasn't angry.

Instead, I propped my legs up on the desk and crossed my ankles.

"Whatever. Call the police, then." I spread my hands. "I'm poor as dirt anyway. No money, just one life."

"But I have to remind you of one thing first."

My gaze locked onto his.

"Once a case is filed, this matter won't stay secret."

The boss froze.

I curled my lip and continued. "When the cops come, the entire industry will know how chaotic your management is. Not only do you have employees stealing from each other, but you also dared to send core data to a client without a single review. Let's see who dares to cooperate with you after that."

The color drained from his face in an instant.

He was a businessman; he understood calculation best. Destroying me would be easy, but an eight-million-dollar hole and a ruined reputation were fatal weaknesses.

"What? Still haven't figured out what to do?"

I raised an eyebrow, watching him squirm.

The boss gritted his teeth, his complexion growing worse by the second.

"You shouldn't think I'm extorting you, either." I clicked my tongue. "Speaking reasonably, the proposal was stolen by Andrew Whitney. The signature on the submission was yours. The proposal was only sent to the client after your leadership gave the nod."

I tilted my head.

"So, does this disaster have even the slightest thing to do with me?"

His Adam's apple bobbed nervously.

At that moment, the office door was violently shoved open.

Andrew Whitney rushed in. He probably couldn't stand listening from the hallway anymore. His face was a mask of exasperation and panic.

"Boss! Don't listen to this kid's nonsense!"

Andrew pointed at my nose, spittle flying as he shouted. "She's deliberately framing the company! She made the proposalthe computer backend has the records!"

"Although I was the one who submitted it to you in the end, I did it for the company's schedule! I was rushing to make progress!"

His face and neck flushed crimson.

I watched Andrew's clownish performance and almost laughed. Truly, just when you're sleepy, someone hands you a pillow.

Unhurried, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and, right in front of them, stopped the recording.

"Andrew, did you just personally admit that the proposal was submitted by you?"

A bright smile spread across my face.

"That is called an admission of guilt. In civil litigation, that is ironclad evidence."

Andrew's face turned deathly pale. "You... you recorded that?!"

I curled my lip. *I already told them I'm a professional litigation shark. Did they really doubt my professional ethics?*

At this point, the boss finally reacted.

He was a businessman, after all. Seeing the tide turn, he immediately switched masks.

"Ahem, Audrey." He came around from behind the desk, reaching out as if to pat my shoulder.

I turned sideways, dodging his touch.

The boss looked awkward but forced a smile. "We're all colleagues here, all in the same boat. Why make things so stiff?"

I laughed. When he was trying to ruin me five minutes ago, why didn't I hear any of this "colleague" talk?

He rubbed his hands together. "This matter is indeed Andrew's fault, but he was acting for the good of the company! How about this? Each of us takes a step back..."

His eyes darted around, that calculating glint returning.

"Regarding this incident, the company won't pursue your responsibility. However, you have caused a negative impact on the company, so I don't think it's suitable for you to stay. Simply write a resignation letter, and we'll part on good terms. How about it?"

*Part on good terms?*

Did he think I was stupid? Did he think I didn't know that the moment I resigned, I would officially become the scapegoat?

"Sorry, Boss. I have a bit of a legal background, and I know exactly where the liability lies."

I scoffed. "I own the copyright to that proposal draft. If you insist on forcing me out, I will take the original files to court and sue. The police will investigate according to the law. It'll be the perfect opportunity to see how many other proposals Andrew Whitney has stolen from me."

"It might not cost him much money, but his reputationand your company'swill stink worse than a sewer."

I leaned back against the chair, arms crossed.

"Now, Boss, do you still think making me write a resignation letter constitutes 'parting on good terms'?"

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by my rapid-fire legal strikes. Even Andrew's legs were trembling.

He hurriedly looked at the boss, eyes pleading. "Boss, this kid is extorting us! She's blackmailing and extorting!"

The boss's expression turned ugly.

I knew exactly what gears were grinding in his head. Everything I said was true. He wanted my money, but he wanted his company to survive even more.

"You say I'm blackmailing and extorting?" I clicked my tongue and glanced at Andrew. "The premise for the crime of extortion is that I, for the purpose of illegal possession, threaten or coerce you."

"May I ask, Supervisor Whitney, did I ask you for money? Did I hold a knife to your neck?"

"I am simply safeguarding my lawful rights and interests by threatening to sue. That is called exercising the right to litigate."

I paused, letting the words land.

"You legally illiterate moron."

Andrew turned beet red, stammering, unable to squeeze out a single retort.

The boss's face grew even gloomier. His eyes locked onto the phone in my hand, and a trace of viciousness flickered through them.

"Audrey, give me the phone."

He took a threatening step toward me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The company has rules: content involving business secrets cannot be stored on private devices. Your recording involves the company's core operations. I must inspect it."

As he spoke, he lunged to snatch it.

*Good guy. Open robbery now?*

But I was prepared. The moment he reached out, I stepped back and tucked the phone deep inside my collar, right against my chest.

"Try snatching it." A cold laugh escaped my lips. "Robbery of private property in broad daylight, plus sexual harassment."

"Boss, do you think an eight-million-dollar loss isn't exciting enough? Do you want to eat prison food for a few years to change your palate?"

His hand froze in midair.

He couldn't extend it, and he couldn't retract it. The skin on his face twitched uncontrollably. The atmosphere in the room turned scorching.

"You really won't give it to me?" He gritted his teeth, glaring.

"I said ityou can try."

Seeing I wouldn't compromise, the boss stopped pretending. He made a call and summoned the security guards.

"Close the door!"

Once the guards arrived, emboldened by the backup, he started threatening me again.

"Audrey, I'll give you one last chance!"

"Delete the recording, sign the resignation agreement, and admit the proposal is entirely your responsibility. If you do, I'll only make you pay a hundred thousand dollars of the eight million!"

"Otherwise, you won't walk out of this door today!"

Malice flickered in his eyes; he clearly had no intention of letting me off.

The security captain and two others blocked the office door, glaring like tigers eyeing their prey.

Seeing the numbers were on his side, Andrew immediately straightened his spine. "Did you hear that! Hand over the phone! Otherwise, you're going to suffer!"

Looking at this group of legal illiterates dancing on the edge of a felony, I only gave a disdainful smile.

"Illegal detention. Intimidation. Threats."

I raised my wrist and checked my watch. "Fine. Since you want to play dirty, I'll play with you to the end."

I wasn't the slightest bit flustered. I pulled out my chair and sat down comfortably.

"It was originally just a civil dispute. But now?" I tilted my head. "You insist on making it criminal."

I clicked my tongue, then pointed at the surveillance camera above the workstation.

"I forgot to tell you."

"That surveillance camera has a safety mode. From the moment you came over to pick a fight, Boss, I activated a function. If I don't enter a password within fifteen minutes, it automatically dials the police."

"Now, there should be about two minutes left."

I tapped my watch face.

The boss's skin turned ashen.

"Think it through carefully: honestly admit your mistakes, or let the police come here and conduct a proper investigation?"

"Oh, and one more thing." I let the words hang, dripping with sugary innocence. "Your company's fire escape routes have been blocked by clutter for years, haven't they?"

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "And then there's the matter of certain machines and warehouses that somehow never made it onto the tax declarations..."

With every sentence, fresh beads of sweat slicked the boss's forehead. He was a businessman. He knew exactly how dirty his hands were. If the authorities raided over a 'minor' fire code violation and decided to turn the company inside out, he wouldn't just lose money.

He'd be looking at three to five years behind bars.

His face mottled crimson. A long moment passed before he could unclench his jaw enough to speak.

"You're ruthless," he hissed through gritted teeth.

He shoved the security guards aside. "Let her go!"

He refused to look at me. Hatred radiated off him in waves.

Andrew Whitney's composure shattered. "Boss! You can't let her go! That recording"

"Shut up!" The boss spun and backhanded him across the face. *Smack!*

"If you hadn't been so filthy with your hands and feet, would we be in this mess?"

Andrew stood frozen, palm pressed to his stinging cheek, too stunned to make a sound.

The security guards stepped back, clearing a path. But instead of leaving, I crossed my legs, leaned back, and smirked.

"Go? Who said I was leaving?"

My gaze traveled between Andrew and the boss. "You framed me. Now you're going to clear my name. You don't think you can just chicken out now and keep demanding I pay that money later, do you?"

I tapped the table rhythmically, locking eyes with the boss.

I wasn't flustered.

I was in control.

His mouth twitched. The muscles in his jaw jumped.

"Audrey Harding!" The roar cracked with impotent rage.

I curled my lip and held up a single finger.

"One minute. Write a statement certifying the eight-million-dollar loss has nothing to do with me. Do that, and I *might* consider letting you off the hook."

A bright, terrifying smile spread across my face.

The boss clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. Gasping, he turned his fury on Andrew and slapped the back of his head.

"Look at what you've done! Go print the proof! *Now!*"

Andrew, nearly beaten senseless, scrambled to the nearest computer. The keys clacked like gunfire as he typed, and the printer whirred to life.

"Hurry up and sign!" The boss slammed the paper onto the table.

I didn't rush. I picked it up and read every word. Only after confirming it met my strict legal standards did I pick up a pen and sign my name with an elegant flourish.

"Cancel the police report!" The boss's voice pitched high with urgency.

He had no idea the police report was a bluff. Still, I committed to the bit. A few commands typed on my laptop. A show of withdrawing the complaint.

"Consider yourselves lucky I'm feeling generous."

I tucked the proof into my bag. The boss let out a long, shuddering breath, though his eyes still burned with venom.

I clicked my tongue, stood, and smoothed out my skirt. As I passed Andrew, I paused. Leaned in. Lowered my voice to a whisper.

"Don't rush. This is just the beginning."

He flinched.

"Did you really think that just because I didn't catch you in the act, I couldn't touch you?" A sneer twisted my lips. "The real show is just starting."

I shoved past him and walked out.

That eight million dollars was a landmine waiting to explode. And since I'd already made the first cut, I wasn't stopping until they bled out.

Sure enough, early the next morningwhile I was still sleeping like the deadmy phone erupted.

One eye cracked open. The screen flooded with missed calls from the company receptionist.