I’ve always been a human lucky charm, a walking four-leaf clover. I once bought a soda bottle and won a new car. My company, Apex Solutions, depended on the bid numbers I calculated to secure a 100% win rate, pulling us back from the brink of bankruptcy to become the third-largest firm in the city. The trouble started when a lottery ticket I’d absentmindedly bought on a business trip won three thousand dollars. The new Head of Finance demanded I turn over the entire amount. I explained that I had purchased the ticket with my own money. She flew into a rage. “The employment contract stipulates that all financial gains created by an employee during working hours belong to the company!” “If you won three million dollars on your own time, that’s your business. But winning three dollars during your official business trip? That’s company property!” Too tired to argue, I called my fiancé, Owen Grant, the company CEO. But Owen actually sided with her. “Sasha has a point,” he said, his voice flat. “If the company hadn’t paid for your business trip, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to win in the first place!” Sasha Bell, the new finance head, looked even more smug. “I’m docking the three thousand dollar prize from your paycheck,” she announced with chilling finality. “And I’m adding a thirty-thousand-dollar fine for attempted embezzlement of company funds! Let this be a lesson to you.” I clenched the ticket in my hand. I didn’t argue again. A week later, Apex Solutions was gearing up for the biggest annual bid—the Dyson Group contract. Every set of eyes in the office landed on me. I offered a small, cool smile. “My apologies,” I said, my voice cutting through the anticipation. “I’ve quit. I am no longer obligated to fill out the bid submission.” 1 “Did you hear what Owen said?” Sasha asked, her arms crossed tight over her chest. “He specifically put me in charge of rooting out corporate corruption. You still think you can pocket company money? Dream on!” I ignored her, turning to leave. But Sasha lunged forward, snatching my handbag off my arm. Jealousy flashed in her eyes. “Where do you think you’re going? There’s no way you can afford a bag this expensive! I bet this was another perk from a ‘win’ on a business trip. Everything gets confiscated!” I fought down the surge of anger. “This bag was a gift,” I stated clearly. “It has nothing to do with any prize money.” Sasha rolled her eyes. “A gift? Or the payout for sleeping with some old man on the road?” She clicked her tongue dismissively. “Tsk, you really put in the effort, didn’t you? I always wondered why you were flying all over the country. Turns out you just had business everywhere—selling yourself for a commission!” A buzz of low chatter erupted among the surrounding colleagues. “No wonder Anya always came back claiming to have ‘won’ something,” one whispered. “Now it makes sense. It wasn’t a prize; it was a payout for services rendered!” Sasha’s eyes narrowed with a cunning glint. “What is it, Anya? Was it a sleeping-with-a-sugar-daddy bonus? Or was it acquired during business hours on a company trip?” Sensing my fury, a colleague stepped in to mediate. “Anya, just admit it was a prize. It’s only a bag. It’s not worth ruining your reputation over.” “Yeah, come on! Just let it be confiscated. Watch yourself next time.” Rage boiled up inside me. I raised my hand and pointed a cold finger at the person who spoke. “Your shoes? Bought during the business trip to Phoenix in December.” I moved my gaze to another. “You bought a whole gaming console on your trip last month.” “And you,” I looked straight at a guy named Ken, who had been the loudest agitator. “You were bragging about it. Your wife got pregnant after visiting you on a trip. Congratulations! She ‘won’ a baby on company time!” “So, according to your logic, shouldn’t all these things be surrendered to the company as well?” The crowd fell silent, their faces flushed. I walked up to Sasha. “If they didn’t have to turn over their purchases, or their good fortune, what right do you have to demand mine?” Sasha, completely losing face, slammed my bag onto the floor. The strap immediately snapped. “Oops, Anya! Why didn’t you catch it?” I was past the point of tolerance. I reached for my phone, ready to call the police. But someone snatched it away and smashed it to the ground. “Enough! How long are you going to keep this up?!” Owen emerged from his office, his face dark, to stop the escalating scene. “Anya, I’m warning you, don’t push it. You’re threatening to call the police on a colleague now?!” “Right now, you will apologize to Sasha Bell!” Sasha, instantly shedding her bravado, put on a weepy face. “Anya, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to break it. I’ll pay for it, I promise.” Owen put a protective arm around Sasha, soothing her with quiet words. When he turned to me, his eyes held only disgust. “It’s just a handbag! Stop making such a huge deal out of nothing!” I took a deep breath, forcing the emotion back down. “It was an anniversary gift from my fiancé.” Owen finally registered the ruined designer bag on the floor and paused, a flicker of surprise in his expression. I managed a tight, bitter smile. “You’re right,” I said. “It’s just a bag. Who cares? Anyway, I’ve decided to break off the engagement.” 2 I picked up the mangled bag, tossed it into the nearest office trash can, and walked away. That evening, Owen called me countless times. I answered once and gave him the short, definitive version: We were over. He begged, he reasoned, all to no avail. Finally, he hung up with a chilling threat, telling me I’d regret this. The next morning, I arrived at my desk right on time. An algorithm-pushed video popped up on my phone. Sasha was giggling into the camera. “Hey, fam! Your corporate newbie here took down a corrupt, slick old-timer today who tried to pocket company funds!” “This jaded old hag thought she could hide three grand in public money just because I’m new in finance. I shut her down hard and gave her a much-needed education.” “Haha, she even tried to call the CEO to complain. Too bad the CEO has my back. She was so mad! He even called me later and praised me for doing the right thing, saying I’m getting a bonus!” The comments section exploded. “Get her, girl! These corporate lifers need to be kept in check! The company is lucky to have you!” “Three grand? If this blogger didn’t expose her, who knows how much she’s stolen before. Instant justice! My chest feels clear and my day is made.” Sasha’s completely twisted version of events garnered widespread cheers. Scrolling down, I saw familiar IDs among the likes—some of the same colleagues who had asked me to ‘bless’ their contracts just yesterday. I looked at the stack of contracts piled on my desk. I swept them aside with a single movement. Perfect. In the past, my colleagues never hesitated to ask me for help. I always said yes. They seemed to have forgotten that this was a favor between colleagues, not an official part of my job description. I smirked internally. They call me a slick old-timer? Fine. I will adhere to the labor contract so strictly that I will not work a single extra minute. The travel expenses? They can fight over those themselves. I composed myself. The minute the clock hit 5:00 PM, I packed up to leave. I hadn’t made it to the door before a chorus of voices called out. “Anya! Did you finish reviewing my contract? Why didn’t you bring it to me?” “Yeah, mine too! I need that right now!” Sasha rushed over, her voice rising to a shout. “All these people are working late, waiting for you to review their documents, and you’re trying to sneak out?!” “If you don’t want to work, just go ahead and resign!” Resigning was out of the question. I was the one who pulled this company back from collapse. The board rewarded me with 5% of the company’s Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), vesting over three years. I needed to last just two more weeks to claim them. There was no way I was quitting. And as long as I followed the rules, they couldn’t fire me without cause. The stock was valued at almost five million dollars. I’d collect that money and then walk. I turned back, pointed to the clock on the wall, and raised an eyebrow. “Sneaking out? No, I’m leaving precisely when my workday ends, just as you so sternly suggested I do.” Sasha’s face turned an ugly shade of green. “You won’t get away with that attitude! I’ll tell Owen!” I had nothing to fear. Everything I did was strictly by the book. “Go right ahead.” 3 I ignored Sasha’s shouting and walked out. The next morning, I arrived at my cubicle. My next-door colleague stared at me as if I were a ghost. “The meeting in Atlanta? The contract signing? Why aren’t you with the team?” I spoke calmly. “Why would I be? It’s not my account.” The colleague offered a weak smile. They’d grown too used to having their free, human lucky charm on speed-dial. It was time for them to try winning a contract based on their own actual merit. A moment later, Sasha slammed a file folder onto my desk. “Anya, are you insane?! Why didn’t you go to Atlanta?” “Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve caused the company?!” Seeing her reaction, I understood. They hadn’t closed the deal on their own. I replied without rushing. “Their flight was at 8 AM. My shift starts at 9 AM. I couldn’t make it.” Sasha gnashed her teeth in fury. “You couldn’t leave early?! That project in Atlanta has been a long-term partnership. You just ruined a high-value client relationship! This is gross dereliction of duty!” I looked at her with feigned surprise. “It wasn’t my working hours. Why would I go?” “I suggest you check the labor contract again. ‘Accompanying colleagues to contract negotiations’ is not listed under my job responsibilities.” “Besides,” I added, leaning in slightly, “closing deals depends on skill. I’m just someone who only manages to collect a few travel perks and win minor prizes. I’d only be in the way.” Sasha’s chest heaved. At that moment, someone rushed in and whispered in her ear. Sasha’s expression became complicated. She glared at me and issued a cold warning. “Reyes Dynamics is here to sign a contract, and they specifically asked for you!” “I’m telling you, this is your only chance to redeem yourself! You better be cooperative!” I nodded. “Relax. Everything will be done according to company policy.” If the company scheduled a task for me during working hours, I was certainly not going to decline. I entered the conference room. Everyone turned toward me, ready for my presentation. I placed the file on the table and spoke without preamble. “Everyone, please go home. The contract we previously negotiated is null and void.”
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