Mary had been busting her ass for years trying to hold onto her position, pushing herself so hard she barely saw her own son anymore. Now, all she felt was total exhaustion and regret.


    Honestly, sticking around wasn’t worth it–these people wouldn’t rest until they’d forced her out, no matter


    what.


    Still, if she could manage to save someone’s life before leaving, maybe that’d mean she hadn’t wasted all these


    years.


    “As long as you don’t involve that girl in whatever you’re nning, I’ll write up my resignation letter right now -I’ll quit tomorrow,” Mary said, her voice firm even though inside, she was falling apart.


    Mary knew–maybe she could save the girl this time, but if it happened again, she’d be helpless.


    Besides, this girl wasn’t the only victim caught up in all this.


    Leon’s eyes twinkled with amusement, his face practically buzzing with excitement. “You sure about that?”


    Mary nodded, bitterness twisting in her chest. She’d poured thirteen years into thispany–how could she just walk away now?


    ‘But this ce stopped making room for me a long time ago,‘ Mary thought.


    Leon pped the table and smirked. “Alright, deal.”


    Mary didn’t bother saying anything else. She’d always despised Alex Wilson and his circle–all rotten to the core, treating Starlight like it was just some private harem selection. God knows how many girls they’ve preyed on over the years. Honestly, they’re nothing but animals.


    As Mary stepped out, the girl was waiting for her right outside the door.


    “Ms. Hall…” the girl whispered, her voice shaky.


    Mary wasn’t the type toin or wallow. She slowly unclipped her work badge, her voice steady yet distant. “I’m sending in my resignation tomorrow. Tonight, you won’t have to go to that party, but they’ll keeping after you. Just… look out for yourself, okay?”


    The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears, lips trembling as the reason for Mary’s leaving hit her all at once.


    She quickly wiped away her tears, forcing herself to sound brave. “Alright, I’ll go to the party if that’s what it takes. Ms. Hall, I know how much you’ve sacrificed for thispany.”


    Mary looked a little taken aback, then gave a rueful smile. “Weren’t you just putting your life on the line for this a minute ago?”


    The girl’s expression flickered with disappointment. “I don’t want to mess up your future. If anyone takes advantage of me, I’ll grit my teeth and get through it.”


    7:51 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b>Sep 26


    1806 vouche


    With that, she swung open Leon’s office door and dered, “Mr. Cole, I’m willing to go to the party with you. Ms. Hall is staying!”


    Leon was still basking in the thrill of finally forcing Mary out when the girl barged in without a hint of respect. His joy vanished instantly. Annoyed at her tant disregard for authority, he mmed his palm hard on the desk.


    “How dare you!” he roared.


    Right as he shouted, the office door–which was nearly closed–was pushed open by a graceful hand.


    Ynda stood at the entrance, ncing between the two people locked in a standoff and Mary lingering by the door. With a puzzled look, she raised an eyebrow. “So what’s all this about?”


    Ynda’s beauty was so stunning, Leon’s jaw just about hit the floor. His eyes went wide with greed.


    ‘Who signed this new talent?‘ Leon sneered inwardly. ‘With looks like hers, she blows every actress out of the


    water.‘


    Leon grinned to himself, ‘If I take her out tonight, those contracts will practically fall into my hands–couldn’t be easier.‘


    His anger disappeared in a sh; he stered on his most fake–friendly smile, leering as he moved in close to Ynda, hand already sliding toward her waist.


    “You’re one of the new talents, right? I’ll bring you to the party tonight. Be a good girl and even if you don’t have any work yet, I can slip you straight into a lead role in a major project,” Leon said with that sleazy tone.


    Just as his hand was about tond on her waist, Ynda’s hand shed out and smacked him hard in the face


    -no warning, no hesitation.


    The p was so loud and crisp it echoed around the whole office, stinging everyone’s ears and making the pain almost palpable just from the sound.


    Leon stood there, stunned, eyes bulging with disbelief.


    “Did you just hit me?” he blurted out, utterly floored.


    Ynda gave a cool little smile, rubbing her stinging palm. “Yeah. Got a problem with that?”


    Leon let out a short, angryugh, thinking, ‘Guess this rookie has no clue how things really work around here!‘ <fndf6e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fι?dnοvel</fndf6e>


    Standing by the doorway, Mary couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction at the sound of that p–only for worry to creep in right after for the new girl who’d justnded herself in this mess.


    Leon snatched up a vase from the desk, eyes zing with fury. “You got a death wish or something? Who do you think you are, hitting me?”


    But Ynda moved faster–before he could even swing, she drove her foot right into his stomach, sending him reeling.


    <b>7:51 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    The vase crashed down onto his own head, leaving him seeing stars and almost splitting his scalp open.


    Ynda calmly took out her appointment letter, spread it open, and set it down right on the office desk.


    “Mr. Cole, it’s my first day as CEO. All this yelling and threatening people–don’t you think that’s a bit much to kick things off?” she said coolly.


    Leon stared at the document, stunned. ‘Wait, the new CEO… is her? And she’s drop–dead gorgeous?‘ he thought, floored.


    He clutched his head, his mind racing.


    Ynda smirked, strode right over and imed his chair without hesitation. “Not bad. Seems you forgot to set me up with an office–guess I’ll just take this one.”


    She said it in such an easy, breezy way–like she was just stating the obvious, totally unfazed by the whole situation.


    Leon was so furious he startedughing, his face turning bright red.


    Every year, someone new would show up, always tiptoeing around Leon, never daring to step out of line.


    But this woman? She clearly had a death wish–totally clueless about who really calls the shots at Starlight.


    Ynda leaned back coolly and gave a few sharp ps. Four workers in jumpsuits marched straight in from outside.


    She pointed at the cabs. “These–get rid of them. That pattern and color–change it, way too tacky. And those windows? Make them floor–to–ceiling.”


    She’d brought these four herself, so Leon’s say didn’t mean squat to them.


    Leon’s hand shook as he nearly jabbed her in the face. “Ynda, right? Who do you think you are, barging in here like you run the ce? You seriously believe you’re gonna keep that chair warm? Trust me, one word from me and you won’t even get settled before you’re out.”


    “Mr. Cole, I was sent by Mr. Sinir himself. You really think you outrank him?” Ynda fired back, her voice smooth but ice–cold.


    Leon let out a mockingugh. “You really think I don’t have people high up at Sinir Group?”


    “Go ahead, run and snitch. Let’s see how many days I stick around,” Ynda said, arms crossed, eyes sparkling with defiance.


    Ynda crossed her arms, barely ncing over as she kept directing the workers. “You heard me–do that corner up exactly the way I described. Got it?”


    “Don’t you fucking touch anything! This is my goddamn office!” Leon snarled, practically spitting the words.


    Leon, trembling with anger, snatched up his phone and started dialing security toe up.


    7:51 Fri<b>, </b>Sep <b>26 </b>


    Ynda’s gaze went cold. “Mr. Cole, when Mr. Sinir put me in charge, he made it clear I call all the shots. Looks like you’re the one who’s clueless here. Believe me, if I say the word, you’ll be out of here before your seat even gets cold.”


    She tossed his own threat right back at him.


    Leon snorted with disbelief, thinking, ‘What a joke. This has got to be the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.


    “You? Seriously?” Leon sneered.


    田