After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 65

“Yes,” the person who had called Rebecca earlier replied. “Every year, the first place at the annual party gets 5,000 dollars, second place 3,000, third 1,500, and everyone else gets 50 for participation. The 10th anniversary celebration should be more generous than regular annual parties.”

Someone added, “Our department always gets 50–dollar participation money every year.”

“Exactly, and Jane always claims it,” another said.

Rebecca instinctively looked at Jane before asking, “What did our department perform at previous annual parties?”

Everyone gave a polite cough and stayed quiet, making Rebecca confused.

Jane, who’d been scrolling through the group chat, froze. Just as Rebecca thought she wouldn’t get an answer, Jane said, “A dramatic reading of the employee handbook.”

Someone said, “Exactly.”

Rebecca praised Jane earnestly. “That’s impressive. Most people won’t touch that one. Jane, you’re fearless.” Someone shot her a thumbs–up, thinking, ‘I never knew Rebecca was the undisputed queen of flattery!

Rebecca looked puzzled. She genuinely believed reading the handbook on stage took guts. Back in school, every class had to put on a skit for the talent show, and her class always bombed with the handbook–reading bit. Ever since, she’d kept her distance from it.

“It was the department’s only option since each department had to perform,” Jane finally spoke, her tone gentle. “If you’ve got another talent, you can sign up.”

“Holy crap! First prize is 30 thousand,” the colleague to Rebecca’s left exclaimed. “They’re going all out for the 10th anniversary?”

Rebecca glanced over and noticed Jason’s secretary had sent new messages in the group chat.

First prize was 30 thousand, second 15 thousand, and third 5,000. The participation award was 50 dollars per person for groups of five or fewer, or 300 dollars per department for larger groups.

Truthfully, Rebecca felt tempted. After becoming a wage earner, she’d realized the true value of money.

“Rebecca, can you pull this off?” Lisa Lambert, the girl to Rebecca’s left, looked starry–eyed, “30 thousand… Damn, I should’ve learned a skill after last year’s party.”

The others began to chatter about the new messages, too. “Ugh, Department A’s gonna profit again.”

“Whatever. Whoever wins on Wednesday night, we can just throw a hoodie over their head and rough them up in the parking lot.”

“Count me in!”

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discussion from afar,

said, “Rebecca, didn’t you win several national awards in classical dance? Why not sign

All eyes

they found her humble, polite, and easy

to redeem their department’s past

right beside us

our department’s

try,”

camaraderie for the first time.

chat wrapped up, Lisa turned to Andrea with gossipy

Andrea

whispered, “Is Mr. Hanson

figure froze

the corner of her eye. As Jeffrey had instructed her, she

the CEO of the Hanson Group, Jeffrey only attended the parent company’s annual

Technologies couldn’t even compare to some of those subsidiaries, so it was normal that he refused

instinctively glanced at

Lisa pressed, “What?”

her tone tinged with implication. “Lately, he kept asking me about her project progress and

sparkled with gossip. Even Jane glanced

misunderstanding, Andrea,” Rebecca replied calmly. “Mr. Hanson inquired because Mr. Taylor assigned detailed tasks before my onboarding, assessing if I could keep pace. After Mr. Taylor mentioned the business trip in the group chat, he privately informed me Mr. Hanson

shifted the team’s gaze toward Andrea. What

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implications

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Andrea didn’t expect Rebecca to catch on so quickly. She smiled and added, “I thought your

as she thought, ‘What’s this weirdo trying

“What wish?” someone asked.

and earn Mr. Hanson’s recognition,” Andrea

glanced at Rebecca, sensing juicy

passing glance without uttering

subtle look spoke volumes–the kind that even socially oblivious people would recognize