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!”

Chapter 65

55 vouchers

chatter, Andrea arrived. She’d overheard their discussion from afar, knowing everyone

didn’t you win several national awards in classical

All eyes

days, they found her humble, polite, and easy to work

they wanted was to redeem their department’s

shot is right beside us all

our department’s

try,” Jane chimed

workplace camaraderie for the first time. “I’ll decide my performance piece tonight and let

Andrea with

course,” Andrea smiled, moving

“Is

that, Rebecca’s figure

that out of the corner of her eye. As Jeffrey had instructed her, she said, “Probably not. Mr. Smith called

the CEO of the Hanson Group, Jeffrey only attended the parent company’s annual parties, never participating in or interfering with other

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

Andrea instinctively glanced at

Lisa pressed, “What?”

Mr. Hanson would probably go,” Andrea said, her tone tinged with implication. “Lately, he kept asking me about her project

eyes sparkled with gossip. Even Jane glanced

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

team’s gaze toward Andrea.

Chapter 65

implications from Andrea’s

55 vouchers

catch on so quickly. She smiled and added, “I

speechless as she thought, ‘What’s this weirdo trying

“What wish?” someone asked.

to work at the Hanson Group and earn Mr.

at Rebecca, sensing juicy

gave Andrea a passing glance without uttering

oblivious people would recognize as “can’t be bothered with this