Victor was my classmate. I still remembered how it was back when he first started his company. Nobody knew how to operate that precision instrument.

He came to my house multiple times, practically begging me to come work for him.

Later, as the company found its footing, he even promised me profit shares and equity once the business took off.

Back then, I felt for him. I knew how hard he had it, and I went out of my way to look out for him at every turn.

But as the company grew, Victor decided my salary was too high.

Especially after Sybilla joined. His attitude toward me took a nosedive.

I understood now. He thought Sybilla was younger and cheaper.

He'd been looking for an excuse to get rid of me for a long time.

All those years I'd poured everything I had into that company. Now, at least, I finally had time to enjoy myself.

I went back to my desk with the security guards flanking me and packed up my things under their watchful eyes.

They didn't leave until I'd finished. Then they escorted me to the front door.

I turned and took one last look at the building. Ten years of my life, poured into that place. Then I got in the car and drove away.

From now on, none of it was my problem.

Better yet, the long holiday weekend was right around the corner. I could actually go somewhere.

Before, I'd always been terrified that something would go wrong with the instrument and no one else could handle it. Even on holidays, I never went farther than the suburbs. I just stayed home or visited somewhere nearby.

I had to be able to reach the office within thirty minutes, no matter what.

None of that mattered anymore.

I went home, packed my bags, and bought a ticket straight to a resort town.

I even booked a suite at a hotel for a full two weeks.

Once everything was settled, I posted on social media.

"Officially resigned. The world is big, and I'm going to see it!"

I attached a photo of my plane ticket.

The likes poured in.

Of course, a few comments had that unmistakable passive-aggressive edge.

"Layla, I'm sooo jealous you get to travel! Unlike me, stuck working overtime at the office all through the long weekend!"

"Mr. Henson promised me quadruple pay, though!"

I read Sybilla's comment underneath my post and smiled. I didn't bother replying.

She was showing off her quadruple overtime pay. And so what?

I couldn't have cared less.

Besides, once that machine broke down, no amount of overtime pay would cover what she'd owe.

I was about to put my phone down and get some sleep.

My plan was to head out to the resort first thing in the morning.

Then my phone rang.

It was a headhunter.

They told me a major firm had been watching me for a while.

The moment they saw my resignation post, they reached out.

And the salary they offered was the kind you don't say no to.

The headhunter mentioned that the company was based in the exact city I was traveling to. If I was willing, they wanted me to come in for an interview.

I agreed without hesitation.

After I hung up, I let out a long breath.

Sure enough, the moment I cut Victor and Sybilla out of my life, good things started happening.

This time around, I was a whole lot luckier than before.

What I didn't expect was a call from Victor that same evening.

"Layla, you left the company with a few expenses still unsettled. Finance tells me you owe us five hundred dollars."

I listened to his voice on the other end and laughed in disbelief.

"Mr. Henson, did you forget?"

"That five hundred dollars was money I used to buy materials. I gave you the receipt at the time!"

I still remembered. It had happened last week. I'd been in a rush to purchase materials, so I withdrew the funds from accounting.

But by the time I finished repairing the instrument, the accounting department had already closed for the day.

Victor happened to walk by, so I handed the receipt to him.

On the other end of the line, his voice turned cold. "Have you forgotten the company's rules and regulations?"

"You gave the receipt to me? What kind of procedure is that?"

"Besides, I lost it."

He said it without a shred of guilt, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

I kept my tone flat. "Mr. Henson, since the receipt is gone, that five hundred is on me."

"I'll transfer it to you right now. Will that settle it?"

My voice was cool, detached.

But Victor's response was ice. "That was a mistake you made on the job."

"Company policy: any error is penalized at triple the amount. Did you forget that too?"

"Fine. Then I'll send you fifteen hundred."

I had zero interest in dragging this out any longer.

If fifteen hundred dollars would make this go away, then so be it.

Besides, he'd be bankrupt soon enough. Fifteen hundred dollars wasn't going to save him.

I opened my phone and sent the transfer immediately.

I made sure to note the purpose of the payment.

Victor accepted it almost instantly.

Watching the transfer go through, I finally let out a breath.

After all, I wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Not even the thinnest thread of connection.

After I hung up, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I was up and heading straight to the airport.

I arrived at the resort town first, checked into my suite and stored all my things, then contacted the headhunter.

She told me the company had been waiting for me.

That same day, I went in.

Compared to Victor's operation, this company was in a different league entirely.

Their instruments and equipment alone dwarfed anything I'd worked with before.

All of it required specialized operators, and someone with my skill set was exactly what they needed.

I accepted their offer on the spot. The onboarding paperwork was done before I left the building.

They agreed to let me start after the holiday.

Only then did I leave.

For the next few days, I threw myself into the resort. Hiking, sightseeing, eating whatever I wanted. I knew this stretch would be peaceful.

But Victor's company equipment had been deteriorating for a long time.

And with Sybilla constantly mishandling the instruments, it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.

I just hadn't expected it to happen on the very first day of the holiday.

"Layla! The instrument broke down. You need to come back right now!"

Sybilla's voice was tight with panic.

I could hear the tremor running through every word, the barely concealed fear underneath.

I kept my voice even. "Sybilla, you seem to have forgotten. I don't work there anymore."

Silence on the other end. Brief, loaded.

Then her voice came back, strained. "I know you resigned!"

"But this was your job. You didn't do a proper handover. The instrument is malfunctioning now, so you're still responsible!"