At the company’s year-end party, management tried to cut costs by using junk as raffle items.

The prize box was filled with bottle caps, instant noodle wrappers, toothpaste boxes, and other trash.

Everyone was only allowed to pick one item and scan the QR code on it. Whether you won anything depended entirely on luck.

I casually picked up a bottle cap and unexpectedly won a car worth 500,000 dollars.

As soon as the vice president found out, he rejected my win and demanded that I hand over the prize. “The company spent 20 dollars to get these raffle items from a recycler. Any prizes won have to be recorded in the books as company assets. They belong to the company.”

My boss reprimanded me as well, “Have you lost your mind because you’ve been poor? Do you think you could have won without the company? You don’t know how to be grateful, and now, you’re trying to take company property. Stop causing a scene!”

I did not argue and calmly handed over the bottle cap. Then, I turned around and called one of our clients.

My boss had forgotten one thing: I was the company’s top salesperson.

If he insisted on crossing me, I would make him lose five million.

“Seth really lives up to his reputation as a money grubber. There has to be a limit to how cheap someone can be. How could he even come up with an idea like this?”

Juliet Young, my team member, looked at the bottle cap in her hand and let out a helpless sigh.

“You should’ve expected this the day he started charging for water. People like him consider it a loss if they go out and don’t pick up money others have dropped. Anyway, I’m used to it by now.”

Zeke Gibson tossed a bottle cap into the air and caught it like it was nothing.

“Come on, watch me. Maybe I’ll win another bottle!”

Three seconds later, he tossed the cap into the trash.

Juliet and I exchanged a smile before we took out our phones to scan the QR codes.

Instead of the expected “Better luck next time,” a picture of a car appeared on my screen.

[Congratulations! You have won a 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 RS worth 500,000 dollars. Please bring the redemption code to your local dealership to claim your prize.]

I stared at the screen in disbelief at first while Juliet gasped. “You won? You really won!”

“Ruby, you hit the jackpot!”

She grabbed me and shook me hard. Colleagues nearby gathered around us too.

“What? Who won?”

“Our sales manager, Ruby Jameson, won a car! It’s the latest Porsche model this year, and it’s worth 500,000 dollars!”

“Oh, my gosh! She’s so lucky!”

Cheers rose around us, and I felt happy as well.

I raised my glass and toasted everyone. “Thank you, everyone. I’ll treat you all to dinner another day.”

I finished the drink in my glass and wiped my mouth. Just then, Seth Zeller’s assistant tapped on my shoulder lightly.

“Ms. Jameson, Mr. Zeller would like to speak with you.”

I followed her to the main table, where Seth greeted me with a broad smile.

“Ruby, you’ve been with the company for three years. That makes you a senior employee here.

“After this year, the sales director position is yours for sure. You’ve earned two promotions in three years. The company’s been very good to you. Have you ever thought about how you might repay the company?”

Seth never approached anyone without a purpose. From his tone, I already had a rough idea of what he wanted.

Even so, I still thought he would not be that shameless.

“Next year, I’ll keep working hard and bring in even more profit for—”

“That’s your duty!”

Maybe he had a bit too much to drink. Seth suddenly slammed his glass on the table, and his smile vanished.

“Didn’t you just win a car? Hand it over.”

I raised an eyebrow. “To you?”

“Of course not. To the company.

“The company trained you. You should be grateful.”

Grateful? I thought that was utterly ridiculous.

“I won the prize by luck. Why should I give it to the company?

“This year, the sales department reached 150% of its target. I personally contributed to 79% of that. To put it plainly, I brought in over five million in profit for the company this year. Am I really ungrateful?”

Seth became furious and slammed his hand on the table. “Without the company, you wouldn’t be where you are today!

“Are you that proud of yourself, Ruby? Your success comes from the company’s reputation and your position as sales manager! Even a nobody in your place could achieve the same results!

“The company spent 20 dollars to get these raffle items from a recycler. Any prizes won have to be recorded in the books as company assets. They belong to the company.”

I looked at his distorted face and smiled all of a sudden.

“And what if I refuse?”

Seth pointed at me with rage. His finger was so near that it almost touched my nose.

“If you refuse, we’ll deduct it from your year-end bonus.

“I already checked with finance. Your bonus this year should just be over 300,000. It’s a lot less than the value of the car, but I’ll be generous and not argue.”

“Aren’t you worried that I’ll take this to Mr. Langley?” I asked.

Quincy Langley was the real boss of the company. Seth’s actions were usually tolerated, but if I went to Langley, he would definitely step in.

However, Seth was not worried at all.

“Go ahead. Try it.

“Didn’t you notice that Mr. Langley already left before you came? He’s already approved this.”

I lowered my head. Suddenly, all my hard work this year felt a little pointless.

I picked up the glass on the table and drank its contents in one go. The burning liquid slid down my throat.

Staring at the bottom of the glass, I slowly said, “I’ll send the redemption code to your assistant.”

Seth’s eyes lit up as he smiled.

“That’s better.”

He patted me on the shoulder and refilled my glass.

However, I ignored him and returned to my table.

Juliet saw my sullen expression and pressed me for details on what had happened.

I told her everything, and her face turned bright red with anger. “This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!

“I can’t let this go! Ruby, you can’t just let him get away with this!”

Zeke held her back. “Look at you. Ruby’s being bullied? Don’t worry. She definitely has a plan.”

I did have a plan, but I needed to be sure of something first.

As soon as work started, I went straight to Quincy.

However, his secretary blocked me at the door. She told me that Quincy was either out or busy in a meeting.

After three days, I brought a chair and waited outside his office.

Two hours later, Quincy called me in.

“Were you guarding the door for me? Do the sales department staff have that much free time?”

I took a deep breath. But just as I was about to speak, he waved me off.

“If you’re here to talk about that prize, don’t bother.”

I froze. “You mean you agree that the prize I won belongs to the company?”

Quincy’s expression darkened. “Don’t you have enough to live or eat? I pay you a base salary of 20,000 dollars a month. Have I treated you badly?

“Seth is right. If it weren’t for the company holding a year-end party, would you have won anything?”

He glared at me impatiently. “You don’t know how to be grateful, and now, you’re trying to take company property. Stop causing a scene!”

At that moment, my heart went completely cold.

When he first recruited me, he flew to my city for my interview and promised me the best pay in the industry.

Three years later, he had already forgotten his promise. It looked like I had earned too much for the company. He really thought that he was some kind of big shot.

In the end, I left without a word.

News that the company had taken my prize spread quickly.

My colleagues had put up with Seth for a long time, and they were talking about him behind his back.

“The company isn’t his personal kingdom. He’s acting all high and mighty just because he’s the vice president!”

“Ever since he arrived, I haven’t had a single peaceful day! Bathroom breaks are timed, I have to put down deposits for office supplies, and I get fined 20 dollars if personal calls go over thirty seconds. I’ve had enough!”

“Work is stressful enough, and we have to watch him act like a petty boss every day. In reality, he’s just a lapdog before Mr. Langley!”

Juliet and Zeke secretly set up a group to oppose him. Within an hour, more than twenty people joined.

They refused Seth’s demands in every way. They took turns slacking off in the bathroom, deliberately delayed his expense reports, took his pens, and withheld deposits.

Seth realized that they were acting on my behalf and flew into a rage.

He singled out Juliet and Zeke at the weekly meeting and threatened them privately. Anyone who dared to oppose him or go against the company for my sake would be fired.

After that, everyone in the office, except for Juliet and Zeke, began avoiding me. It was as if I was filthy, and I could taint anyone who got close.

Juliet stomped her foot in fury. “Ruby, you’ve been way too nice to them! They’re so ungrateful!”

I shook my head and held her back.

I did not care about the 500,000 dollars. There was no reason to involve innocent people just to vent my anger.

Not wanting to stay in a company like this any longer, I wrote my resignation letter.

While picking up a package at the front desk, I passed by Seth’s office. The door was slightly open, and I could hear his loud, unabashed laughter.

“This year’s party turned out great. Not only did the company save a lot of money, but we also got a free car!

“Her salary’s too high. We need to lower it.” He chuckled sinisterly.

“I was too impulsive back then. I gave her such a high salary without thinking!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Langley. Leave it to me. I promise that we’ll have her completely under control in less than a month!”

I stood at the doorway as my fingernails dug into my palm.

I had drunk till my stomach started bleeding to secure a deal. I had also slept for only four hours a night for an entire week to finish a proposal.

I could say with confidence that I deserved every dollar I earned.

Initially, I had planned to part on decent terms. But after hearing their conversation, I refused to let them off the hook so easily.

I took my phone and went up to the rooftop terrace.

The cold winter breeze cleared my head and cooled the anger that had left me lightheaded. Then, I called Elena Frost, the CEO of Saint New Group.

Her cheerful laughter came through the phone. “I heard you won a car. Congratulations. My sister runs a car wash at the International Trade Center. Come by anytime. It’s free.”

“Thank you, Ms. Frost. I don’t need to wash my car right now. I’m calling about something else. There’s no rush to settle this year’s remaining payment. As for next year’s main contract, let’s put that on hold for now.”

Elena noticed that I was upset, and her tone turned serious. “What happened? Did someone at your company give you a hard time?

“Was Seth picking on you, or did Quincy act rudely? Tell me who it was. I’ll take care of them for you.”

I was suddenly filled with warmth.

When I first joined Prospera Group, it took all of my effort to win Elena as my client.

At that time, some street thugs had harassed her younger sister. I grabbed an iron pipe and rushed toward them without hesitation.

I drove the thugs away, and her sister was safe. Unfortunately, I broke my pinky.

When you put your heart into your work, you gained more than just a top sales title. You gained friends who truly had your back.

After speaking with Elena, I called several other key clients.

They had heard about Seth’s schemes before. They disapproved of his tactics, and they were more than willing to help me get back at him.

Once everything was arranged, I packed up my things and asked Seth to approve my leave.

After a busy year, I finally had a chance to catch a break. I had saved up hundreds of vacation hours.

Seth assumed that he had won and approved my leave without even checking it.

He had no idea that just one day later, he would be as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof.

The factory still had yet to receive its final payment, and the workers were threatening to strike. Meanwhile, Seth kept calling me nonstop.

I was lying on a beach in Thesonita and enjoying the sun, so I kept my phone on silent.

The next day, Quincy could not sit still either. He sent me several messages in a row.

[Why haven’t next year’s orders been confirmed? The procurement team needs the numbers to order materials. I need a reply before the end of the day.]

I put on my sunglasses and calmly replied, [I’m on vacation. Don’t disturb me.]

The moment I sent the message, Quincy gave me a call.

“What time is it? You’re still on vacation? The price of raw materials has jumped in recent years, and production is limited. If you don’t deal with this now, other companies will take everything! Without materials, how will the factory produce next year?

“Ruby, I’m ordering you to return to the office immediately! Otherwise, you’ll be responsible for any losses!”

I brushed the sand off my legs and ordered a cocktail as I watched the sunset over the ocean.

“Mr. Langley, how much has the company lost in total?”

There was a brief pause on the other end followed by the sound of tapping on a calculator.

“About five million.”

I laughed. “What a coincidence. The company took my car that was worth 500,000 dollars, and now, you’re losing over five million. This shows you can’t take what isn’t yours. Otherwise, the price you pay could end up ten times higher.”

Quincy panicked and yelled, “Ruby, is this your doing?! Come back here right now!”