Something stirred in me, but I skipped past Richard's prompt with a joke. "I still haven't gotten the bonus from your deal. If I jump ship now, I would be taking a huge loss."

Richard smiled. "Let's make a bet. If you don't get the bonus for this deal, you'll consider what I just suggested. How does that sound?"

When it was time to pay, I pulled out the company card. That was the sales department's card for entertaining clients, as long as they didn't go overboard.

The charge failed.

I called the bank, and they said the account was frozen.

By policy, an account like that would not be frozen unless the department was dissolved or there was a major violation. This was clearly aimed at me.

I forced down the urge to smash my phone and called Celia.

"Ms. Johnson," I started, my voice icy. "Why is the sales department's card frozen?"

Celia replied calmly. "The company is conducting a financial risk review. All non-essential spending accounts are temporarily frozen. This is a normal procedure."

I laughed in anger. "I'm hosting Richard's team. We just signed a five-hundred-thousand-dollar contract with him. You call that non-essential?"

"Watch your attitude, Lisa." Celia's tone hardened. "Do I need to explain every financial decision to you? If you're entertaining a client, you can front the money first. Come back and submit the reimbursement through the usual process."

Considering how hard the last five hundred dollars had been, I could almost hear her gloating from the other end as I thought about the obstacles she would set this time.

I grit my teeth, seconds from losing control.

Richard took out his wallet, pulled out a card, and handed it over. He calmly said, "Use mine."

I wanted to say something, but he raised his hand to stop me. "It's just one dinner, I don't mind covering it. But everything I said today is effective henceforth."

-

The next day, an announcement hit the company group chat. Employees rated unsatisfactory in performance would not receive that quarter's bonus.

My name was first on the published list,

A wrath that I couldn't describe possessed me as I stormed into Zack's office and roared, "I just signed such a huge deal for the company! Tell me, what is unsatisfactory?!"

Celia's voice came from behind me. "Performance reviews are comprehensive; it's not just sales numbers."

"So, it's about who butters people up better? Or who obeys your ridiculous rules better than anyone else?"

"Lisa!" Zack slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. "Watch your attitude!"

Celia spoke slowly, almost amused. "You set a bad example, and you created a negative image for the company."

I laughed through my anger. "So, you're going to use that to block my ten-thousand-dollar bonus? Do you have any shame at all?!"

Zack's expression darkened. "Enough! What the company gives you is yours. If the company doesn't give it to you, it's off-limits. Do not think you can hold the company hostage with your performance.

"Closing deals is your job. Doing it well is what you are paid to do. The bonus is something the company awards you, and it's not money you earned on your own! It's not something you are entitled to!"

I laughed again, colder this time. "Fine. You write the rules, you control the interpretation. I have nothing else to say."

I walked back to my desk. Behind me, Celia's smug laugh followed. "How ungrateful. That bad habit needs to be corrected."

Ten minutes later, Zack came rushing over in a panic. "Richard said the contract had already been delivered. Why did I not see it on my desk?"

I replied coolly. "I refused to accept it. The package was cash-on-delivery. Company policy states that all cash-on-delivery deliveries must be refused.

"Also, today is my last day here. I'll be working for Richard's company starting tomorrow. As the client, I'll be the one setting the rules this time."