Chapter 49

The conference room door gave a soft knock.

Evelyn Roland stood outside, her fingertips still poised mid-air from rapping on the wood.

"Come in."

When she pushed open the door, the room fell into dead silence. Every executive's gaze snapped toward her, the air thick with tension.

Adrienne Klein sat at the head of the table, her expression grave. "A critical company contract was shredded in the printing room. Surveillance shows you were the only person who entered there this morning."

Evelyn's eyes swept across the assembled faces before landing on the Director of HR, Daniel Murphy. He was fiddling with a pen, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

Suddenly, everything clicked.

"I did it," Evelyn stated plainly.

The room erupted. Whispers rippled through the crowd. Some shook their heads in disappointment. Others curled their lips in disdain.

Alexander Roland shot to his feet, but one sharp glance from her froze him in place.

"Since Miss Roland has confessed, we should proceed according to company policy," Daniel said airily, as if discussing the weather.

The head of marketing jumped in. "We happen to need someone for market research. She can collect sales data from department stores."

In the sweltering midsummer heat, it was clearly a punishment in disguise.

Before Adrienne could speak, Evelyn nodded. "No problem."

Her immediate agreement stunned everyone.

——

3 PM. The sun blazed overhead.

Evelyn entered the third department store's KL Boutique, the back of her blouse already soaked with sweat.

"Let me try that necklace." A saccharine voice rang out.

Victoria Lowell stood at the counter, pointing at a piece of jewelry behind the glass. Dressed in designer labels, the diamonds on her wrist glittered under the lights.

Evelyn pretended not to see her, approaching a sales associate to request sales figures.

"Oh my, if it isn't KL's little employee?" Victoria's voice sharpened. "Reduced to running errands now?"

Other customers turned to look.

Evelyn kept writing, her pen scratching against the notepad.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Victoria stomped over in her stilettos. "I demand service. Now!"

Her crimson-lacquered nails came dangerously close to Evelyn's face.