Chapter 1The Secret Wife's Retribution

At the year-end bonus distribution event, every department was grinning from ear to ear.

They were receiving bonuses in the tens or even hundreds of thousands.

But when it came to our Logistics Department, each person was only given a small bag of sunflower seeds worth maybe fifty cents.

VP Miller looked at us with a benevolent smile:

"Although the Logistics Department is somewhat dispensable, the company hasn't forgotten you."

"A bag of seeds might not fill your stomach, but it shows our appreciation."

"I hope that next year, under the leadership of your new director, you'll all strive to earn a cash bonus!"

The jeering from the crowd below abruptly stopped.

After a few seconds of stagnant air, significant murmuring broke out.

"New director? Chloe has been the Director of Logistics for five years and she's just being replaced like that?"

"Who is so capable?"

"I heard it's the recently converted intern, Mia. Who knows which executive she's connected to."

"She joined the company aiming straight for management. Chloe has no backing, so of course they'd replace her."

While I was still digesting the reality of the rumors, VP Miller confirmed it to me.

"Mia will take over as Director of Logistics after the New Year. You will cooperate with the transition in advance."

Director of Logistics? No backing?

I glanced sideways at Mia, who was looking at me with a smug smile.

I almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Competing with the boss's wife for a position?

Then this time, she's probably kicked a steel plate.

* * *

Back in the office, a bag of sunflower seeds symbolizing humiliation sat on everyone's desk.

Everyone looked crestfallen, like frostbitten eggplants.

No one said a word, but the oppressive atmosphere protested their dissatisfaction.

After a long while, I heard the low sobbing of Lily.

"My mom is waiting for my year-end bonus for her chemotherapy."

"Now I get a bag of sunflower seeds. What am I going to do about my mom's illness?"

Sarah also wiped her tears:

"My son wants to buy a house, he's just waiting for my year-end bonus to help with the down payment..."

Jake, full of youthful vigor, jumped up, ready to demand an explanation.

"I'm going to ask him, why no year-end bonus? This isn't fair!"

Sarah pulled him back, advising in a low voice:

"Forget it, going won't help..."

"Why forget it? Our department's total year-end bonus is only a few thousand dollars, not even a fraction of what one employee in the Sales Department gets."

"Distributed among us, it's only a few hundred bucks per person."

"Is the company really that short on cash? This is blatant bullying!"

After he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to me.

A flush of embarrassment burned across my face.

The Logistics Department, six people in total, handles a myriad of miscellaneous tasks: cleaning, maintenance, purchasing and storing office supplies, etc.

From a single sheet of paper or a pen, to the maintenance of electrical equipment, and even the renovation of the entire office building, everything falls within the Logistics Department's scope of responsibility.

When the toilet leaks, they find us.

When the public water dispenser is empty, they find us.

When the cafeteria food is too salty or too bland, they find us.

Every little detail; if a speck of dust falls from the ceiling, it's our job.

Yet they call this dispensable?

Jake stared at me with bloodshot eyes:

"Chloe, this is naked humiliation. Are we just going to take it lying down?"

Looking at their eyes, full of indignation and expectation, I picked up that bag of sunflower seeds.

"Of course we won't take it lying down."

I went straight to VP Miller's office.

Cutting right to the chase, I threw the sunflower seeds on his desk:

"Mr. Miller, what is the meaning of this?"

"Our Logistics Department worked our fingers to the bone for a whole year, and we're brushed off with a bag of sunflower seeds?"

VP Miller barely lifted his eyelids, not even looking me in the eye.

"Is this too little? Besides spending money, what contribution does your Logistics Department make to the company?"

"No contribution?" I forced down my anger.

"Our Logistics Department saves the company tens of thousands of dollars a year on office supplies alone."

"Trash removal, office facility maintenance, electrical repairs—we never spend money to hire outside help, saving tens of thousands more."

"Over five years, everyone in the Logistics Department has become a jack-of-all-trades in maintenance, decoration, and clearing drains. Does this not count as a contribution?"

VP Miller finally looked at me squarely, his eyes gloomy.

"One order from the Sales Department leaves you in the dust, and you have the nerve to present this little bit of money as a contribution?"

"Chloe, you need to broaden your perspective. The company trained you to become jacks-of-all-trades and didn't even charge you tuition, did they?"

I was truly driven mad by his shamelessness.

"You mean, we should be paying the company tuition? We shouldn't even get a salary, we should just let you exploit our labor for free?"

He slammed his hand on the desk, his face darkening.

"Chloe! Watch your language!"

"The company needs talents who can create value, not handymen who only know how to clean toilets and do repairs."

"Compensation is based on work. The work you do isn't even worth a bag of sunflower seeds."

"Giving them to you is to take care of your feelings. Don't be ungrateful!"

Compensation based on work?

The Logistics Department has an approved headcount of 10 people.

We only have 6 people but do the work of 10.

When others are on vacation, we are rushing to repair electrical circuits.

During the holidays when families are reuniting, we are pulling all-nighters cleaning the septic tank.

Almost every department gets a salary increase every year; only our Logistics Department hasn't seen a dime of increase in five years.

When I applied for a salary increase and additional staff, how did he promise me?

[The Logistics Department has no performance link, so salary increases are restricted. You are in management, you must look at the big picture. We'll give you a larger year-end bonus so your hard work won't be in vain.]

Because of this one sentence, we endured a bitter year, only to wait for a bag of sunflower seeds!

I suppressed my emotions:

"Mr. Miller, either raise our salaries or give us the year-end bonus. You have to give us one or the other, right?"

His face immediately turned black, and he viciously stubbed out a half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

"Chloe! Do you think you own this company?"

"Your Logistics Department hasn't created value for the company, you all deserve a pay cut. Where do you get the nerve to ask for a year-end bonus?"

"We've had it every year, why this year..."

"Then look for the reason within yourself!" VP Miller interrupted me.

"You are about to be removed as the Director of Logistics. I advise you not to stick your neck out."

"If you still want to stay in the company, keep your head down and behave!"

I froze abruptly.

So that was it. The entire Logistics Department was implicated because of me.

I looked at him and suddenly smiled:

"You'd better not regret this."