Chapter 2What I Truly Want to Do

I simply took the fish into the small office kitchenette and transformed it into a fiery, sour fish stew, along with an entire spread of tart and tangy dishes.

When I brought the food out, Arthur and Victoria were already seated at the table, waiting for me to set out the plates and silverware.

I brought out three sets from the kitchen, carefully placing one in front of each of them. Then, I sat down and started ravenously eating the sour and spicy fish myself.

Arthur stared, dumbfounded. He pointed a trembling finger at me. "Anna! What the hell do you think you're doing? I told you to cook, not to sit here and feast!"

"And what is this garbage?" he snarled, gesturing at the table. "It's all either sour or spicy. How is Victoria supposed to eat this?"

I just smiled.

How could she not?

In my past life, I was their unpaid maid. I knew everyone's tastes down to the last detail. It was because I catered to their every whim that when I was eight months pregnant, I weighed less than a hundred and ten pounds. I’m five-foot-five.

This life, I would eat what I wanted. I would never again starve myself for these people.

I finished my plate in minutes, patting my stomach in satisfaction. Then, I casually reached over and polished off all the fruit Arthur had so carefully prepared for Victoria.

Victoria finally lost it. "Dad! What am I supposed to eat? Your precious grandson is starving!"

Arthur, fuming, spun around and stormed back to the kitchen to whip up something else. But there was nothing left. I had used every last ingredient for my sour feast.

In my past life, I was their doormat. In this one, I was still the company's top salesperson. I wasn't going to coddle them anymore.

"You know the old wives' tale," I said nonchalantly. "'Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl.' I wonder which one the missus is having?"

Arthur's eyes lit up. He pushed all the sour dishes in front of Victoria. "Victoria, dear, eat up! These are all your favorites."

Victoria's face was a mask of disgust, but she choked down the sour fish, the sweet and sour ribs, and the sour plum pork. I had to stifle a laugh. I knew for a fact she despised fish and anything sour.

In the end, I was the only one who enjoyed the meal. Wiping my mouth, I walked straight up to Arthur.

"Mr. Howard, I'll be expecting my overtime pay for today."

His face went dark. "I'll have accounting wire it to you."

I discreetly hit the record button on my phone, then waved it at him with a bright smile. "Thank you, Mr. Howard!" I called out loudly.

As for the dishes, they could wash their own damn selves.

Stepping out of the building, I looked back at the glass-and-steel tower that had been my cage for half my life. It had imprisoned not just my body, but my youth and my talent.

The moment I was hired as a junior sales rep, Arthur had set his sights on me. For him, I abandoned my childhood sweetheart, Leo, who was waiting for me back home. I chose to become Arthur's dirty little secret. When Leo came to the city to beg me to come back, Arthur had his men break his leg. I was so blinded by his counterfeit love back then.

This life, I would repay every debt. An eye for an eye.

Just as I made my vow, my phone rang. It was Arthur.

"Anna, that was my daughter-in-law. She's pregnant. I know you're upset, but your behavior today was a profound disappointment."

"Tomorrow," he continued, his voice cold, "you will hand over that five-million-dollar account to Victoria. And we will pretend this never happened."

As he spoke, I looked up. There, on the fifteenth floor, framed by the floor-to-ceiling window, was Victoria, looking down at me with an air of smug satisfaction. I laughed out loud.