The next morning, the sun rose, but the warmth never reached my skin.
I stepped into the boardroom on the 60th floor, heels clicking against polished wood, eyes sharp beneath carefully applied makeup. A new meeting, a new battlefield. This time, I wasn't there as the spoiled daughter of the Lam family.
I was the acting director of the strategic division.
And they were waiting.
Nguyen Gia Lan sat at the head of the long table, her lips curled into a welcoming smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She wore a silk cream-colored blouse, pearl earrings, and the aura of someone who believed the entire room revolved around her.
"Ah, Hoa Tu," she purred. "You're early."
"So are you," I replied evenly, sliding into the seat across from her.
She tilted her head. "I've heard some interesting things about you lately. Quite the reformist now, aren't we?"
I smiled faintly. "I suppose change is necessary when things begin to rot."
Her expression didn't shift, but I saw the flicker in her eyes. That was the thing about women like Gia Lan—they smiled when they planned to destroy you.
"I worry about you sometimes," she said softly. "The company can be… cruel to those who dig too deep."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a concern," she corrected, folding her hands. "From a friend."
I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice just enough. "Then I suggest you choose your friends more carefully, Gia Lan. Some of them are already being investigated."
There it was—a slight pause, a shift in her breathing. She knew.
I had her attention now.
Before she could respond, the door opened. Hoai Trach entered, flanked by two assistants, his presence consuming the room without a word. His eyes brushed over me briefly—calm, assessing.
The meeting began. Reports, strategies, numbers thrown around like weapons.
But I wasn't listening to the content.
I was watching the glances.
The exchanges.
The quiet nods between Gia Lan and two other directors. The way one of them kept deflecting any mention of a vendor review I'd requested last week.
They were coordinated. Subtle. Practiced.
I made notes.
At one point, Hoai Trach looked directly at me.
"What's your assessment, Director Lam?"
I met his gaze with calm confidence. "The proposed project looks promising, but I recommend a thorough audit of vendor connections before we approve the second phase."
Gia Lan's voice was syrupy sweet. "That seems excessive."
"It's standard protocol. Unless someone has something to hide?"
The room went silent for a moment.
Then Hoai Trach said, "Proceed with the audit."
And just like that, I won.
After the meeting, Gia Lan brushed past me near the elevator, her voice a whisper.
"You're going to regret this."
I smiled, unfazed.
"I already regret ever trusting you."
As the elevator doors closed, I didn't feel relief.
Only fire.
Because this wasn't just revenge.
It was survival.
And I had no plans to lose.