I was in the office bathroom stall when I heard them trash-talking me.

The intern I'd trained for three months whined, She's a heartless witchlike a robot with zero brain cells.

I was about to swing the door open when another voice jumped in, laughing.

Documents incomplete.

Receipts don't match.

"No signature? Denied."

"Seriously, we've all memorized the freaking rulebot's script!"

Once they were gone, I headed back to my desk.

The intern stormed in and slammed a fat stack of reimbursement forms in front of me.

"Don't go on another power trip and block everyone's claims."

I skimmed the obviously fake receipts. Normally, I'd tear into her.

But this time, I just smiled.

"My head's killing me. Can't read the fine print."
Chapter 1
"What?" Bella froze, then shrieked, "Are you for real right now? Just admit you don't wanna approve them! You're clearly faking that headache!"
I took a breath. Didn't bother answering.
Back then, I might've broken it down for her
Reimbursement receipts had to be legit.
Finance is the final checkpoint. If something's off, we're the ones in the hot seat.
Not that it ever got through to her. She'd snapped at me before with that same eye-roll energy:
"Rules dont run the worldpeople do. Why are you so pressed?"
I'd kept it professional, taught her how to review reimbursements the right wayover and over.
But after what I heard in the bathroom, yeah... I went cold.
If she didn't care, then why should I?
I grabbed my thermos and turned to leave.
Bella scowled and grabbed my arm. "What, running off now? Feeling guilty?"
I didn't say a word.
She raised her voice.
"You think it's just me? Everyone's fed up with you blocking their reimbursements. What, skimming the cash for yourself or something?"
I frozestunned at how insane that accusation was.
Just last week, she asked for a full-time position. I even wrote her a solid recommendation.
Didn't think she'd flip on me before it was even approved.
I yanked my wrist free and looked her dead in the eye.
"Bella. Let's be clear. The company has a reimbursement process. I'm just doing my job."
"Doing your job?" she scoffed. "You sound like a broken record. Are you even human?"
Then she shifted gears, barking orders like she ran the place.
"I don't care. You're signing off on everyone's claims today, no excuses. People might be too scared to say it, but I'm not. Rina, quit the stuck-up act. Stop acting like a freaking bot."
That got the peanut gallery going.
"Bella, you're savage!"
"Finally someone's putting Rina in her place."
With all that backup, Bella's smirk turned full-blown smug.
"See how hated you are? Try learning from me. Maybe actually understand your coworkers instead of making them jump through hoops."
Honestly, I almost laughed. The whole thing was absurd.
Right on top of the pile? A fake receipt that said 'Business Trip Taxi'for ten grand.
What, did someone Uber cross-country?
I set it aside and grabbed the next one.
$5,200 e-wallet transfer.
Note: [To my wifey.]

Chapter 2
Bella piped up from the side. "That one's from Mr. Lawson in Sales. He even printed it in color. So thoughtful, right?"
I said nothing and kept flipping.
One page was just a massive QR code. Beside it, someone had scrawled: [Dear finance ladies, scan this yourselves.]
I set the whole stack down and looked straight at her.
The truth hovered right there
'We're in the middle of an IPO. None of this is even remotely approvable.'
But I let it go.
Just gave her a faint smile.
"My head's killing me. Gonna grab some meds. Since you care so much about the team, you can handle the approvals."
***
I ignored Bella's protests and walked out.
It was nearly lunchtime anyway.
For once, I didn't stick around to catch up on workI just left.
Barely made it through my meal before the higher-ups started blowing up my phone.
In the work group chat, my department headWinnie Dunnblasted me directly:
[@Rina Ralph, get to my office. Now.]
I didn't rush.
Waited till the last possible minute before heading back in.
Aside from Winnie, a few other department heads were already therelike they were gearing up for a full-on public trial.
When I walked in all calm, Winnie smacked her hand on the table.
"Rina, I've gotten multiple complaints about you today. What do you have to say for yourself?"
I sat down slow, didn't say a word yet.
Didn't get the chance anywayBella jumped in fast. "Ms. Dunn, just look at her attitude. She doesn't respect you at all!"
Winnie's voice spiked, practically yelling. "Rina, show some respect! Stop acting like you own the place just 'cause you've been here longer!"
I just smiled, quiet.
Back when the company had, like, twelve people, I was already the finance supervisor.
Now, with thousands on the payroll? Still the same title.
Carrying risk almost like I was the legal rep, but getting paid like a janitor.
I figured as the company grew, I'd move upor at least see a raise.
Instead, they dropped Winnie in as the new finance head.
The boss's wife.
Didn't have much choice but to suck it up.
Day one, she handed me a reimbursement formfor a brand-new LV handbag.
Like it was no big deal.
"What's with that look?" she said. "The company belongs to my husband. He told me to manage the money, so I'm using OUR money to buy a bag. Totally reasonable."
I forced a smile. "It's a large amount. We need a receipt."
She was doing her lipstick in the mirror and blinked at me like I was speaking another language.