CHAPTER 1 — "Kneel... Or You're Fired Forever."
Emily Carter had never imagined that the man she once loved would become the one who destroyed her life.
Three years ago, Ryan Walker promised to stand beside her through everything. But after landing a senior executive position at Blackstone Financial, he changed. Money changed him. Power changed him. And the woman who had supported him through years of failure suddenly became an embarrassment.
Now Emily was unemployed.
Her mother was lying in a hospital bed, waiting for a life-saving surgery she couldn't afford. Every bank account Emily owned had been drained paying medical bills. This interview at Walker Holdings was her last hope.
She didn't know Ryan was the company's newest Vice President.
The interview room fell silent the moment he walked in.
Ryan smirked.
"Well... look who's desperate."
Emily's heart sank.
"Ryan... please. I didn't know you worked here."
"Oh, I know why you're here," he laughed. "You need money."
The other executives exchanged uncomfortable glances, but nobody dared interrupt him.
Ryan leaned closer.
"You always said you had dignity."
He pointed to the polished marble floor.
"Prove how badly you want this job."
Emily stared in disbelief.
"What?"
"Kneel."
The room froze.
"If you kneel and apologize for leaving me, maybe I'll let HR consider your application."
Emily's hands trembled.
She remembered the hospital bills.
She remembered her mother's weak smile.
She remembered the doctor saying she only had days left.
Slowly...
Painfully...
Emily dropped onto both knees.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I... I'm begging you."
Ryan burst into laughter.
"So this is what pride looks like."
He took out his phone and secretly recorded her humiliation.
"Perfect," he whispered. "This will get millions of views."
The executives looked away.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody helped.
Just then...
Ryan's phone rang.
The smile disappeared from his face the instant he saw the caller ID.
It was the Chairman.
He answered confidently.
"Sir?"
The voice on the other end said only one sentence.
"Stand up... and look behind you."
Ryan slowly turned around.
Standing in the doorway was an elderly man surrounded by security.
And beside him...
May you like
A woman Ryan had never seen before.
She was smiling directly at Emily.
Related Stories
