Chapter 8

Vanguard.

In recent years, it had exploded across the city’s elite districts. Inside the industry, it was known as the 'Genius Concentration Camp.' Outside, it was cynically dubbed the 'Money Burning Base,' famous for kissing the asses of the hyper-wealthy while looking down on everyone else.

Despite the polarizing reputation, Vanguard’s results were undeniable. They exclusively handled students facing high-stakes entrance exams. Their guarantee? No matter how abysmal the student’s foundation, Vanguard promised to get them into a top-tier school within a year.

Three years in operation, and they’d delivered a 100% success rate. The ultra-rich were literally lining up, waving blank checks to buy their kids a golden future.

At 8:00 AM the next morning, Kerry stepped off the elevator into Vanguard's sleek, painfully modern CBD office.

Normally, the early morning shift was dead quiet. Tutors would be touching up their makeup or cramming lesson plans in absolute silence. But today, the moment Kerry pushed open the glass doors, the atmosphere was electric. A massive cluster of people were gathered near the desks, aggressively whispering.

"Hey, she's here," someone muttered as Kerry walked in.

Kerry blinked, meeting the collective, burning gaze of her coworkers. "What's going on?"

May Payne, a tutor who treated the office like the set of Mean Girls, stepped forward with a vicious smirk. "You didn't hear? David Macy got exposed."

A flicker of shock crossed Kerry’s eyes, but she quickly smoothed it over. "Exposed for what?"

"Someone posted a video of him online! He was at a club, completely wasted, throwing a massive tantrum, and stripped down to his underwear. His wife had to go drag him out of there."

"It's a total PR disaster," another tutor chimed in. "They didn't even blur his face! And Vanguard has over a hundred employees—everyone’s seen it."

"Forget public humiliation," someone laughed. "I heard his wife is an absolute terror. He’s probably not even allowed to wear underwear in his own house anymore."

As they eagerly tore the man's reputation to shreds, Kerry’s mind went into overdrive. "When did this happen?" she asked quietly.

"Night before last."

The night before last. That was the night she ran into him at the club. But Clif had beaten David into a bloody, unconscious pulp. How could he have possibly gone on a drunken, half-naked bender after that? Unless...

Unless Clif explicitly orchestrated it after I left.

Clifton Condon didn't just break a man’s skull. He systematically annihilated his dignity, his marriage, and his public standing.

Sensing Kerry’s sudden silence, May Payne went in for the kill. "Wasn't David Macy your client?"

"We met," Kerry said, her tone utterly flat. "We didn't close a deal."

May’s lips curled into a nasty, condescending smile. "You’ve been at Vanguard for a month now, Kerry. And you haven't closed a single deal. I’m just curious—are you here to look for a job, or are you looking for a billionaire boyfriend? Is that why your standards are so impossibly high?"

It was a blatant, public attempt to humiliate her.

Kerry wasn't surprised. She was an outside hire—brought in straight out of grad school by Cole himself and fast-tracked to B-tier status. It had instantly pissed off Maggie Dolley, and made Kerry a massive target for the rest of the floor's jealousy.

Before Kerry could even open her mouth to fire back, a lazy, familiar male voice drifted from behind her.

"Whatever she’s lacking, it’s definitely not boyfriends. Guys are practically breaking down doors just to wait in line for her."

Kerry glanced over her shoulder. Daniel had just walked in, looking effortlessly handsome in a fitted shirt.

May Payne glared at him. "Nice of you to join us, Dan."

Daniel checked his watch, flashing a fake, corporate smile. "I clocked in exactly on time. And it’s Mr. Heimler to you, May. Otherwise, HR might mistake this for workplace harassment."

May scoffed. "Your threshold for harassment is pretty low."

"I'm just a simple, honest guy," Daniel drawled, leaning against the nearest partition. "I don't understand the mindset of people who spend all day trying to pick fights and flirt with people out of their league. Wonder what their agenda is?"

The double meaning was lethal. May’s face flushed an ugly red. She inhaled sharply, ready to scream at him, but then her eyes darted to the glass entrance.

Maggie Dolley was strutting in.

May instantly swallowed her rage and scurried back to her desk. Maggie didn't even glance at them. She walked straight past the bullpen, her heels clicking aggressively on the tile, and vanished into her corner office.

Daniel and Kerry split off to their respective zones. As Kerry sat down at her desk, her phone vibrated. A text from Daniel.

That bitch Payne is coming for you again. Why do you let her get away with it? Saving her for Thanksgiving dinner?

Kerry quickly typed back. Every circus has a clown. Let her dance a little longer. She can't actually touch me.

Daniel: These idiots have no idea you passed the interview with Clifton Condon. I swear to god, I want to take that contract and slap them across the face with it. Aren't the locals supposed to be terrified of him? (Attached: a meme of a dog picking its nose).

Kerry: It’s a trial period. Don't speak too soon, and don't laugh too early. I never fight an unprepared war.

Daniel: Just the trial period is enough to make them shit themselves. Btw... what kind of sandwich did you buy me this morning?

Kerry smiled. The line at your usual place was too long. I grabbed one from the street cart. Why?

Daniel: Who the hell puts Lao Gan Ma chili crisp inside a ham sandwich?!

Kerry covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. You’ve got too much angry fire in you this morning, young man. Drink the milk to put it out. I promise the milk is from an actual cow.

An hour melted away as Kerry prepped her lesson plans for her first session at the Condon estate. Suddenly, a junior coordinator tapped her desk. "Maggie wants to see you."

Kerry stood up and walked toward the corner office. The bullpen pretended to be working, but she could feel their eyes burning into her back. She’s at nine rejections, the collective whisper seemed to say. Once she hits ten, company policy mandates she gets fired. Even Cole won't be able to save her.

Kerry knocked on the glass door.

"Enter," a sharp voice called out.

Kerry pushed the door open, her posture perfect, her face neutral. "You asked for me, Boss?"

Maggie was sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, glaring at a stack of folders. She didn't look up. "Wait."

She didn't offer a chair. Kerry stood in front of the desk in silence. Ten minutes dragged by. Fifteen. Maggie didn't say a single word.

Ah, Kerry thought cynically. The classic corporate power-trip penalty box.

Kerry casually checked her watch.

Maggie finally looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Are you in a rush, Ms. Jones?"

"No," Kerry said smoothly.

"I didn't think so," Maggie said, her voice dripping with ice. "Since you haven't closed a single deal this month, it's not like you have any clients to see."

Maggie leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Nine clients, Kerry. Cole Shimp told me to take good care of you before he left on his business trip. I handed you top-tier resources. Elite clients that other tutors would kill for. And you? You blew it nine times in a row. How exactly am I supposed to help you now? Do you want me to pay clients out of my own pocket to let you tutor their kids?"

Kerry stared at her, entirely unfazed.

"Vanguard relies on actual results," Maggie continued, her tone taking on a fake, patronizing pity. "Your performance isn't just disappointing to me, it’s embarrassing for the person who vouched for you. I know people out there are laughing at you, and I don't want you to suffer any more humiliation. I have a friend who runs a mid-level tutoring agency across town. If you’re willing, I can introduce you."

She was firing her. Right here, right now, under the guise of 'doing her a favor.'

Before Kerry could even process a response, a frantic knock hit the door.

"Come in!" Maggie snapped, irritated.

The receptionist practically burst into the room. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide with a frantic, suppressed excitement that Kerry couldn't immediately decode.

"Ms. Dolley!" the receptionist gasped. "There’s a VIP client here to sign a contract! He’s waiting in the reception room!"