Gwh watched L freeze, a slow, knowing smile curling at the corners of her lips.


    "What''s wrong? Can''t produce your so-called evidence, or did you never have any to begin with?"


    She unsped the ne from her neck and dangled it casually in front of L. “I drew the original designs myself, right here at the office just two days ago. Every workstation has a security camera-my entire process is on record. If you think I giarized, feel free to check the footage from that day. Every new file has a clear creation date, including my initial sketches. Your name''s L, right? I''m sure HR remembers exactly when you resigned. Trying to frame me is a waste of everyone''s time."


    Gwh had no patience for fools. Weren''t CEOs supposed to be sharp? Yvette was no empty-headed beauty, but Gwh couldn''t fathom how she thought dragging someone in to use her of giarism would actually work-let alone box her into a corner.


    "L, I think it''s time you stopped giving yourself so much credit. We all just reviewed Gwh''s original designs, and your style isn''t even remotely simr to hers."


    Someone in the crowd, clearly annoyed with L, spoke up and shut her down.


    Not that anyone was necessarily on L''s side. The fact that she''de back to help Yvette only proved she''d always been a political chameleon-someone who knew how to pick a side and y along.


    L and Yvette were thick as thieves, and most people in the gaming department had never liked Yvette to begin with. Naturally, they weren''t about to go easy on L either.


    "Exactly. It''s not just the style-the way you draw and the way she draws aren''t even in the same ballpark. You im she stole your work, but honestly, I doubt you''d even be able to copy hers if you tried."


    Gwh''s 3D models were wless. The most impressive part was that, in just three days, she''d caught up to the progress the team had made in two weeks. There was no way L could have managed that.


    Everyone knew what L was


    capable of; after all, they had worked together for years. Anyone with real talent would have been promoted to manager or at least team lead by now. L, meanwhile, was still stuck at the same entry-level position.


    She worked hard, sure, but raw talent? She just didn''t have it.


    "What do you know about my style?" L shot back, her face flushed with anger. "We''re all just here to make a living. Who says I have to bare my entire portfolio for everyone to judge?"


    She''d assumed that, since Yvette was the target, the other colleagues would take her side. Instead, she''d been left out in the cold.


    "You really don''t know yourself, do you?" someone shot back. "And do you really want us to spell out the real reason you quit?"


    L mped her mouth shut. The truth was, she''d started dating someone recently and lost all focus for her work. She was constantly. missing deadlines, dragging down the entire team''s progress. Even if none of her colleagues reported herck of effort, it was only a matter of time before she got let go for failing to keep up.


    The workce is a ruthless battlefield-no blood spilled, but careers ruined all the


    same.


    At that moment, the department manager set aside his mug, having sat back and watched the whole spectacle with detached amusement.


    Λοι


    "Meeting''s over," he said calmly. "L, you no longer work here. Please don''t interrupt our meetings again. As for why you left, we don''t need to exin your personal business to the new hires. Everyone''s busy-don''t make a scene and embarrass yourself further."