“My Boss Told Me, ‘If You Take a Picture With Me Tonight, I’ll Triple Your Salary Tomorrow.’ I Agreed. But the Next Morning, When I Arrived at Work, I Saw My Photograph on the Office Door. With Tears in My Eyes, I Burst Into My Boss’s Office…”

The rent on our apartment was almost due.

“At least tell me what I did wrong,” I whispered.

Richard shook his head.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Emily.”

“Then why?”

He walked toward the window.

“Because yesterday evening, I learned something about you.”

I stared at him in terror.

“What?”

“Something about your previous workplace.”

My heart seemed to stop.

Two years earlier, I had worked at a small café where money had gone missing from the cash register.

The owner had accused me of stealing it.

Although there was no evidence against me, I had been forced to leave.

I had never told anyone about that incident.

“Is that why you’re firing me?” I asked, barely able to speak.

Richard shook his head.

“No. I also found out who actually took that money.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“How do you know about that?”

“Yesterday, I met your former employer. He now wants to sign a contract with our company.”