Intern Changed WiFi to Insult Me, So I Ruined Them

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Home from a two-week business trip, I couldn't get onto the WiFi, so I called my boyfriend.

William Delgado, did you switch providers? None of the login info connects anymore.

It was noisy on his end. He gave a low laugh and a lazy Mm, then said,

The username is DoCardioFiveTimesADay

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the cherry-flavored lip balm someone had left sitting in my palm.

And the password?

He paused, hemming and hawing for a long moment before he finally spoke.

I'll text it to you.

He hung up fast and sent a message.

imtheoldbird.

The moment I saw the password, I couldn't help laughing.

How indulgent of him, letting her step all over my face in broad daylight.

Nine years ago, if he'd done this to me, I'd have been hurt, miserable, wrecked.

But I'm twenty-nine now, and I have plenty of ways and plenty of energy to make them both regret it.

When I stayed quiet, William sent a voice message.

My coworkers threw me an early promotion party. I'll explain the WiFi thing when I get home.

On this trip, I'd gone to his parent company specifically to close a twenty-million-dollar partnership, and I'd named William to lead the signing.

I'd meant it as a surprise. I hadn't expected him to already be popping champagne on the way.

When I found the celebration, William was peeling shrimp for the intern, Mabel Butler.

He peeled one, she ate one, blissful on her face.

Two big plates of shrimp shells were piled up in front of them.

The second he saw me, William's face froze and he shot to his feet.

What are you doing here?

I shoved my phone screen in his face, my voice flat.

The WiFi at my place. Who changed it.

His first reaction wasn't guilt. It was an excuse.

The kid was just messing around, it's only a WiFi name. Don't pull that face at me. I'll change it back the second I'm home.

A month ago he was complaining to me about how the new intern was dumb and useless.

Now he opened his mouth to defend her.

I followed his gaze to Mabel. Young, pretty, sure.

Too bad there was nothing behind it.

Her taunt, I could understand.

But I would not stand for my boyfriend helping another woman needle me.

I cut off his frantic, defending, all-over-the-place explanation and asked with a smile,

Cardio five times a day? You're that impressive, and I never knew?

Both their faces went red in an instant.

Mabel scrambled up, stirring a wave of cloying cherry sweetness, and bit her lip as she explained,

Priscilla Swanson, it's not what you think. You've got the wrong idea about me and William.

I ignored her and stared straight into William's eyes.

I want to know what was going through your head when you typed in that new password.

Did you agree with her, that I'm the old bird?

William's face went cold, his voice heavy.

That's enough, Priscilla. If you want to make a scene, could you at least look at where you are?

You need to pick a good day to catch a cheater and beat the dog?

I grabbed both plates of the shrimp shells he'd peeled and slammed one down over each of their heads.

The grease soaked into their hair and ran down their cheeks.

Everyone's mouth fell open in shock, no one daring to make a sound.

William, humiliated and mortified, was so furious his mouth twisted.

Mabel shrieked in terror.

Ah! Priscilla, you shrew, you lunatic!

What gives you the right to do this to me? My hair, my clothes

She raised her hand and moved to rush at me, but William quickly held her back.

I wiped my hands clean before I turned to look at her. She jutted her chin out and glared back at me, refusing to back down.

That look of hers, brave and reckless and stupidly cute, no wonder William liked her.

I couldn't help laughing.

Does eating shrimp my boyfriend peels scratch that itch for you?

Calling me the old bird? You planning not to live to twenty-nine?

Mabel couldn't hold her own, choked speechless, her face redder, tears streaming down.

William, how can she be this vicious? What kind of life are you living every single day?

William stepped in front of her, aching for her, like a fearless knight.

Priscilla! You've gone too far! Apologize to Mabel right

Slap!

Apologize right

Slap!

You

Slap!

William clutched his red, swollen face, unable to get out a word, his chest heaving as he glared at me with pure venom.

I shook out my aching wrist, feeling absolutely wonderful.

William, as of right now, we're officially done. Don't come bothering me again.

William froze, then flushed with humiliated rage.

Over one WiFi password? Nine years together, and you just end it, just like that?

I answered him without a shred of hesitation.

Yes. Over one WiFi password.

William's expression changed. Not anger. Confusion.

"Priscilla, can you not be so paranoid, so suspicious, so aggressive?"

"It's just a WiFi name, and you have to blow it up into a relationship crisis. Being with you suffocates me."

I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow.

"William, don't act like you've suffered some terrible injustice. I'll ask you a few questions. If you can answer them, I'll admit I was being unreasonable."

"First. Who gave you the right to let Mabel change the WiFi in my home?"

"Second. What did that account name and password hint at? What was that dig aimed at? There's no way you didn't know. You knew and didn't stop it, which means you either accepted it or you did it to keep her happy. So where does that leave me?"

"Third. You're allergic to seafood. In nine years together I never ate a single shrimp, but you risked your life peeling shrimp for her. And I hit you wrong?"

William had nothing to say. I couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on him, so I turned straight to Mabel.

"You don't know he's allergic to shrimp? Look how much he loves you. He'd throw away his own life just to peel shrimp for you."

"Better get him to a hospital. If this piece of trash dies, you'll have a hard time finding another one."

I was worn out from days of nonstop travel. All I wanted now was to go home, wash up, and get a good night's sleep.

On the nightstand there was still that photo from the first trip William and I ever took together, the two of us squinting under a blazing sun, grinning wide and bright.

But now...

I knocked the photo face-down onto the table to vent, and even though I was dead tired, I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep.

The moment I closed my eyes, all I saw was our everyday life together over the years.

I was a year ahead of him in school. He pursued me his sophomore year, back when he was sunny and handsome and driven, and I had no reason to say no.

We dated sweetly for a year before I landed an internship at a big firm and rented this apartment.

The next year, William followed me to this city to build his career.

It was here we made our vows, to make something of ourselves, to never leave each other, to grow old side by side.

Our biggest fight was nothing more than me being too busy and forgetting to show up for a candlelit anniversary dinner.

In our seventh year, I quietly bought this apartment that held all our best memories, planning to surprise him with it when we got married.

At the end of last year, I was promoted to vice president, while William was still just a marketing manager at his company.

Afraid it would weigh on him, I kept it from him the whole time, joking that I was just another expendable workhorse at the company.

I wanted to do everything I could to pull him up to my level, to stand at the top together with him.

But the man who'd promised me forever had veered off course somewhere along the way.

The next day I slept until the sun was high before getting up, only to find Mabel in my pajamas and slippers making breakfast in the kitchen.

"Who let you into my home!"

Mabel jumped, and the spatula hit the floor with a clang.

William, still a little puffy all over, immediately came out of the guest room.

"Mabel just started work and hasn't found a decent place yet, so I told her she could stay at my place for a while."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"So you're telling me she's been living in my home this whole time I was away on business?"

William walked over with a placating look and grabbed my arm.

"Let's go inside and talk. Don't make a scene, okay?"

I shook his hand off.

"Just answer me. Yes or no?"

William lost his patience too, and said "yes" without a moment's hesitation.

I was utterly disappointed.

"William, you brought the woman you're carrying on with into my home. Did you get my permission?"

"Priscilla, watch your words. Mabel and I are just coworkers helping each other out. It's nothing as filthy as what you're imagining!"

Mabel straightened her back, suddenly emboldened.

"Priscilla, I only wanted to make William a bowl of porridge. Is even that an eyesore to you?"

"He was on an IV all night from his allergy, and you haven't said one word of concern. Do you even love him?"

The two of them playing off each other made me laugh from sheer anger.

"Now. Right now. Get out of my house!"

William ground out through his teeth, "Priscilla! She'll move out once she finds a decent place. Don't be so heartless."

I gave him a cold look.

"I'm talking about both of you. Get out!"

"Can't you be reasonable for once? It's just a few days. Do you really have to make it this ugly?"

Me, unreasonable?

"William, we're done. You have no right to stay here, and even less right to move some outsider into my house."

William raised his voice and shouted back at me.

"What do you mean, your house? I've lived here six years too. I've got feelings for this place. I'm not leaving!"

"And I don't agree to break up either. I didn't do anything wrong!"

I couldn't be bothered to argue. I turned, walked into the bedroom, took out the deed, and threw it down in front of him.

"Take a good look. This is my house. I paid the down payment. That rent you thought you were covering? Those were my mortgage payments, every month. The property is in my name alone!"

William stared at the deed, his pupils shrinking, his whole face blank with shock.

"Wasn't the place a rental? When did you buy it?"

"Never mind when I bought it. All you need to know is that it's mine, and right now you don't even have the right to set foot in it!"

I tossed their things into a storage bin, dumped it in front of him, opened the door, and made a sweeping gesture toward it.

Mabel bit her lip and shrank behind William, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.

My resolve enraged him. His face flushed red.

"Priscilla, don't push this too far! Throw me out now and you'll regret it sooner or later!"

He squared his shoulders, his eyes full of arrogance.

"Mabel's uncle is a trusted confidant of Mr. Salazar at Rainhurst Group. He holds real power, and he's already locked in a twenty-million deal for me!"

"In a couple of days, VP Swanson from Voltcrest Group, the leader in the whole industry, is going to sign with me in person. Once that contract's done, I get promoted, I get a raise, and my future is wide open.

"What you're throwing out right now is a real up-and-comer, a cash cow! You're going to regret this."

He actually thought that twenty-million order had come through because of Mabel's connections?

No wonder he was protecting her at all costs.

At that, my gaze shifted to Mabel, who was still putting on that haughty air.

"Oh? Your uncle set up that twenty-million deal for him?"

Mabel nodded hard, chin lifted high.

"And your uncle's last name is?"

"My uncle's name is Mason. He's Mr. Salazar's most trusted confidant, and he has enormous power! Once William finishes this project, my uncle's going to bring him deals worth over a hundred million!"

I burst out laughing.

"If you've got such an impressive uncle, why are you two so shameless about mooching off someone else's house?"

Mabel stammered. "That's, that's because my uncle's at the head office, he can't handle everything, you know."

I couldn't be bothered to sit through her story. I picked up the storage bin and hurled it out the door.

"Then hurry up and go cling to that rich uncle's leg. Stop cluttering up my view."

William shot me a vicious glare, grinding his teeth.

"Fine, you win, Priscilla. You'll regret today's decision, I promise you!"

The two of them left in a sorry state. I slammed the door hard and called my assistant.

"Zion Dickerson, look into something for me. Around Mr. Salazar at Rainhurst Group, is there a trusted aide named Mason?"

Less than ten minutes after we hung up, Zion called back, his tone puzzled.

"Ms. Swanson, there is a man named Mason close to Mr. Salazar, but he isn't management. He's Mr. Salazar's personal driver."

A driver?

Since when did a driver get to meddle in company deals?

I leaned back against the door and let out a soft laugh.

Suddenly I couldn't wait to see the look on William's face the moment he learned the truth.

The weekend passed in a blur, and on Monday I led my team to William's company to sign the contract.

The receptionist had barely shown us to the entrance on the twelfth floor when Mabel came charging over like she'd lost her mind.

"Slap!"

A loud, ringing slap landed hard across my face.

My cheek burned instantly, and my ears rang.

She flung her arms wide, blocking the company doors, her face twisted with venom.

"You shameless slut, you actually have the nerve to show up here?"

A few employees drifted over to ask what was going on.

Mabel raised her voice, denouncing me to the whole crowd.

"This is the woman who won't let go, the one clinging to my boyfriend William. She followed him all the way here begging to get back together!"

The little group immediately started pointing at me, muttering nasty things.

Today I was here representing the company. I couldn't let my temper run away with me the way it had that night.

I swallowed my anger and explained.

"Don't worry, I'm not clinging to William, and I'm certainly not getting back together with him. I'm here to"

"Whatever you're here for, you're not welcome!"

William walked up and cut me off with a sharp voice.

He was wearing a new suit, his hair combed without a single strand out of place. Clearly he'd put a lot of effort into preparing for this signing.

Mabel switched in an instant to a frail, wronged little thing, throwing herself into his arms and choking out her words.

"William, I think she came here to cause trouble on purpose. She wants to ruin your signing, ruin your future!"

William looked at me with disgust all over his face, his tone cutting.

"Priscilla, have some shame and get out of here now. Otherwise I'll have you thrown out!"

I gave a cold laugh and answered something else entirely.

"So she's already your girlfriend?"

William pulled Mabel into his arms and said, "That's right. Mabel is gentle and considerate. She's the only one who's ever truly good to me, not like you, so pushy and cold, not a shred of warmth in you."

"This is my last warning. Get out now, and stop pestering me!"

I gave him a flat glance, took out my phone, and called Mr. Gilbert at the parent company, the one in charge of this project, then put it on speaker.

"Mr. Gilbert, this is Priscilla Swanson. The new-energy partnership project we finalized a couple of days ago, I'm afraid it can't move forward."

Mr. Gilbert's voice came through.

"VP Swanson, may I ask why?"

I laid out exactly what had happened, how Mabel and William had blocked and humiliated me.

Mr. Gilbert kept apologizing on the other end, promising that if we could keep the partnership going, they'd concede another two points of profit.

Two points of profit, on a project worth tens of millions, was no small amount.

I agreed to go ahead with the signing, but only on one condition: they had to replace someone.

Mr. Gilbert agreed at once, without a moment's hesitation.

"No problem! Whatever you say, VP Swanson! We'll replace the project lead right away!"

The call ended, and the whole floor went dead silent.

The confidence and smugness on William's face shattered in an instant.

He stared at me, disbelief written all over him, his voice trembling.

"What did you say?"

"You, you're Voltcrest Group's VP Swanson?"