Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 3: Just Fire Me

Mariella only smiled lightly in response.

"I'm renovating for a friend. He has paranoia," she said.

"Oh... I see." The renovation company's head hadn't expected that answer, but he wisely decided not to press further.

Clients were like gods. As long as the money was there, any request could be met.

Mariella then finalized additional details. She wanted them to dig a deep well in the yard, install a boiler in the villa, build a private underfloor heating system, and construct a large fireplace in the main bedroom.

The renovation manager's face flushed from holding it in. He almost asked her if she was building an apocalypse-proof safe house.

But in the end, he swallowed the words.

After all, the client had mentioned her friend had paranoia.

Wealthy people could get away with anything.

...

Mariella walked out with the signed renovation contract. Night had already fallen, but the stifling summer heat barely subsided.

The faint aroma of food in the air made her stomach grumble.

Four harsh years of the apocalypse had left food and resources scarce. Most people went hungry, and some even resorted to cannibalism.

Mariella had lost count of how long it had been since she'd had a full meal.

She swallowed hard and walked into the nearest restaurant, ordering a dozen of her favorite dishes in one go.

She wanted garlic butter shrimp, spicy baked fish, steamed crab, bourbon-glazed pork belly, honey-glazed ham, pork knuckle, and two cans of ice-cold soda she had been craving since the apocalypse.

The waiter looked at her in surprise. "Miss, how many people are dining?"

"I invited friends. They'll be here soon." Mariella once again made up a story.

The dishes arrived one after another, filling the table.

Of course, no friends were coming. She had it all to herself and dove in like a whirlwind.

The long-lost flavors stimulated her taste buds, and she was intoxicated by the pleasure.

Tears and saliva mixed as she cried from excitement.

Having a second chance at life, she vowed to live beautifully and comfortably.

And those who had schemed against her in her previous life? She wouldn't spare a single one.

Finally, stuffed beyond capacity, Mariella finished the last half can of soda to cut the grease.

"Waiter, please pack the rest."

...

Mariella returned to the apartment she rented, which was very close to the Graham Group.

She had deliberately rented a place near the company for the convenience of working overtime. Thinking back now, it was almost laughable.

In her previous life, she had poured her heart out for a man who wasn't worth it, only to end up dead and dismembered.

This time, she would make him pay back every last bit.

She put the packed food into her storage space and then turned on the air conditioner.

The cool breeze blew out, driving away the oppressive, humid summer heat. It made her feel much more comfortable.

Mariella opened her phone app and ordered a glass of lemonade. The delivery arrived at her door in no time.

The world before the apocalypse was really wonderful. Whatever she wanted, she could order it, and it would arrive quickly. It was pure happiness.

Unfortunately, that beautiful life would soon be gone forever.

She drank half of the lemonade and wanted to go shopping, but her body still felt weak.

She had spent every day working herself to exhaustion for Harvey, a man who would devour her without remorse, and even gotten sick. Thinking of that, she couldn't help but want to slap herself twice.

She decided to be a little kinder to herself. She would rest first, then handle other things later.

...

Perhaps because she had been busy and exhausted all day, Mariella slept soundly on the first night after her rebirth, without even having nightmares.

After waking up, she felt fully restored.

She got up to wash up and took out the food she had packed last night from her storage space. Since it had cooled down when it was packed, she put it in the microwave to heat it up.

The aroma of the food filled the air, making her mouth water.

Having endured four years of hunger during the apocalypse, she now had an almost obsessive appreciation for food—she could never waste a single bite.

After breakfast, she let out a contented burp and picked up her phone.

Just then, a call came in.

"Mariella!" Jennifer's voice carried a hint of threat. "Mr. Graham asked me to pass along a message. If you don't return to the office today, you'll be fired!"

Mariella laughed through her annoyance. "Oh? Fired, huh?"

Heh. So now he's panicking.

"Mr. Graham doesn't change his words. If you don't want to be fired, make sure you're at the office on time this morning. At 9 a.m., he'll personally host an important meeting. You have to attend."

"I'm busy," Mariella said unhurriedly.

"Huh? What?"

"Why don't you just have Harvey fire me, then?" she said, hanging up and immediately blocking the number.

...

In the private ICU of the hospital, Harvey's face darkened when he learned Mariella had skipped work again and blocked Jennifer's call.

Lying in the bed, Roxanna looked uneasy. "Why is she suddenly acting like this toward you? Could it be... she knows something?"

Harvey was in a bad mood, but he still comforted her gently and patiently. "Even if Mariella knows something, it won't change anything. Your father has already kicked her out. She has nowhere else to go besides the Graham Group."

Although Mariella kept her mother's last name, her family company was now under the Shepherd name. She had no inheritance rights and couldn't claim a penny.

Her biological mother had passed away long ago.

Connor had married Mariella's mother as a live-in son-in-law and skilfully persuaded her to transfer all shares to him.

Now, Mariella, who carried her mother's last name, had become an outsider and was kicked out by Connor.

Harvey believed that since he had taken Mariella in, she should be grateful to him.

"Harvey, I know you're a man of your word. Since you're engaged to her, you should at least be a little kinder to her. Go try to soothe her," Roxanna suggested understandingly.

He remained unmoved. "Roxanna, we grew up together. You should understand how I feel. I keep Mariella around only to let her serve as a mobile blood bank for you."

Roxanna had severe nephritis and poor health. She often needed transfusions. Mariella's blood type happened to match hers perfectly.

"The doctor said that if your nephritis progresses to uremia, you may need a kidney transplant. By then, she could donate a kidney to you," he added.

Hearing that, Roxanna was moved to tears, snuggling into his arms. "Harvey, now I truly believe you only have me in your heart."

They shared a tender moment in the ward.

Roxanna then realized something and grew uneasy. "Mariella has always been devoted to you. Why is she suddenly going on strike this time?"

"She's just throwing a little tantrum to get my attention!" Harvey scoffed. "Just wait and see. She'll be at that nine o'clock meeting on time."