Page 22 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

"Development?" I let out a short, humorless laugh. "I don't remember my interns—especially in design—being assigned your reports."

"It's just... to train her. She just started—" she muttered, head lowered.

"Are you questioning my policies? Or are you questioning me?" I threw the file down at her feet. "Do you think a petty supervisor like you has that authority?"

My patience was gone. I wasn't going to hear another word of her excuses.

She flinched, her head almost hanging to the floor.

"And remember this—before you humiliate someone else, take a look at yourself and see if you're even qualified to do it."

"I understand, Mr. Bykov." She nodded quickly, crouching down to gather the scattered documents. "I'll be more careful in the future."

She even reached for the file I'd thrown at Riley, as if trying to clean up every trace of her mistake. Very adaptable. But that wasn't the kind of "talent" my company needed.

"The future?" I said flatly. "There is no future."

Her hands froze mid-motion.

"You're fired."

That single sentence was enough to make her regret everything she'd done today.

"Mr. Bykov! You can't—"

"My company does not tolerate employees who bully their subordinates." I enunciated each word clearly. "Get out. Now."

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Please don't fire me!" She was almost on her knees.

She looked as if the person who had been bullying others moments ago had never existed. But I knew better. There was no real remorse there.

"You should be apologizing to her," I said, glancing at Riley.

She immediately turned to Riley, her expression collapsing into forced humility.

"I'm really sorry, Riley. I shouldn't have said those things. We actually get along well, don't we? Tell Mr. Bykov we're fine—there's no conflict between us..."

"No. We're not close," Riley said flatly. "And everything between us started because you chose to pick a fight."

Good. Sharp-tongued little thing. I knew she wasn't soft.

"You'd better start clearing your desk, or everything on it will be treated as abandoned property."

Kate's shoulders sagged. She didn't dare speak again and headed toward her office.

My employees knew my temper. I didn't make empty threats. She'd pay for her actions.

And her behavior confirmed something—she wasn't the only one pulling this shit. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so brazen about abusing Riley. I wouldn't allow this toxic culture in my company.

"Listen up. This company isn't a beauty pageant. I only care about your skills." I addressed the employees cowering at their desks. "And don't bring your clique mentality here, or you'll be out with her."

Bykov Group never lacked talent. I'd gotten over three hundred résumés this morning. People were lining up to work here.

The moment I finished, they buried their faces in their computers—whether actually working or just hiding from me, I couldn't tell.

"A new supervisor will be here soon," I said.

Finally, my gaze settled on Riley.