I just closed a deal worth ten million dollars.

My boss's mistress's brother parachuted in to become the vice president.

His first act in office was to fire me.

I handed the ten-million dollars deal to a competitor right away.

And I took all the clients with me.

The boss begged me to come back to work, tears in his eyes.

But he didn't know that all I wanted was to bankrupt him.

——

When HR notified me to come in for a talk, my heart sank, sensing trouble.

I heard that the company had laid off quite a few people recently.

But I never thought it would come to me.

The HR, Annie Halls, spoke in a strictly official tone. "This conversation involves company secrets, and no recording is allowed. Please hand over your phone."

I placed my phone on the desk.

Annie glanced at me and rattled off a bunch.

In short, I was fired and instructed to hand over my client resources and pack up my things.

I took a deep breath and asked, "Does Arthur know about this?"

Arthur Hastings, my boss, had supposedly gone on a business trip, but in reality, he had whisked his mistress, Selina Lewis, away for an overseas vacation.

Now, the person in charge at the office was the newly parachuted-in Vice President, Billy Lewis.

He was Arthur's favorite mistress, Selina's younger brother.

A good-for-nothing troublemaker.

"The list was finalized during a senior management meeting, so Mr. Hastings is definitely aware of it."

Well, so since Arthur knows, it meant he wanted to get rid of me through someone else's hands.

"Let's talk about compensation, then," I said.

Annie said, "You can complete the resignation procedures today. Considering you've worked for the company for five years, we will deposit your full month's salary into your account."

That almost made me laugh out loud.

"So you're saying that the company is terminating my employment without cause and without any compensation?"

Annie replied, "It's only the beginning of the month, so the company will pay you for the entire month, which is equivalent to paid leave. The company has already been very generous, and everyone else is treated the same way."

"According to the regulations, the one-month pay in lieu of notice should be paid to me. But I am not at fault, and the company is terminating the employment contract without cause, so they should compensate me with N months of severance pay, a total of N plus one. I have worked here for five years, so I should be given six months of compensation."

Seeing that I was not as easily manipulated as the others, the HR representative forced a fake smile.

"Ms. Ashley Gomez, look, our company isn't huge. Downsizing to increase efficiency is in the company's best interest. It would be best if you understood that.

"Besides, this is company policy, and all the other employees have accepted this compensation. You can't be an exception..."

I understood my foot!

I looked at her hypocritical face. "Company policy cannot override national law. I repeat, please provide written notice and compensate me in accordance with labor law."

"You're really asking for the moon! "

Billy stormed in, his tone hostile.

I calmly replied, "According to labor law, this is what I deserve."

He sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs arrogantly, looking like a typical hooligan.

"What do you mean deserve? Ashley Gomez, you earn such a high salary, yet you're never in the office. The company hasn't pursued you for dereliction of duty, and offering you a month's salary is already a generous deal. You still want more compensation? In your dreams!"

I sneered, "Mr. Lewis, it's okay that you're new and don't understand. I can enlighten you.

"The company's business is the result of me running around and breaking my legs. If I stayed in the office all day, Vice President, your salary might not even exist."

His face darkened, and he pointed at me imperiously.

"In any case, the company won't keep a parasite like you! Either you transfer to a cleaning position, or you hand over your client resources and get out immediately!"

Arguing with a workplace thug only leads to frustration.

I took a deep breath.

"I'm the top performer and I haven't made any mistakes. I won't accept a transfer to another department. The company can either provide a written notice and compensate me.

"Or, please ask Mr. Lewis not to interfere with my work. I'm very busy."

"You! Ashley! How dare you talk to me like that!"

I let out a scoff.

Typical behavior of someone who had gotten a little power and thought they could boss everyone around.

I could pretty much guess why Billy was targeting me.

To be precise, it was Selina, Arthur's mistress, who was targeting me.

I was one of the first employees to join Arthur's company right after graduating from college. Because of my diligence, eagerness to learn, practicality, and outstanding performance, Arthur has repeatedly expressed his appreciation for me.

And some inappropriate thoughts.

But ever since Selina, a recent college graduate, became Arthur's secretary a while ago, she had been targeting me everywhere.

I didn't know the reason before, but one day, I saw her coming out of Arthur's office with messy hair and disheveled clothes, and I finally understood.

She had always seen me as a rival.

She thought Arthur's appreciation for me was because I was intentionally seducing him.

Maybe she even suspected that I was already Arthur's secret lover; otherwise, how could I get so many resources and sign so many orders?

So, to secure her position, she had to get rid of me.

I don't know what pillow talk she whispered to Arthur, but his attitude towards me started to change. He began to create obstacles for me at work.

It wasn't until Selina first planted her people under my wing and then brought Billy in as vice president that I finally understood.

Selina's ambition was far greater than I had imagined.

She didn't just want to get rid of me, her supposed rival.

She was after Arthur's entire fortune.

But he was deeply infatuated, and I had no reason to interfere in someone else's personal affairs.

Arthur had shown me appreciation and mentorship, and I was focused on my career and making money. I valued my reputation and never accepted bribes or abused my position for personal gain.

You could say I was occupying a lucrative position without taking advantage of it, blocking others from profiting.

So, under Selina's manipulation, Arthur used a business trip as an excuse to take her on a vacation, leaving Billy to fire me.

I didn't want to waste time arguing with them.

I had just secured a significant deal that morning worth over ten million dollars.

The commission on this deal was substantial.

Since I had been fired, I couldn't let those bloodsuckers benefit. I had to find a foolproof way to handle this order.

I turned to leave, but Billy roared from behind, "Ashley! You're no longer an employee of this company. You have no right to use the company computer."

He shouted into his phone, "Shut down Ashley's account immediately!

I simply took out my phone, pondering who I could partner with on this deal. I could negotiate for half the commission, minimizing my losses.

However, I found that in an instant, I was kicked out of all the company's relevant groups, and my system access was shut down.

If I didn't clock in for three consecutive days, I would be considered absent without leave, giving them a legitimate reason to fire me without any compensation.

Their tactics were indeed... disgusting.

However, Billy didn't understand the nature of our work. My position didn't require me to be in the office.

As long as I could provide proof of meeting with clients, it would count as fieldwork.

Annie was well aware of this, too.

She quickly pulled me back.

"Ashley, you're going to be working in this industry too. Why make things so unpleasant? You wouldn't want your new employer to hear anything wrong about you during a background check, would you"

I paused.

"Are you threatening me?"

Annie smiled. "What threat? Don't make it sound so unpleasant. If you don't agree, I'll have to write something unpleasant on your resignation letter. Don't make it difficult for me."

Although I believe I have a good reputation in the industry, I don't want any blemishes on my record.

Besides, as a woman approaching thirty with a heavy family burden, competing for a living in a male-dominated field was already more challenging than usual.

Having a tarnished resume would definitely be detrimental.

I had to admit that while the tactic was disgusting, it had effectively cornered me.

It seemed like Billy, who was still texting someone, had received some expert advice.

With a raised eyebrow, he regained his arrogance.

"Ashley, you've been with the company for a long time. Considering your years of service, I'll give you two months' severance.

"Also, the clients you've been working with were acquired under the company's name, so they are naturally company resources. You need to hand over all your client information.

"Everyone else gets one month, so you're getting preferential treatment. Don't be ungrateful. If you don't accept this, you won't get a penny after three days."

Seeing my frown, he became even more smug.

"I heard you have a cancer patient at home who needs a lot of money for treatment. If you don't accept, you're welcome to go through labor arbitration. Our company has plenty of money and can help you with this. The question is, can you afford to wait?"

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

Indeed, Arthur knew my situation.

My dad's cancer medication cost a fortune every month, and I worked so hard just to earn more money.

He was hiding behind the scenes, giving Billy advice, and using this to threaten me. I did not doubt that if this really went to labor arbitration, he would show no mercy and smear my name in the industry, making it impossible for me to find another job.

He knew I couldn't take that risk.

So, when he was drafting the layoff list, he was sure I wouldn't make a fuss, right?

I had to admit, this move of his was truly ruthless.

It hit me where it hurt.

After much deliberation, I ultimately accepted these humiliating terms.

Annie then presented the severance agreement for me to sign.

I read it through carefully and signed it.

The person Billy sent to take over my work was Anderson Barker, who had recently joined the company through connections.

The person who pulled those strings was, of course, the mistress Selina.

Apparently, Anderson was a college graduate from some prestigious university, and he was Selina's classmate.

Out of all the new hires in that batch, he was the worst. He was lazy, cunning, and a smooth talker.

When the internship ended, he was the first one I eliminated, but the higher-ups intervened and kept him on. He held a grudge against me ever since.

He often spread rumors in the company, saying that as a woman, the only way I could get so many orders was through dirty tricks.

He almost outright accused me of selling myself to secure deals.

I exported my client list and handed it to him, ready to give him a thorough handover.

Even though I was leaving the company, I still had a responsibility to my previous clients.

It was my professional ethics.

But Anderson was incredibly arrogant.

"Ashley, you don't need to teach me any of this. I graduated from a top university, you know."

I gave him a long and hard look.

Arthur really had a knack for picking out weirdos.

"Are you sure you don't need me to teach you?"

He scoffed, puffing himself up like a rooster about to fight.

I quickly had him sign the handover documents. If I delayed, I feared this fool might actually start thinking.

As soon as the paperwork was done, I went to my desk to pack up my belongings.

But my spot was already occupied by someone else's cup and other items.

My things were carelessly tossed on the floor. The commemorative photo I took with my colleagues when I signed my first deal had several footprints on it.

Anderson shrugged.

"Sorry, I thought it was trash, so I just threw it away."

My former colleagues all watched the scene with amusement, whispering to each other.

Being successful could make you a target. I always focused on working hard and rarely gossiped or slacked off with them. Whenever they didn't meet their targets, Arthur always told them to learn from me.

It definitely made me a bit unpopular.

Billy stood by with his arms crossed, enjoying the show.

I silently picked up the photo frame, wiped off the footprints, took out the picture, tore off my part, and shredded the rest. Then, along with the frame, I threw it all into the trash can.

"Indeed, it's trash, and it should be in the trash can."

My colleagues' faces turned sour, feeling the sting of my words.

I took out my phone and dialed my rival's number.

"Interested in a Golden Group order with a bid of ten million dollars?" I asked.

"What Golden Group?"

Upon hearing this, Billy stopped me.

I smiled at him, "What other Golden Group? I've pulled some strings and secured a deal for us, oh, wait, for your company to print the first edition of a supplementary educational resource.

"If the collaboration goes well, getting two textbooks wouldn't be difficult either.

"However, I've been laid off, so naturally, I have to find another capable company to print these materials."

Golden Group is the largest educational conglomerate, specializing in textbooks.

Not to mention textbooks, even the supplementary materials for a single subject would amount to a considerable sum.

The profits involved were far more significant than those our company... oh, wait, Hastings Group could make from running seven or eight, or even more, newspapers and magazines.

Not to mention, partnering with Golden Group would significantly increase the chances of securing textbook deals in the future.

Hastings Group could also transform from an unknown small company into a well-known major player.

Despite his recklessness, Billy understood the stakes.

He angrily pointed at my nose and cursed.

"Ashley! Why didn't you tell me you had connections with Golden Group just now? You're intentionally screwing me over!

"You're leaking company resources, betraying us! Believe me, I can make you rot in jail!"

"It seems Mr. Lewis has forgotten that I haven't signed a non-compete agreement, nor have I received any compensation for it. The deals I secured through my personal connections, I'm naturally free to take them wherever I please."

With that, I left with a flourish.

When one door closed, another opened.

"Hmph! Don't think you're the only one who can secure orders from Golden Group. I can sign with them even without you!"

I let out a sneer.

He thought my five years of hard work and experience in this industry were for nothing.

If he could secure the supplementary materials deal with Golden Group without me, I'd admit defeat.