The CEO's Secret I Was Her Scapegoat Until I Revealed My Billion-Dollar Identity

The day before New Year's Day, my boss called me into her office.

"Ian, you're one of the veterans here. When no one else is around, you need to step up."

I knew exactly what she meant. I'd gone numb to it years ago.

"So the company wants me to stay behind again."

"Exactly. Since you already know, I won't waste my breath."

I agreed without protest and watched them head out for the team-building event. That's when I discovered the "highlight"—a company-wide livestream of me working overtime. They were treating me like a clown, entertainment for everyone's amusement.

So I grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed and left my resignation letter on the desk.

——

When they saw me leaving on the livestream, Kate Matthews called immediately.

"Ian Fox, what is this? The company told you to stay, and you're just slipping away?"

Three years ago, a trust-fund kid named Nolan Jennings joined the company—some director's son, assigned straight to my department. He was constantly late, left early, zero discipline. Loved stealing credit too. After I called him out a couple times, he made me his enemy. He made my life hell, even pulled others in to freeze me out.

Rumor had it Kate was his father's mistress, so she never liked me either. If not for the age gap, I'd have suspected Nolan was her son.

"Ms. Matthews, you treat me like a circus act and won't even let me push back?"

"The resignation letter's on the desk. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

Kate stared at her phone, face ashen, forced to kill the company's grand finale.

The next day, she summoned me back. Said she needed to see me.

It was New Year's Day. The office was quieter than usual. Only from Kate's office could you hear the occasional phone call.

"Mr. Lee, don't worry—this will be handled!"

"Yes, yes, it won't happen again!"

"The investment? Relax. With me on it, nothing will go wrong!"

I waited until she hung up before entering. Her gaze hit me like ice.

"What time do you call this? You're late."

"If it weren't a holiday, you'd be getting an earful right now."

Not a word about last night's livestream. But that was fine—I could remind her.

"Ms. Matthews, didn't you see the resignation letter on your desk?"

Her reply was frigid. "Two critical data files are missing. They were fine before everyone clocked out yesterday."

I laughed. "What are you saying? You're blaming me?"

She lifted her chin, looking down at me with contempt.

"Who else? The data vanished on your watch. If not you, then who?"

Before I could respond, she dropped her gaze and started shuffling documents.

"Here's what you'll do: restore what you can. As for the client proposal—you've handled enough projects, you'll figure it out. Get through today, then we'll discuss your resignation."

I wasn't stupid. I'd learned the pattern years ago.

Whenever her work had problems, I cleaned up the mess. If it couldn't be fixed, I became the scapegoat. Every failure was mine. Every project I landed—big or small—became her achievement.

She called it "grooming me for promotion."

In reality, I was just her trained monkey. Year after year, she strung me along.

And once Nolan arrived? My life got even worse.

Since that was how it was, I might as well rip off the bandage.

"I'm no longer an employee here. There's no reason I should help you recover anything."

Something in my tone made Kate freeze for two seconds.

Then her voice dropped, dangerous. "Ian Fox, is that how you speak to a superior?"