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?"

"If you want to leave, fine, but first clean up your own mess."

"And the projects in your hands—hand them over to Nolan."

I guessed it would be like this.

Nolan Jennings coveting my projects wasn't something that started yesterday.

Right now, I have a project worth over a hundred million.

It's also the biggest project the company has taken on since it was founded.

This is them planning to burn the bridge after crossing it, squeezing every last bit of value out of me before they do.

I openly questioned Kate, "Whose mess is it, exactly?"

"How many times have I wiped your ass? Don't you know in your own heart?"

She paused, staring at me in disbelief.

"What did you just say?!"

I shrugged. "The literal meaning. Is it that hard to understand?"

"Anyone leaving the company needs to complete a work handoff."

Kate still kept a cold face as she gave the order. Her thinking was simple: make me transfer all the projects to Nolan.

That way she could curry favor with Director Jennings on the board.

"Fine, I can hand them to Nolan, but whether he can succeed is another matter."

As soon as I finished speaking, I heard her lift her head and snicker.

"Ian, you really take the platform for ability?"

"You really think you got to the assistant supervisor position because of yourself?"

"Without the company, what are you, anyway?"

I guessed she would say this. This was also her usual PUA tactic.

After the New Year's holiday ended, Kate held a meeting.

She gathered all the employees in our department to personally witness me handing off my work.

Nolan was there too, slouching as he propped his legs up on the table.

"Fox, I heard you're leaving?"

"It's just staying behind to cover a shift. It's not like they're not paying you overtime."

"If it were me, I'd definitely have more perspective than you."

That word "perspective" sounded a little ridiculous.

I'd worked diligently at the company for six years; I had both credit and hard work.

Just because I ran into Kate, I couldn't even get promoted to manager.

And now someone comes over to talk to me about perspective?

Looking at Nolan—who'd been working three years, making mistakes every day, yet got promoted to supervisor earlier than me—inside my heart, there was only intense sorrow.

"Since Nolan has more perspective than I do, then from now on, even the small matters in the department will all be handed to you."

"As for the projects in my hands..."

When the projects were mentioned, Nolan rolled his eyes.

Looks like he was waiting for me to say that.

"Fox, just relax. Leave the work and the projects to me."

Kate also reminded me from the side, "I advise you to behave. If I find out you have ulterior motives, you'll bear the consequences."

I also knew the projects belonged to the company, not to me personally.

I glanced at the agreement the two of them had prepared for me.

The terms were harsh, and it specifically emphasized that I was resigning and leaving of my own initiative.

That way they could pay less compensation.

I looked at Kate. "Is this the company's decision, or yours?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Just sign your name."

The two of them thought I would drag this out for a long time.

Seeing me directly pick up the pen and sign, they exchanged a look, both quite surprised.

But even more than that, they were gloating.

The rest of the employees in the department stayed silent the whole time.

When most of the people had left, I was stopped by Kate.

"The agreement is signed, and I've also read your resignation letter. If you want to come back in the future, it's not impossible."

"But you definitely won't be able to be an assistant supervisor. You can start from being an intern."

I knew she was deliberately mocking me.

So I didn't reply, just smiled and prepared to leave the conference room.

Kate didn't appreciate my attitude.

"Are you deaf or mute? Didn't you hear me talking?"

"Or do you think another company will actually want you after you leave?"

I moved her arm aside and left without looking back.

Two days later, Corporate Headquarters parachuted in a new president.

On his first day, he emphasized that the new project had to be secured and asked about progress. Headquarters was taking this seriously—no mistakes would be tolerated.

After that, he signaled for Kate to call in the person in charge.

When Nolan appeared, the boss hesitated.

"I remember the project lead was a deputy supervisor with the last name Fox? Where is he? Have him come see me now."

Kate introduced Nolan to the new president, explaining that he was now handling the project. In front of the boss, she praised him to the skies.

Nolan was the director's son, yet he'd become a snake eating from the inside. Helping his father's mistress while secretly going after his own mother.

But the real reason—only I knew it best.

He started getting carried away, actually believing his own hype. He guaranteed the boss he'd secure the new project within three days.

"Three days? How about this—I'll give you five." That was Kate. "If you land this project, I'll personally promote you to assistant manager."

She'd meant to do that for a while. The new project was practically a sure thing—perfect leverage for Nolan's promotion.

"Really? Thank you, Ms. Matthews!"

The new boss had just taken office, so he couldn't say much outright. He sized up Nolan and reminded him that this project was critical to the company. Whatever method he used, he had to secure it.

Five days passed quickly. Then I got a call from Kate.

"Something at the company needs handling. Come in if you have time."

I didn't understand how she still had the nerve to order me around.

"Ms. Matthews, I already resigned, didn't I?"

"Correct. And?"

Her voice turned cold. "2:30 p.m. My office."

She hung up without waiting for a response.

At 3:00 p.m., my phone rang again. Still Kate.

"Where are you? It's already three—why aren't you here?!"

"Since you can't understand, I'll spell it out. I resigned five days ago. I'm no longer a subordinate you can summon whenever you want."

Silence. Then her voice came through.

"The agreement has a clause stating that even after leaving, you're still obligated to return and resolve matters within your scope."

"You didn't just sign it without reading, did you?"

I really hadn't looked carefully. And I'd guessed she wouldn't let this go.

So I told her to wait—I had no idea when I'd arrive.

For once, Kate didn't blow up. She just told me to hurry.

By the time I got to the company, it was almost end of day.

The moment I entered the conference room, I realized Kate and Nolan weren't the only ones waiting. There was also a middle-aged man I'd never seen before.

Kate glanced at her watch and demanded to know why I was so late. Then she turned to the stranger. "Mr. Hansen, this is Ian Fox, the one you wanted to see."

"He's always been lax—late arrivals, early departures. No sense of time whatsoever."

Nolan chimed in from the side. "Lax? When he was here, he was practically lawless!"

They did it on purpose. That's why Kate hadn't blown up earlier—she'd wanted me to keep the boss waiting. Tank his impression of me before I even walked in.

"You're Ian Fox from the sales department?"