Hayden made no effort to hide the contempt on his face as he coldly continued, "As for me, my identity as the son of Natasha Belmont, CEO of Avenel Group, is enough to crush you so hard that you can never stand on your feet again!"

I stared at him and wondered where all his confidence came from. For a second, I started to question if Aunt Natasha might have secretly had an illegitimate son behind the family's back.

Suddenly, I said, "I heard Ms. Belmont has a nephew she treats like her own son. Mr. Belmont, I wonder if you've ever met him."

Hayden's expression froze for a split second before he shot me a look of disdain.

"That's my cousin, so of course, I've met him. But he lives abroad year-round and rarely comes back. I barely get to see him. A low-class peasant like you shouldn't even dream about it."

I scoffed. "Oh, really? If you're that important, Mr. Belmont, why are you out here robbing someone else of their title and bonus? You wouldn't happen to be a fake, would you?"

"How dare you!"

Hayden's face was flushed as he glared at me hatefully. "Don't push your luck, Flynn! Your Top Sales Performer title was revoked because you lack the character for it, while I earned it on pure merit!"

"Pure merit?" I echoed and took a step forward, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Are you talking about your talent for slacking off and playing video games in the office, your two-hour lunch breaks, or perhaps your discipline in clocking out at 5:00 pm sharp on the dot?

"Or are you referring to your skill of staring at the computer screen for an entire day, only to produce presentation slides with just two words, 'The Proposal' on them?"

I wasn't speaking fast, but every single word I said was enough to humiliate him.

Hayden opened his mouth, utterly speechless, before shooting Warner a pleading look for help.

A flash of disappointment crossed Warner's face before he looked at me and coldly said, "Watch your mouth, Flynn. This is a company, not a flea market. It is not a place for you to shout and throw tantrums!

"Don't think that landing a few projects for the company means you can act however you want. Survival of the fittest is the reality of the workplace; you have to accept being replaced by superior talent instead of throwing a fit."

All eyes turned to me. Everyone was waiting to see me fall apart with the company over the 800-thousand-dollar bonus.

But 800 thousand dollars? I wouldn't even blink at five million dollars. All I wanted was justice.

Instead of blowing up in rage or fighting back, I smiled mockingly.

"Fine. I accept it. The Top Sales Performer title should belong to whoever is more outstanding here."

I had just returned to my desk when the HR department issued two announcements.

"Employee Flynn Calder has severely violated company protocol by utilizing corporate funds for lavish personal dining. He is hereby removed from the Sales Manager position and placed on indefinite suspension for self-reflection.

"Intern Hayden Belmont has safeguarded corporate interests and displayed exceptional performance throughout his internship, creating massive profits for the company.

"Effective immediately, he is transitioned to a full-time employee and will assume the Sales Manager role, taking full custody of all pending accounts previously managed by Flynn Calder."

Immediately following the announcements, Warner tagged me in the company group chat, calling me out.

"Flynn, your wasteful extravagance and blatant disregard for company protocols have resulted in the forfeiture of your monthly bonus. You are required to submit a handwritten, ten-thousand-word self-criticism essay to this group chat. Let this serve as a warning to all other employees!"

This was outright bullying!

They stripped away my title as the Top Sales Performer, deducted my bonus, and branded me as an example of shame, dragging me onto a sacrificial altar for humiliation just to establish Hayden's authority.

The group chat went silent. Even the office plunged into dead quietness.

People began casting subtle, fleeting glances in my direction—some filled with pity, sorrow, and indignation, while others gloated over my downfall.

The announcements sat frozen on the screen, as if everyone was waiting for me to type out a humiliated, groveling apology in the group chat.

Warner pinged me again in the chat. "Are you blind?"

Still, I didn't reply.

On the other end of the screen, Warner seemed to be losing his mind and relentlessly tagged me out.

That was when Isabel texted me. "Don't be stubborn, Flynn. Just swallow your pride and give in. Your job is what matters."

I gave her a faint smile, which brought tears to my eyes.

My stiff fingers started tapping on my phone screen as I shakingly typed out my reply.

"Message received, Mr. Maxwell. I'll definitely remember this lesson and never indulge in such lavish wastefulness by ordering a 20-dollar dish. At the next company dinner, I'll only drink water and won't touch a single bite of food."

My message might seem like a compliant confession to my mistakes, but it hit the company group chat like a drop of cold water plunged into a pan of searing oil.

On the surface, it looked like submission, but in reality, it carried every ounce of an employee's disappointment toward the company.

I immediately logged out of all corporate accounts, revoked my access permissions, and began my suspension for reflection in earnest.

Warner cited his favorite motto, "Do not meddle in affairs outside of your jurisdiction," and cast me off to a desk right next to the restrooms. I was forced to sit there day after day, enduring the dismissive sneers and pitying glances of colleagues passing by.

Meanwhile, Hayden triumphantly sat at my desk and barked orders over employees in the department.

But my seat wasn't an easy one to fill. I had personally handled every project before this and knew every detail inside out—from design to production.

Hayden, on the other hand, knew absolutely nothing.

Within just a few days, more than ten clients filed complaints and demanded that I personally resume handling their projects, or they would cancel their partnerships.

The company suddenly faced a fortune in breach-of-contract penalties.

At last, Warner couldn't take it any longer. He swallowed his pride and came to my desk.

"Flynn, you were responsible for these projects. Some technical issues have come up, so coordinate with the clients and make sure they're satisfied."

I lazily looked up and gave him a puzzled look. "I think you've got the wrong guy, Mr. Maxwell. I'm suspended pending reflection."

He paused awkwardly, then stiffly continued, "There's work that needs to be done, even if you're suspended. Company policy states that whoever starts a project is responsible for it until the end."

I spread my hands. "But I've revoked all my access permissions and can't follow up anymore."

His expression faltered, then anger brewed in his eyes. "You were just suspended, not fired! Why would you log out of your accounts? Reapply for your permissions at once."

I calmly looked at him and replied, "Mr. Maxwell, you were the one who said, 'Do not meddle in affairs outside of your jurisdiction'. I was simply executing your orders."

Warner was visibly embarrassed, though he forced himself to stay patient.

"Tell you what—you'll get back to work right now. Immediately get in touch with the clients and stop them from canceling the partnerships."

I smiled. "Mr. Maxwell, shouldn't you assign this task to your more capable Top Sales Performer? I'm just a gigolo who relies entirely on my looks to hit my sales target, so I'm not capable of doing that."

His face flushed crimson as he struggled to suppress his rage. "That was just a joke between colleagues, Flynn. Are you seriously taking it to heart?"

I maintained my smile, though it turned cold and icy. "In that case, was stripping my title and robbing me of my 800-thousand-dollar bonus a joke, too?

"Was calling a 20-dollar dish lavish dining a joke too?"

Each word landed like a slap squarely on Warner's face. His face shifted from furious red to deathly pale, then to a bruised purple.

Still, he stayed silent.

I knew he was inwardly fighting with himself. After all, wanting a high-and-mighty CEO like him to bow his head and apologize simply didn't come naturally to him.

Just then, Hayden ran over excitedly. "Mr. Maxwell, Avenel Group agreed to invest in us!"

Warner's face immediately lit up with a triumphant grin. "Excellent! You really are the company's lucky charm, Hayden. With Avenel Group backing us, clients will be begging to work with us."

Then, he turned around and shot me a vicious glare. "You're fired, Flynn. Hit the HR department for your exit processing immediately!"

I calmly nodded. "Understood. I expect the company to compensate me per company regulations."

"You still want compensation?" he furiously roared. "You've caused catastrophic damage to our company! Just you wait; we'll sue you!"

Hayden shot me a malicious look and chimed in, "I'll make sure you're blacklisted across the entire industry, Flynn."

I gave a light nod. "Perfect. I'll be waiting."

After quietly packing my belongings, I walked out of the office where I had devoted an entire year.

I had poured all my passion, energy, and talent into this place. Instead of relying on connections or resources, I built my success on pure merit, and my capabilities are what made this company thrive.

Yet, it earned me nothing but a termination notice.

My heart felt like it was rolled across a bed of ice picks, freezing and stinging with pain.

My colleagues walked me out of the office and offered me words of comfort.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Isabel said, "You're incredibly talented, Flynn. You'll thrive wherever you go.

"Don't let Hayden's words get to you. You'll surely find a better job."

I smiled and said nothing, knowing that Hayden didn't have the power to do that.

After leaving the office, I received a call from Aunt Natasha, who had been unreachable for two weeks.

"Flynn, the contract signing event with your company is scheduled for next week. I have to fly out to Palatias for a field inspection, so I won't be able to attend the ceremony in person."

"I've resigned, Aunt Natasha," I murmured.

There was a pause on the other end before Aunt Natasha asked, "Did you run into trouble at work? Do you need me to step in?"

"No, it's fine, but I'd like to return to the company and handle this project myself."

After hanging up, I curled my lips into a smile.

"Don't rush. The real show's just getting started."

…

My appearance at the signing ceremony gave my former company's executives quite a shock, especially Warner and Hayden, who looked at me sharply.

Hayden shot me a disdainful look and demanded, "What the hell are you doing here? You've been fired, so you have no right to participate in this signing."

I threw him a sidelong glance. "Just because I don't work for your company anymore doesn't mean I can't be here. Has it ever crossed your mind that I might be representing the client, Avenel Group?"

He scoffed. "Are you kidding me, Flynn? The CEO of Avenel Group is my mom, and I'm the client here. I have full authority to sign this contract on her behalf.

"How dare you even claim to be the client! A low-tier, pathetic gigolo like you isn't even qualified to scrub the toilets at Avenel Group!"

His statement immediately drew countless stares.

"So, he really is Ms. Belmont's son. No wonder he carries himself with such confidence."

"How dare this guy offend Mr. Belmont's son! He must want to get himself driven out of Tidehaven."

"He looks like he works at some sleazy nightclub. He's definitely a gigolo living off some rich woman!"

"Look at Ms. Belmont's son. That's the definition of a true, talented gentleman."

Surrounded by a sea of desperate flatterers, Hayden looked like he was practically floating on cloud nine from the intoxicating praise.

As he stared at me, his smile grew wilder and more arrogant by the second. Then, he barked an order at the guards. "Throw this stray dog out of here! We're signing this contract right now!"

As several guards closed in on me, I calmly reached into my pocket, pulled out a seal, and held it high above my head.

"Hayden, how exactly will you sign the contract without this?"

Everyone was stunned, and all eyes locked onto my hand.

"Isn't that Ms. Belmont's exclusive crystal seal? I heard it's worth a fortune, and she's never given it to anyone else. How does he have it?"

Ignoring the stunned Hayden, I walked past him, stepped onto the main stage, and picked up the microphone.

"As of right now, I officially announce that Avenel Group is canceling all partnerships with Velora Group."

Warner's pupils dilated as he glared furiously at me. "Who do you think you are, Flynn? How dare you speak on behalf of Ms. Belmont!"

I looked back at him and indifferently said, "I just told you, didn't I? I'm the client."

Hayden stared at me in utter disbelief. "How do you have my mom's seal? Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to make decisions for her?"

I looked into his eyes and announced in a loud, clear voice, "Because she's my biological aunt."