I looked at her and gave a small smile, and somehow that smile brought out a few tears.

My stiff fingers tapped on my phone as I typed back, my hands shaking a little.

[Got it, sir. I’ll remember this lesson. I will never again order a 40-dollar dessert and “splurge” and “waste company resources.” Next time at the company dinner, I’ll just drink water and skip the food.]

On the surface, it looked like an apology, but the message was basically a drop of water landing in hot oil.

Anyone could see it for what it was—an employee’s quiet, blunt disappointment in his own company.

Right after sending it, I logged out of every company system and took my mandatory “self-reflection suspension” exactly as instructed.

Rayner, sticking relentlessly to his “stay in your lane” mantra, shoved me into a workstation next to the bathroom—where I had to deal with coworkers walking by all day, some giving me half-interested disdain, others giving pitying looks I didn’t need.

Meanwhile, Tyron parked himself proudly at my old desk, barking orders at the department like he was suddenly in charge.

But my seat wasn’t something you could just slide into and fake your way through.

Every project before this—I handled myself. From design to production, I knew every piece of it.

Tyron? That rookie didn’t know a damn thing.

Within a few days, more than ten clients complained. They demanded I return to take over their accounts, or they’d cancel the contracts outright.

The company was about to face massive compensation fees.

Rayner finally couldn’t hold it together. He swallowed his pride and walked over to my exile of a workstation.

“Conley, these projects were yours. Now there are technical issues. Go deal with them. Make sure the Chevrolets are satisfied.”

I raised my head slowly, giving him a blank look.

“Sir, did you get the wrong person? I’m suspended, remember?”

He froze for a second, then forced out, stiff as iron, “Even during suspension, you still work. Company rules—you start a project, you finish it.”

I opened my hands. “But I already logged out of everything. I can’t access a single thing to follow up.”

His face tightened, anger building behind his eyes.

“Suspension isn’t termination. Why did you log out? Re-apply for access. Now.”

I looked at him steadily.

“You’re the one who said ‘stay in your lane,’ sir. I’m just following leadership instructions.”

A twitch ran across his face, but he forced himself to stay composed.

“Fine. I’m restoring your position right now. Contact the clients immediately. Don’t let them terminate the contracts.”

I gave him a small smile.

“Sir, wouldn’t your star salesperson be the better choice for that? I’m just the guy who supposedly ‘relied on his face’ to get sales. I don’t have that kind of talent, remember?”

His face darkened to the color of spoiled meat, rage barely held down.

“Conley, colleagues make jokes. You actually took it seriously?”

I kept the smile, but the coldness behind it was impossible to miss.

“So stripping me of my top salesperson title and cutting my 500k bonus—was that a joke too?

“And saying a 40-dollar dish counts as ‘extravagance and waste’—was that also a joke?”

Each word hit him like a punch.

His face went from red, to pale, to a blotchy bruise-like purple.

But he said nothing. I knew he was fighting himself; admitting he was wrong wasn’t something a CEO like him could stomach.

Right then, Tyron came running over, practically buzzing.

“Sir! Aptivion finally agreed to invest!”

Rayner’s face lit up instantly with triumph.

“Excellent! Tyron, you’re a damn lucky star for this company. With Aptivion behind us, those clients will be begging to stay!”

Then he turned and gave me a venomous glare.

“Conley, you’re fired. Go process the paperwork. Now.”

I nodded calmly. “Fine. Then according to policy, I expect the company to give me the compensation I’m due.”

He snapped, shouting, “Compensation? After all the trouble you caused? Wait for our lawsuit!”

Tyron glared at me, full of spite.

“Boy, I’ll make sure you get blacklisted in this entire industry!”

I gave a small smile. “Sure. I’ll wait.”

I quietly packed up my things and walked out of the company I had fought for the entire past year.

I poured all my passion and talent into this place. I didn’t rely on connections or family background. I used my own capability to help the company climb.

And the result? Getting fired.

It was like my chest had been dragged across ice blades—cold and sharp.

My coworkers followed me out, offering a few words of comfort.

Lilla’s eyes were red as she said, “Conley, you’re seriously talented. You’ll do great anywhere. Don’t take Tyron’s nonsense to heart. You’ll definitely find another job.”

I just gave a brief smile. Tyron? He didn’t have that kind of power.

The moment I stepped out of the building, I got a call from my aunt, who had been unreachable for half a month.

“Conley, I’m supposed to sign a contract with your company next week. But I’m flying to Germany for an inspection trip, so I won’t be there.”

I replied flatly, “Auntie, I got fired.”

She paused. “Did something happen at work? Do you need me to step in?”

“No. I want to go back and take this project myself.”

After hanging up, a quiet smirk pulled at my lips.

No hurry. The real show was just starting.

When I walked into the signing ceremony, everyone from my old company was stunned.

Rayner and Tyron especially—the way they looked at me could’ve cut glass.

Tyron glared at me with open disdain. “What are you doing here? You’ve already been fired. You have no right to be part of this signing!”

I glanced at him sideways. “Just because I’m not your employee doesn’t mean I can’t be here. Ever think that maybe I’m here as Aptivion’s representative? The client?”

He snorted. “You? Don’t make me laugh. The CEO of Aptivion Group is my mother. I am the client. I can sign on her behalf!

“And you? Calling yourself the client? Don’t kid yourself. Someone like you—a cheap pretty boy—doesn’t even qualify to clean Aptivion’s bathrooms.”

His words instantly drew everyone’s attention.

“So he’s Mrs. Appleton’s son? No wonder he’s got this attitude.”

“And that guy actually dared to go against Mrs. Appleton’s son? Is he done living in Texas?”

“Look at him—he’s got that nightclub vibe. Probably living off someone.”

“Not like Mrs. Appleton’s son. Her son is polished and impressive.”

Tyron stood in the middle of all the flattery, soaking it in, smug as hell.

He gave me a cold, arrogant grin and barked at security, “Get this piece of shit out of here. Right now. We’re signing.”

The guards started moving toward me.

I didn’t even flinch.

Instead, I slowly pulled out a crystal seal and held it up.

“Tyron, without this… how exactly are you planning to sign?”

Everyone froze, staring at my hand.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Appleton’s exclusive crystal seal? I heard it’s insanely valuable. She’s never handed it to anyone. How does he have it?”

Ignoring Tyron’s stunned expression, I walked straight up to the podium and picked up the microphone.

“As of now, I officially announce—Aptivion Group is canceling its cooperation and contract signing with Fogarty Corporation.”

Rayner’s eyes widened sharply. He glared at me. “Conley! Who do you think you are? You dare to speak for Mrs. Appleton?!”

I met his stare. My voice was steady. “Didn’t I say it already? I’m the client.”

Tyron stared at me like his whole world cracked.

“Conley! How do you have my mom’s seal?! Who the hell are you?! What gives you the right to make her decisions?!”

I looked him dead in the eye and answered, word for word, “Well, Thelma Appleton is my aunt.”