After a moment’s hesitation, Nova had no choice but to sigh heavily and sign her name.

“Lucien, you’re really too domineering. Being with you is just so stifling.

“Stef is really different from you…”

I did not give her a chance to keep rambling. Instead, I turned and walked out of the office.

Nova had probably long forgotten that I was the one who had kept this company afloat from the very beginning.

It was I who, bit by bit, had grown the company from a small workshop into what it is today.

As the company grew strong and successful, her pride grew with it. At some point, she had fallen for a younger assistant and started to resent my assertiveness.

If I had not been so assertive, her company would have gone out of business long ago!

Back at my desk, I took a deep breath, turned on my computer, and prepared to finish the unfinished project proposal.

However, the moment I opened my computer, I immediately noticed something wrong.

My permissions as Sales Manager had been restricted. I could no longer access the project files for our key clients.

Without any hesitation, I immediately called HR.

“What’s going on? Is there a system glitch?”

I demanded sternly. But all I got in response was a cold, dismissive “job reassignment” from HR.

In an instant, it dawned on me. It was Nova’s doing.

No wonder everyone at the office had been acting so awkwardly toward me earlier. It seemed Nova had already announced this so-called “job reassignment” long ago!

I hung up the phone immediately. Just as I was about to stand up to demand an explanation, Stef beat me to it and walked over to my desk.

When he saw me, he feigned surprise and covered his mouth. “Oh my gosh, Lucien, you’re at work this early today? It’s only 1:00 p.m.”

Hearing his insincere remark, I could not help but frown.

Sales was a profession with inherently irregular hours. After all, we visited client offices every day. It would be unsurprising to see us rarely present at the office.

As the top salesperson, I worked flexible hours and did not need to clock in. That was an unwritten rule in this company.

When I did not respond, Stef thought I was feeling guilty, so he raised his voice even higher and continued.

“This morning, the company took a close look at last month’s attendance records and found that you, Lucien, were either late or left early almost every day last month. Even so, you still earn a higher salary than anyone else in the entire office!

“Ms. Potter got so angry that she adjusted your position and transferred some of your projects to me.”

I scoffed. “Transferred them to you? What could you possibly do?”

To my surprise, Stef let out a cold laugh and looked at me with disdain. “Ms. Potter has the utmost confidence in my abilities.

“After all, last month, my sales figures were top in the entire company, while yours were at the bottom!”

I was stunned.

I had clearly closed a 5-million-dollar deal last month, did I not?

“That’s right, Stef is really impressive. He closed several major deals for the company last year.

“Stef has never ignored the company’s rules and regulations either, unlike Lucien. He’s always late or leaves early. He’s a real pain in the neck.”

The whispers of my colleagues reached my ears. My doubts grew heavier and heavier.

I looked at Stef. His eyes flashed with a barely perceptible flicker of panic.

I immediately caught on.

The next second, I stormed into the conference room without hesitation.

As it happened, the company directors were holding a departmental meeting.

My fury was so overwhelming that Nova turned slightly pale. But she still stood up to block my way. “Why are you disrupting things here? We’re in the middle of a meeting.”

I cut straight to the chase. “My client access has been locked. Was this a company decision, or was it your decision alone, Ms. Potter?”

I pressed further. “Also, why were my sales results credited to Stef? And why am I ranked last in this year’s performance evaluation?”

“Enough, Lucien.” Nova suddenly interrupted me impatiently. “The decision to transfer your projects to Stef was made unanimously by our senior management.

“As for the sales figures, the clients chose our company, not you, the salesperson.

“Stef also played a significant role in client relations, so it’s only fair that the credit goes to him. You’ve been here a long time. Isn’t it only natural to make way for the newcomers? Why are you being so petty?”

Stef deserved credit? What exactly did he do? Was he to take credit for those appalling proposals of his, or those childish pastries he served during client meetings?

I could not help but find it laughable. I looked up at the executives sitting there, but they all guiltily shifted their gazes away.

A chill crept into my heart.

Nova was right. The executives all knew about this.

As I walked out of the conference room, my head still felt a bit fuzzy.

“Lucien, don’t you understand yet?” Nova followed me out of the conference room. “The company isn’t going to fall apart without you. Stef could do just as well, couldn’t he?”

I shook my head and chuckled softly. “So, you simply took the opportunity to help your little lover climb the ladder?”

“That’s a really harsh way to put it.” Nova snapped. Her composure crumbled instantly. “Stef graduated from a top university himself and is highly capable. What’s wrong with me recommending him?”

“Ms. Potter!” Stef walked over pretentiously. He shot me a glance and continued, “Lucien, you left in such a hurry just now. I still have something to tell you.”

I looked at him in confusion. He smugly pulled out a notebook and began reading aloud.

“Last month, you arrived late 10 times, left early 5 times, and were absent 2 times.

“Also, there are issues with your expense reports.

“Last month, you were charged a full 12,000 dollars to your corporate credit card!

“HR and Finance both agree that you may be misusing company funds for personal dining and entertainment.”

I froze. A wave of inexplicable sadness welled up inside me.

“Enough. Don’t say another word. Just tell me how you plan to handle this.”

Stef said haughtily. “Given your record, you should be fired. But since you’ve been with the company for so long, we’ve decided to settle this by cutting your salary by 80%.”

“No need for a pay cut,” I replied without hesitation. “Just fire me.

“Make sure to transfer the severance pay to me.”

I turned and walked back to my desk. I started to pack up my things with mechanical efficiency.

“Lucien, can’t you be a little less impulsive?” Nova frowned. “The job market is so bad right now. You’re in your thirties. No company is going to hire you if you quit now.”

I brushed her hand aside. “Ms. Potter, we’re divorced. My business has nothing to do with you.

“Besides, you should be more concerned about how Stef will handle the project from now on.” I smiled at her coldly. “After all, you know just how ‘capable’ he is.”

Stumped by my retort, Nova said awkwardly, “In that case, make sure you hand over your work to Stef properly. Don’t pull any stunts on me.”

“What’s there to hand over?” I said sarcastically. “After all, I’m just a lowly salesperson. On the other hand, Mr. Law is a brilliant high achiever. Having him manage the company is a blessing for you. I wish you all the best in growing the business and achieving even greater heights!”

With that, I opened my laptop without hesitation, pulled up the unfinished proposal, and clicked ‘Delete Permanently.’

“Lucien Jean!” Nova tried to rush over to stop me, but she was a step too late. “Those were important company documents. How could you delete them?”

Her sheer audacity amazed me. I sneered. “That was just my unfinished, half-baked proposal. How could it be considered an official company document?

“By the way, when will my severance pay be deposited?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“What severance pay?” When I did not budge, Nova said haughtily, “You were fired for misconduct. Our company isn’t obligated to pay severance.”

My heart went completely cold. I looked at her and said calmly. “Fine. I hope you don’t regret today’s decision!”

Nova and Stef had no idea that without me personally stepping in, the clients simply would not buy into it.

The moment I walked out of the office, Nova did not wait to hand over all the sales work that had originally been mine to Stef.

Of course, I was not going to let them have their way.

Nova thought that by revoking my access, she could prevent me from continuing to contact clients.

But in reality, I was the one who brought in all of the company’s important clients, and they had all worked with our company because of my reputation.

That very day, I sent a mass message to all of them.

[I have left my former company. Please contact me directly for future businesses.]

I would just have to see how Stef, that good-for-nothing, took over as the new top salesperson!