I didn't need Kiera's permission to do so. After all, I wasn't planning on coming back.

I turned around and got into the moving company's truck, making my way toward my new life.

After quitting my job at Ripley Corporation, I started working for Maelstrom Corporation, where I was given immense responsibility.

When I next returned to Ripley Corporation, I was greeted by the receptionist as Maelstrom Corporation's representative.

The moment I arrived at the office area, I spotted Trevor wearing his director's nametag, standing a distance away. He stood proudly above the other employees, instructing them on what to do.

"I want you to both enlarge the logo as well as shrink it a little."

"It's not pure black I'm looking for, it's the kind of iridescent black a crow's feathers are in the sunlight."

"I still think the first rendition is better. But I prefer the seventh render for the font and the 16th render for the colors… Send the finalized render to me later today."

All the employees were frustrated by Trevor's direction. One of them couldn't help but complain out loud.

"Maelstrom Corporation has already approved this version's structure. Our main issue now is verifying whether the program has a stable function."

Trevor sneered. "Maelstrom Corporation is nothing but a flashy upstart. What do they know about real art? I'm the director here, so you guys should be listening to me!

"Maelstrom Corporation will be pleased with my exceptional sense of aesthetics. Who knows, they might end up being so pleased with the results that they give us a bonus!"

Oh, please.

Maelstrom Corporation was developing a new system for the sake of their users' convenience, not to host a digital art exhibition!

Plus, the artistic fonts Trevor used were too difficult to read. Was he trying to supply the local optician with new customers?

The fact that someone of Trevor's caliber had been hired to be the director of Ripley Corporation's tech department would explain why the programs they produced were losing efficiency. Most of the programs they delivered crashed right after booting up, and their quality had also suffered greatly.

Some of my ex-colleagues saw me standing in the office. Their once-hateful gazes now turned to me, pleading for help.

As for Tyler, my backstabbing ex-mentee, he had already been kicked off the main project team. His position in the office had been reduced to nothing more than a coffee runner who paid for everything out of his own pocket.

Trevor glanced at me with disdain. "It seems like I should tell Ms. Ripley to strengthen the company's security. That way, we can avoid any irrelevant folks from wandering into the office."

The receptionist was about to remind Trevor to be mindful of his words and that I was representing Maelstrom Corporation.

But Kiera then arrogantly marched past me. She snorted, thinking I had come to apologize.

"Isn't this Mr. Wickham? Did you finally come crawling back after struggling to find a job outside?" Kiera mocked.

Trevor burst out laughing and said pretentiously, "I really respect Alfred's capabilities. I think I can give him the role of supervisor. I'm sure he'll prove he'll make a name for himself in due time as long as he works hard under my care."

Kiera crossed her arms, gazing at me disdainfully.

"Alfred—a supervisor? Is he even fit for the job? He can rejoin the company if he wants to, but he'll have to start from the bottom of the food chain. We'll also be docking his pay by half and revoking all performance bonuses," Kiera said.

The surrounding employees gasped fearfully. They instantly distanced themselves from me, not wanting to be jinxed by my terrible luck.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Kiera still had no clue that I was now part of Maelstrom Corporation and was no longer her obedient little lackey.

Kiera cocked an eyebrow and asked curiously, "What are you laughing about?"

I quietly took out an agreement from my suitcase and placed it on the desk.

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Alfred Wickham, and I'm the tech director at Maelstrom Corporation. I'm here to inform you that the joint venture has been halted and that our contract is now void!"