They Broke Me, So I Took Everything Back

Cyril's POV

The night before the company went public, Shirley Davison couldn’t wait to throw a celebration party. She even had her secretary hand out double the usual year-end bonuses in cash.

Digby Goodwin handed everyone a neatly wrapped envelope stuffed with bills, flashing his usual grin. But when it came to me, he shoved me aside.

"Out of the way. Good dogs don’t block the path."

I frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Instead of answering, he sneered and smacked a termination letter against my chest.

"You think a scumbag who toys with women deserves a bonus? Get lost before you taint the air we breathe."

Suddenly, the big screen behind him lit up with a slideshow of photos — me and various female clients, caught in what looked like intimate moments. Then, the bonus list appeared. My eyes burned as I scanned the numbers. Everyone else had received five-figure bonuses. My row? A glaring red zero.

I clenched my fists, my gaze locking onto Shirley, who stood across the room.

"You’re really firing me tonight?"

——

The photos kept flashing — me walking side by side with women, toasting drinks, and one particularly damning shot of a woman wrapping her arms around my waist as we entered a hotel.

Shirley shifted her gaze from the screen to me, her expression cold and unreadable.

"You sure about this?" I asked again, my voice steady but low.

The room fell silent. Everyone's eyes darted toward her, some filled with pity, others with curiosity. But she ignored them and slowly approached me, her face twisted with disdain.

"Cyril, what right do you have to stay here? Everyone else worked their asses off for this company. You? You’re the only exception."

"What, am I short on your money? Your love? Is that why you’re humiliating me like this? Don’t tell me those women are the reason you never let me handle client relations."

Her eyes flashed with anger as she yanked a stack of photos from her pocket and hurled them at me. The edges sliced across my face before scattering onto the floor. A sharp sting followed, and when I touched my cheek, my fingers came away red.

"Taking this company public has been my lifelong dream. I won’t let a parasite like you ruin it — not even if you’re my fiancé!"

I stared at the woman I once loved, convinced she misunderstood. Keeping my voice calm, I explained, "Shirley, you know me. Others might not believe me, but you? My results speak for themselves. Those pictures have nothing to do with my performance."

"Oh really?" Digby cut in, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What kind of performance are we talking about? Bedroom skills? Word is, you’ve gotten real close with that big-time client."

Laughter rippled through the crowd, followed by whispers.

"Yeah, who knows how many beds he crawled into for those numbers. And to think we used to look up to him."

Indeed, when you went under, everyone would turn their backs on you and even stomp on you. I just had never imagined this day would come.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to stay calm.

"Those photos don’t prove anything. It was strictly business."

"Strictly business, huh?" Digby bent down and picked up the hotel photo. "Care to explain this one? It's a screenshot of the high-res video. Should I pull it up for everyone to see?"

I stared at the photo in his hand and let out a soft laugh.

The woman in that picture? She was my sister.

That night, I got drunk and meant to call Shirley to pick me up. But instead, I dialed my sister.