Chapter 3

Charlotte's emotions flared as she concluded, "Listen up, Robert! You were nothing more than a lapdog I kept at my side. You don't have the standing to negotiate anything!"

I maintained my composure. After all, I still held a flicker of affection for Charlotte, which was why I had catered to her every whim back then.

"You'd better listen up as well, Charlotte. You're still my partner for now, regardless of whatever arrangement you've made with Steven. The deal in Barovia was the result of a single phone call I made—"

"Enough!" Charlotte cut me off, her eyes brimming with contempt. "How could you have closed the deal, Robert? I always thought you were trustworthy, but now you're even lying through your teeth!

"Mr. Zimmerman was the one who returned with the deal signed, sealed, and delivered. What have you contributed to this company besides warming my bed, Robert?"

I found myself unable to communicate with her; I had to pause for several deep breaths just to steady myself. "I already told you that the deal in Barovia was finalized through my efforts, but since you refuse to believe me, there is nothing more I can do."

Charlotte simply ignored my attempts to clarify the situation. "You should just take the money and leave at once if you have any dignity left, Robert. Beg all you want, but there is zero chance I will be with a kept man like you."

She smugly cocked her eyebrow after saying that, her eyes dripping with disdain.

I found the spectacle highly entertaining. I had always maintained a low profile and avoided revealing my true identity, yet here she was calling me a kept man.

Charlotte had summoned the security guards to escort me out of the premises before I could even say another word. "Take the money and leave while the option is still on the table, Robert. You'll receive nothing at all if I change my mind."

I decided further argument was pointless after seeing Charlotte's resolute stance. "I'll leave, but before that, I have one last thing to say."

I glared at her, declaring, "I'll make sure that none of you will be able to close a deal in Barovia once I walk out of this company!"

I had just turned to make my exit when Charlotte's voice rang out sharply from behind. "Hold it right there, Robert!"

I stopped and turned back, fixing her with a chilling gaze. "What's the matter? Have you finally regretted your decision, Ms. Ward?"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her expression dripping with disdain. "Why would I regret it, Robert? Take a good look at yourself! What on earth makes you think you're worth regretting?"

Then, right in front of everyone, she roughly yanked off the work jacket I had just grabbed downstairs for warmth, leaving my thin undershirt visible. "You may leave, but the jacket stays."

I smiled faintly as I narrowed my eyes. "I'm genuinely curious, Charlotte. Why do you put so much trust in Steven? I mean, as far as I know, he didn't even meet the client in Barovia. So how could he have closed the deal?"

I had just said that when murmurs suddenly broke out all around me.

"Is he for real or just clueless? I mean, the client has already wired the payment into the company account, yet he's still running his mouth here."

"I know, right? It's clear that the kept man is just jealous of Mr. Zimmerman's success, so now he's trying to discredit him."

"How pathetic! He's just a kept man, yet he dared to challenge a key contributor to the company's success!"

I suddenly understood the whole situation. I had initially called the client and casually mentioned the deal, not realizing that the client would immediately wire the funds before even signing the contract.

Only then did I realize that I actually held so much influence. Ironically, my influence had left me no way to defend myself.

Charlotte took my silence as fear. Her face twisted in disgust, "That's enough, Robert. You should know that the company isn't your stage for empty talk. Hurry up and get lost."

I could no longer endure the insults; my patience had reached its limit. I took out my phone just as Charlotte turned to return to her office.

"You shouldn't dismiss me in such a rush, Charlotte. You don't believe me, right? You'll know the truth once I make this call."

I immediately called the number in front of everyone. "Hey, Calvin. It's Robert."

Calvin Baker, on the other end, sounded surprised. "What's the matter, Rob? Didn't you say you were preoccupied with your partner? Why did you suddenly call me?"

I shot Charlotte a knowing glance and sighed. "I just got played. Don't even get me started, Calvin."