Chapter 2 Signing Away the Bomb

Perhaps Damian was worried that I wouldn't take the fall quietly, so he actually tried to threaten me.

"If you don't sign it, then we're through. After all, love means nothing when it comes to doing what's right."

Claire wiped away her tears, her voice softening. "Evelyn, you know my family's struggling. I still have three younger siblings to support. This chance to become a full-time employee really means everything to me."

The rest of the office was won over by her pitiful, tear-streaked performance. Everyone began pointing fingers at me.

Meanwhile, a trace of triumph flashed through Claire and Damian's eyes.

They thought my proposal would be their ticket to success. However, only I knew the truth.

There was a ticking time bomb wrapped inside that proposal. The mistake had been unintentional, but it was fatal.

I had included a roast suckling pig dish on the menu for the client from Qamaria.

Anyone in international business knew that people from Amirah did not eat pork because of their religious beliefs.

To them, pork was considered unclean and strictly forbidden. So, it was an enormous insult to include it on the menu, much less serve it.

If the company pushes through with this taboo-filled menu, not only would we lose the 300-million-dollar contract, but we would likely also be blacklisted throughout the industry.

I didn't even want to imagine what fate the person responsible for it would have to suffer.

So, the truth was this. They didn't steal my credit. Oh, no. They just took a 300-million-dollar disaster off my hands.

I nearly smiled out of sheer relief. After all, there was now no longer any need for me to pen my resignation letter.

I had to fight my facial muscles from betraying my glee as I picked up a pen and signed my name with a flourish.

"Since everyone insists the proposal belongs to Claire, then there's nothing I can say to defend myself."

Claire immediately snatched the confirmation form from me. She was so excited that she nearly stumbled in her haste.

Damian quickly wrapped an arm around her to steady her.

Now that they had pulled off their scheme, the two didn't even bother to hide their relationship from me.

They even erased my name from every document less than 10 minutes after I signed those papers.

And so, Claire was officially listed as the project's planner inside the company's system.

Then, she posted a message in the company group chat. "I want to thank the company for believing in me. I'll use this reception banquet to prove myself!"

There was even a selfie of her holding the confirmation form attached to it. She was smiling sweetly at the camera.

She came looking for me not long after doing her victory run.

As she stood in front of my desk, she began in a gentle yet condescending tone, saying, "Even though the proposal is mine, the company still needs an official explanation, Evelyn. Otherwise, people might think I'm bullying you."

Damian and someone from HR were standing right behind her.

The HR representative handed me a document titled "Internal Notice."

It stated that one Evelyn Hart was being transferred out of the marketing department for plagiarizing a colleague's work.

It also stated that I am to report to the food service department effective immediately. In addition, I am also required to deliver a formal apology at the company-wide meeting.

A public apology? I knew what they were doing. They wanted me to stand in front of everyone and personally admit that I had stolen Claire's proposal.

I looked at Damian. He was standing beside Claire, and the coward couldn't even look me in the eye.

Perhaps my piercing glare needled him into action as he wrapped himself in self-righteous fury. "Evelyn, you made a mistake, so you should own up to it. Claire didn't want to make a big deal out of this, but there are rules in the company for a reason. So, you should apologize and hand over your director position to Claire as compensation."

Their smug expressions were enough to turn my stomach.

I nearly bristled at the offense. However, my anger was doused by the sheer excitement bubbling inside me whenever I thought about what would happen when that ticking time bomb exploded.

Besides, I needed to let the entire company know that Claire was the one who devised the proposal destined to destroy a 300-million-dollar contract. I couldn't pass this golden opportunity up.

So, I lowered my head and pretended to be devastated before begrudgingly agreeing to their decision.

Claire certainly knew how to put on a show.

Over a hundred employees in the company attended the meeting, forming a sea of people before me. I stood on the stage holding my prepared statement.

Claire stood in the front row, the corners of her lips quirking slightly in victory.

I read aloud, "I, Evelyn Hart, hereby acknowledge that I plagiarized Claire Sutton's reception proposal, causing negative consequences for the company. I sincerely apologize.

"All ideas and planning for the reception of the Qamarian client belong solely to Claire Sutton and have nothing to do with me. I will accept my reassignment and have no objections to the company's decision."

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

"Evelyn actually did something like that? I never would've guessed."

"This is a 300-million-dollar contract we're talking about. Who wouldn't want credit for it?"

I bowed deeply as my statement came to a close.

Claire took the lead in applauding. The scattered clapping that followed was halfhearted at best.

I stepped down from the stage.

As I passed Claire, she put on a concerned expression and said, "Evelyn, you handled yourself very well today. Once the contract is signed, I'll put in a good word with Ms. Bennett for you. Maybe I can even get you transferred to an easier position in the janitorial department."