Chapter 3

Raymond's expression changed, and half of his bravado instantly disappeared. After a long while, he stammered, "Y-You were the one who asked Mr. Price to transfer me to Team A."

"Do you think your performance back then was good enough to get you into Team A?"

He lowered his head even further. "No, it wasn't."

I was about to continue when Audrey shrieked and sprang to her feet. "Why are you guilt-tripping him, Esme? That has nothing to do with this matter. You refused to sign the petition, and as a result, his wife collapsed at home with no one there to help her. You're the one in the wrong here!"

I raised my head to look at Audrey indifferently. However, she avoided my gaze, and her face turned beet-red. "Why are you looking at me, Esme? Am I wrong? I know you've helped me a lot in the past, but are you really going to use that against me now? Am I not even allowed to speak the truth?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "I haven't even said a word, Audrey. Why are you getting so worked up? Since everyone's here, let's clear the air once and for all. That way, certain people can stop poisoning the well behind the scenes and playing everyone for a fool."

I walked up to Raymond. His expression changed drastically, but I didn't give him a chance to flee.

"When you were in Team C, you were constantly overworked and sidelined, and your girlfriend was about to break up with you because you couldn't make enough money. I thought you were an honest, hardworking guy, so I decided to give you a hand and transferred you to Team A.

"In the two years since you joined us, you not only saved enough money for your wedding but also managed to make the down payments on a house and a car. That's also the reason your girlfriend agreed to marry you.

"What, you didn't remember how good your team leader was to you when you married your wife, but now that your wife fainted, you're blaming me? Was I the one who married her?"

All the color drained from Raymond's face. "E-Esme, I'm sorry. I—"

I cut him off and continued, "For the last five years, ever since I became the leader of Team A, how many bonuses have I split among you, and how much performance have I brought you? Merely because I didn't sign the petition, every single one of you started giving me the attitude.

"Let's be real here—who's willing to come forward and guarantee that the protest will definitely work if everyone signs it? Who's to say Mr. Price will listen? So the whole thing can't happen without my signature? And now I'm suddenly the villain of Team A?"

I walked over to Audrey. "Besides, this was a decision you made among yourselves. I'm under no obligation to sign it. I'm your team leader, not your mother!"

Having said my piece, I strode back to my office, ignoring my colleagues who were up in arms behind me.

I had just sat down when there was a knock on the door. "Come in."

I looked up and met the eyes of May Leister, who had just walked in.

Her cheeks were rosy as she set a cup of coffee on my desk. "I'm sorry, Esme. I was there when Raymond yelled at you earlier, but I didn't stand up for you... I was foolish. I bought their lies and misunderstood you. I'm really sorry!"

I accepted the coffee and flashed her a genuine smile. "It's alright. Head back to your desk, put your nose to the grindstone, and work hard for another promotion this year!"

After she left, a few more team members came to my office one after another to apologize to me, while others texted me their apologies, and I responded to each of them in turn.

At dinner time, Fiona and Daphne, who used to eagerly invite me to eat with them every day, were nowhere to be found.

When I walked into the cafeteria, the two of them, who had been chatting away, immediately shut their mouths the moment they saw me.

I couldn't help feeling a little exasperated. Both of them were well into their 30s, yet they were still playing these childish games of isolating people.