Chapter 3

Patricia Gilmore, the HR Director, suddenly stood up. Her face went pale as she stared at me.

"Mr. Grant, how can you even consider resigning? Mitchell and Vernon, you're both vital to the company! Your department drives 80% of our performance! I don't have the authority to approve your resignation. I'll need to run this by Ms. Wainwright first."

Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone. I said nothing, letting her take the lead.

"There's no need to consult anyone."

At that moment, the door to the director's office burst open.

Ed Chamberlain emerged, his hands tucked into his pockets.

With a smug grin, he waved his phone in the air.

"According to Fiona, the sales department is under my full control. That means I decide who stays and who leaves.

"If you choose to resign, so be it. However, you must first return every bonus the company has ever awarded you. Only then will I approve your resignation."

My hands balled into fists.

I couldn't believe Fiona would actually allow Ed to humiliate us like this.

My team and I had spent countless sleepless nights working tirelessly. We earned those bonuses fair and square.

My gaze hardened as I looked at Ed. "Mr. Chamberlain, those bonuses were rightfully earned. You have no authority to demand we return them."

He shot me a smug look. "I don't care. Either you give the money back, or you keep working here.

"Fiona trusts me as her closest ally, and right now, I'm the one calling the shots. You'd better comply, or I'll make sure your resignations never go through."

Suppressing my frustration, I grabbed my phone and dialed Fiona's number.

After several long rings, she finally picked up.

"What's the matter now?" she snapped.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Ed yanked the phone from my hand.

His voice shifted into a sharp, irritating whine. "Fiona, Logan wants to quit. He won't listen to me and is deliberately causing trouble.

"I know he's jealous since you and I are expecting a baby, but that doesn't give him the right to act like this. I'm so scared."

"Give him the phone!" Fiona demanded sharply.

Ed handed the phone back to me, clearly pleased with himself.

His grating voice and exaggerated attempts to smear my name made me feel sick.

I snatched the phone back. Trying to avoid more conflict, I quickly explained, "Fiona, this isn't about you and Ed. I just want to submit my team's resignations—"

"Logan!" Fiona snapped, her anger crackling through the line.

"You're still bitter about me and Ed's baby, aren't you? You know this could be the only child I'll ever have, and yet you still choose to make things difficult for me."

I pressed my lips together. "I'm not here to create problems over your secret lover. Listen up. I'm quitting this job, and it's not just me. Everyone I manage is leaving as well."

Ed suddenly leaned in. "Come on, Fiona, cut Logan some slack. I've been really wanting those crawfish from that spot in the suburbs. Maybe Logan could grab some. That'd be a good way for him to start making amends."

Fiona's voice turned cold as ice. "Did you hear that? My fiance wants crawfish. Go get them. Now."

The suburbs were way too far. Getting there and back would take at least four hours.

When I declined, she sneered coldly. "Suit yourself. Just don't be surprised when your team hits a wall. How this ends is entirely up to you. Obedience is earned through actions, after all."

Having said her piece, she hung up the phone.

My throat felt as if it had been sliced open, and my heart shattered into a thousand fragments.

However, instead of pain, I felt only a dull, lingering numbness.

I knew Fiona's favoritism toward Ed stemmed from the fact that he could give her a child. He was the father of her baby, after all.

But did she forget that we once had a child together as well?

At that time, the company was going through a crucial phase, and we burned the midnight oil every night. During one dinner gathering, she suddenly collapsed.

It was then that I found out she was already eight weeks pregnant.