Chapter 3

The next morning, we had our regular company meeting.

The projector was already on when Graham stood at the front of the conference room.

The moment I walked in, everyone looked at me.

Vanessa was sitting in the front row, her eyes slightly red. A cup of hot coffee sat on the table in front of her.

Graham casually twisted the lid open for her.

I set down my laptop and pulled up the company’s annual performance report.

For the past three years, I had handled the company’s biggest clients.

The rules for the annual overseas training program were clear: employees in key positions with the strongest performance records were given priority.

Graham cleared his throat.

“This year’s overseas training opportunity will go to Vanessa Pierce from the Marketing Department.”

A murmur immediately spread through the conference room.

One of my coworkers, Lily Foster, lowered her voice.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be Audrey?”

I stood up.

“Mr. Sterling, may I ask why?”

Graham looked at me, his eyes carrying a warning.

“The company is looking at overall potential. Vanessa is young, and she needs the opportunity to broaden her experience.”

“My performance numbers are eleven times hers.”

“You’re already the Planning Director.” Graham’s voice turned cold. “You don’t need to have everything. Give the younger employees a chance.”

The seventy-ninth time.

He couldn’t even be bothered to tell me it wasn’t important anymore.

Vanessa stood up and gently tugged at Graham’s sleeve.

“Graham, maybe I shouldn’t take it. Audrey seems to care about this opportunity. I don’t want everyone getting the wrong idea.”

Graham patted the back of her hand.

“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting ready.”

The entire room fell silent.

I pulled up another document on the projector.

“Vanessa lost the original contract for the Starlight account last month, delaying the renewal and exposing the company to an $800,000 breach-of-contract risk. Why should someone responsible for that be given a core training opportunity?”

Vanessa’s face went pale.

“Audrey, I already apologized.”

Graham’s expression darkened.

“I handled that situation.”

“By making one of my team members take the blame? Or by using company funds to cover for her mistake?” I looked directly at him. “Mr. Sterling, I’m not the one mixing business with personal relationships.”

He strode toward me and lowered his voice.

“Audrey Lawson, don’t push me.”

“I already recorded that.”

His expression changed instantly.

I raised my phone. The recording timer was still running.

Graham stared at me for a moment before giving a cold laugh.

“You think you can use that to threaten me?”

“No.”

I opened my laptop and created a new document.

Five minutes later, the printer spit out my resignation letter.

I placed it in front of him.

“I’m just letting you know.”

The moment Graham saw the title, his expression finally changed.

Vanessa spoke softly.

“Audrey, don’t make a rash decision. Graham is only doing what’s best for the company.”

I turned to her.

“Then I hope you enjoy the opportunity.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

Graham clenched the resignation letter in his hand.

“You’re quitting just to force me to change my decision?”

“I’m not forcing you.”

My voice remained calm.

“Give her the training opportunity. Give her my position too. I’m done playing along with the two of you.”

Graham’s smile turned cold.

“Once you leave this company, who’s going to recognize you, Audrey Lawson? The clients work with Sterling Group’s planning team, not you.”

I closed my laptop.

“I’ve already backed up the planning correspondence for Starlight, Westbrook, and Hawthorne. My lawyer will contact you regarding my non-compete obligations and final bonus settlement.”

He grabbed my wrist.

“You think you can take the clients with you?”

I looked down at his hand.

“Let go.”

He didn’t. His fingers tightened around my wrist, pressing painfully against the bone.

“Audrey, once you take this too far, you’re the one who won’t be able to clean up the mess.”

I looked him in the eye.

“Graham, you’re hurting me.”

His grip loosened.

I returned to my desk and began packing my things.

Lily followed me, her eyes red.

“You’re really leaving, Audrey?”

“Yeah.”

“Mr. Sterling probably thinks you’ll come crawling back in a few days.”

I placed my access card in her hand.

“That’s what he thinks.”