My Bonus Was Removed, So I Ended Them

"Mr. Chandler, I've decided to accept your offer. Is there still room to negotiate the salary you mentioned last time?"

As I placed the heavy file on the office table, I started the conversation in a cold and composed tone.

"Of course."

The man sitting at the desk readily agreed. "Ms. Lane, you're the type of woman I admire most in the workplace. If you're willing to join us, I personally guarantee your annual dividends will be at least eight figures."

Upon hearing that, any lingering hesitation about leaving my current job—where I earned only three thousand a month—vanished instantly. I signed the contract on the spot.

As I headed back to my old office to complete the handover, I sighed while looking at the familiar decoration around me.

Fresh out of university, I’d been full of ambition. That was how Kai Moran convinced me to join his new startup.

I climbed my way up from the very bottom to become Head of Product. It took ten long years of grinding work, drinking at endless business dinners, until I developed gastric perforation.

I pushed myself to the brink of collapse to bring the company hundreds of millions in profit.

However, all of that work just allowed someone else to shine. Mary Hansen appeared out of nowhere and took away all the credit.

"It's hard to find another job, isn't it? Ms. Lane, you were just kicked out of the office. You sure have the nerve to show up again."

As soon as I walked out of the elevator, I ran into Mary and a few former colleagues.

She looked me up and down with a gloating look in her eyes.

"Don't be upset. In this day and age, anyone willing to let loose and fool around with men can find a job somewhere."

My expression darkened. As I did not want to argue with her, I moved to leave.

However, Mary stopped me. "What's the rush? Did I hit a sore spot?"

"You know exactly what you did to get where you are." Then, she continued. "What? Am I not allowed to mention all the fun you had?"

She intentionally raised her voice as though to attract everyone's attention.

That caused countless scornful glances to turn to me in an instant.

Unable to hold back any longer, I scowled and snapped back, "Stop spouting nonsense, Mary. Just who told you that results only come from sleeping around? If that's true, there wouldn't be a single innocent soul in the sales department!"

No sooner had I spoken than Rory Payne, my former assistant, stepped forward with a mocking snort. "Eliza, we're just implying things. No one's forcing you to confess. Why are you so angry?"

The others all nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. She's no longer the head, yet she's still acting all high and mighty."