Chapter 3

"Try to make him make a mistake. Don't be too lenient with him."

His remark sent a heavy blow to my heart.

I recalled my past seven years at the company.

The first year, the company was resurrected thanks to my data model. Franklin hugged me excitedly and said I was his greatest blessing.

The second year, I won the largest investment of $5 million for the company. At the signing ceremony, Franklin held my shoulders and choked up several times.

The third year, the company officially established a technical department and made me the leader, but I did not get a promotion. He just bumped up my salary by an extra $2,000, saying it was a sign of his trust in me.

The fourth year, the fifth year, the sixth year, the seventh year... More and more people were recruited to the department, and my burden became heavier and heavier. Training new employees, maintaining systems, creating models... I was overwhelmed. In the end, I was fired because I did too well. They even tried to nickel-and-dime me on the severance.

I was completely enraged.

I pushed open Franklin’s door, tore off the ID tag around my neck, and threw it forcefully in front of him. "Franklin, I quit!"

After saying that, I immediately returned to my workstation and packed up my things.

Franklin and Mr. Zachary followed behind, not trying to persuade me, but just staring at me. "Charlie, you can leave if you want, but hand over Kinetix System’s entire source code and development documents. They’re company assets."

"No problem," I replied crisply.

Franklin smiled, though the expression held an unsatisfied malice. "And hand over the source code and development documentation for that Project Whisper you mentioned last month."

I slowly clenched my fists. Project Whisper was an AI program I had built in my spare time.

It could aggregate reports on industry trends and new technologies into a coherent article in record time.

It was only half-finished, so there was no final product yet. I had not expected Franklin to have his eye on that too.

"Fine," I replied through gritted teeth. I opened my computer, compressed the files labeled ‘Whisper’, and sent them all to him.

"Can I go now?"

Franklin finished reviewing the documents, his eyes crinkling into slits as he smiled. "Sure. Grey, let's part ways amicably."

He wore a triumphant grin, as if he had just won a battle.

I was practically kicked out of the company that day.

As I walked from the office area to the main entrance, everyone cast sympathetic glances my way as they whispered among themselves.

"I heard he even had to hand over the projects he developed privately. How pitiful."

"Yeah, Mr. Wood went way too far. It’s shameless bullying."

"So what if he's a bully? You can't fight your boss."

"Seven years of service, only to be unceremoniously booted out. Poor guy."

I walked hurriedly with my head down, desperate to leave behind the place that had caused me such heartache.

However, it was not over yet.

The very evening I resigned, Franklin published a letter to industry peers on the company's official website.

In the letter, he cast himself as a benevolent boss betrayed by an employee and warned the rest of the industry.

He detailed how he had valued and supported my talent, only for me to repay him with ingratitude—abandoning the company during its most difficult time, stealing core trade secrets, and attempting to set up a rival business to compete with him.

Every word and sentence was designed to smear my reputation.

Over the next few days, I sent my resume to other companies, but the outcome was the same every single time.

"Sorry, we aren't hiring right now."

"Apologies, but you don't meet our requirements."

"To be honest, your reputation in the industry is ruined. You should just go back to your hometown."

In the span of three days, I was rejected by over a dozen companies.

Among them were firms that had previously shown interest in me, but had now completely changed their tune.

Just as the 21st company rejected me, I received a call from Franklin.