Chapter 2

One of the employees declared, "Ms. Oswald and Mr. Ingall are such a great match for each other! They're wearing matching outfits today, right?"

I looked over at Vanessa and Cameron. The colors of their outfits matched. Standing under the light, they looked like the perfect couple.

Meeting my gaze, Cameron said insincerely, "I have Shane's kindness to thank for my promotion to vice president. Not only did he voluntarily give the project to me, but he even proposed going to Fennoria to develop a new business market for the company.

"I suggest we all raise our glasses and send him off with a toast!"

After saying that, he brought over a glass of wine for me. I glanced at him and said, "Sorry. I don't drink."

Vanessa frowned at my refusal and snapped at me, "Cam is kindly offering a toast to give you a proper send-off! How dare you refuse him like that? You—"

Cameron cut her off and "helped me out" by saying, "It's my fault for stealing Shane's promotion to vice president. It's understandable that he's mad at me. I should've considered his feelings. Here. I'll do three shots as an apology to him."

Under the pretense of smoothing things over, he was in fact playing the victim to garner Vanessa's sympathy.

He'd been using this very trick to keep her firmly wrapped around his thumb ever since he joined the company. Even though his clumsy acting was clear as day, she fell for it every time.

As a result, she constantly used the excuse of not wanting the company's projects to be monopolized by one person to repeatedly strip me of my resources and achievements. She handed all of them over to Cameron, blatantly favoring him.

Just as Cameron picked up a shot of vodka, Vanessa immediately stopped him with a look of pure concern. Then, she glared at me, her expression stormy.

"You know full well that Cam has a weak heart, and you're still forcing him to drink as an apology to you? Are you trying to get him killed on purpose? Are you seriously going to stoop to such viciousness just to become the vice president?"

She stood protectively in front of Cameron, her voice icy.

"If someone as petty and conniving as you becomes the vice president, the company will soon be reduced to a laughingstock! This just proves I made the right decision by promoting Cam instead! He's a kind and talented man. How is he not better than you in every way?

"You're going to finish ten bottles of vodka yourself as an apology to Cam! Or else, I won't forgive you!"

She swiftly instructed the server to bring over three bottles of vodka to me.

As I stared at the three bottles of high-proof vodka, I smirked mockingly.

I had no idea whether Cameron had a heart condition. However, in the past eight years, I'd tirelessly devoted myself to the company. I constantly worked overtime and often drank myself silly just to keep our clients happy. Unsurprisingly, my health had deteriorated ages ago.

In fact, I had to have stomach surgery just earlier this year. The doctor had warned me not to touch any more alcohol. Otherwise, it could easily lead to a gastric perforation and cost me my life.

At the time, Vanessa had held my hand and stared at me in concern. She said she would promote me to vice president so I wouldn't have to run around entertaining clients anymore.

But now, she'd not only given the promotion to Cameron instead, but was even demanding that I drink ten bottles of vodka without any regard for the fact that it could kill me—all because of Cameron's pity ploy.

It hit me that Vanessa didn't care the least bit about me, and at that very moment, I lost all feelings for her.

When she saw that I wasn't moving, she tried to use a position in the company to persuade me. "As long as you drink the vodka and apologize to Cam, I can consider letting you be a department head or something."

She was smirking confidently, as if fully certain that I'd give in just to be made the head of a random department.

But I said nothing. I took out my phone and, with everyone looking on, submitted my resignation.

"You're right. I'm a petty, conniving man who doesn't deserve to stay in the company. Therefore, for the sake of the company, I hereby submit my resignation," I announced.

Vanessa assumed I was deliberately acting out in defiance. Her expression turned colder as she issued me an ultimatum.

"Are you threatening me with your resignation? Fine. So be it. You can resign, but don't even think about getting a single cent of the bonuses from your previous projects!"