Chapter 4

Giving Noah the core project was one of Erin's worst decisions.

He didn't understand what the client needed, but he found fault with every proposal.

When the tech team flagged a risk, he said they weren't good enough.

When the client asked for changes, he complained they were too demanding.

When I warned him that one module wasn't compatible with the existing system, he insisted it was a minor issue.

"I'm the project lead," he said arrogantly. "We do it my way."

I stopped arguing.

Either way, if something went wrong, he'd be the first one on the hook.

Meanwhile, word started going around the company.

Sterling Tech was about to be bought by a major investment group.

The price was far above what the market expected, and the new owners planned to reassess management and the structure of each department.

Everyone in the office was on edge.

Noah started getting nervous too.

He'd thought his made-up connections would let him throw his weight around at the company.

But now, even the powerful backer he kept talking about hadn't been heard from.

To prove he was worth something, he started meddling in the project like crazy.

Finally, the client's acceptance report came in.

The client had noted a minor lag in the system.

It wasn't a big deal, and it didn't affect normal use.

But Noah acted as if he'd uncovered a major scandal and marched straight to my desk.

"Ethan! Look at what you did!"

He slapped the report down on my desk.

"The client had to point out a problem like this? Do you even care about this project?"

The office went quiet in an instant.

Everyone knew that during an acquisition, any mistake could become a reason for a layoff.

Noah obviously planned to pin it on me.

I looked up at him.

"Don't you know where that lag came from?"

His expression changed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I warned you that module wasn't compatible with the existing system. You insisted on adding it anyway, and you had the tech team skip the testing we'd planned."

"Don't you dare twist this!"

Noah pointed at me, his voice getting louder and louder. "You couldn't handle the project, and now you're trying to blame me?"

I looked at him calmly.

"The client has already confirmed the issue doesn't affect normal use. They're happy with the final product overall, and they just told me they'll pay 80% of the contract price ahead of schedule."

Noah froze.

I added slowly, "If you really want to help the company, follow up on that payment. That would be more useful than standing here blaming people."

"You..."

His face darkened with rage. He looked like a clown.

"You just got lucky! The client cares about Sterling Tech, not you!"

"Then that's even stranger."

I closed the file.

"If the client cares about the company, why are you in such a hurry to take all the credit for yourself?"

A few coworkers nearby looked down, trying hard not to laugh.

Noah was humiliated and furious.

"Enough!"

Then I heard heels clicking in the hallway.

Erin walked over.

"What's all the shouting about?"

She glanced at Noah first, then fixed me with a cold stare.

"Ethan, my office."

The moment the door closed, she demanded in a low voice, "What are you trying to do? The company's in the middle of an acquisition review, and you embarrass Noah in front of everyone?"

"So I'm supposed to take the fall for him?"

"I'm trying to protect you!" Her voice rose in frustration. "All you have to do is admit you made a mistake and accept a minor penalty. Then this blows over. Why do you have to fight him?"

I looked at her.

"You use my work to advance his career and my mistakes to establish his authority. That's protecting me?"

Erin was speechless for a moment.

Then I remembered the rumors I'd been hearing lately.

"Oh, and when you two go out on dates, could you be a little more careful?"

Her expression changed.

"What did you say?"

"Everyone in the office is talking about you and Noah."

She stared hard at me, and the panic in her eyes turned into anger.

A few seconds later, she stopped bothering to hide it.

"Yes! I'm with him now! So what?"

She practically screamed it.

"Noah can give me resources, connections, and a future! What can you give me? A guy who can't even make manager?"

I nodded.

"Okay.

"I hope you'll be very happy together."

She clearly hadn't expected me to be so calm, and it only made her angrier.

"Ethan, what kind of attitude is that? A real man would be more gracious!

"Look at you. No talent, no future, and you're in here acting jealous. We are so done!"

She grabbed the pen holder off her desk and hurled it at my feet.

"Get out!"

Idiot.

I opened the door.

Everyone outside avoided my eyes.

Noah stood at the far end of the hallway with a smug smile.

Erin's voice came from behind me. "Let me be clear: no one is to put in a good word for him! He burned his own bridges, and no one can save him now!"

The phone on her desk rang.

She picked it up, and her expression immediately became respectful.

"What? The new management wants to hold executive interviews tomorrow?

"Of course. I'll be there on time."

After she hung up, she quickly turned on her computer.

She had to prove her worth to the new boss.

And on the first list of staffing recommendations she submitted, my name was at the very top.

The note beside it was impossible to miss.

"Terminate first."

She looked at the screen and smiled coldly.

Ethan, let's see who can save you this time.