Chapter 2

Lydia's face instantly turned livid.

She turned toward me, her eyes full of disappointment and anger.

"Connor, you've really become lawless! You make a little achievement, and now you're learning crooked tricks?

"People need principles. The company is struggling, and you're still trying to take advantage?

"Since reporting misconduct deserves a reward, I've decided to give your sales commission to Ryan."

Blood rushed straight to my head, and my face flushed red.

"On what grounds?"

I roared, "I worked my ass off to sell those properties!"

Her voice was even louder than mine.

"On the grounds that I'm the sales manager! On the grounds that you're exploiting company loopholes and lining your own pockets!"

Her words came down on me like filth flung in my face.

Everyone in the hall stared at me. My colleagues watched with gloating expressions, and I felt exposed from every side.

Yet she was still lecturing me.

"Don't use resignation to threaten me. The company will keep running without anyone.

"Look at Ryan. He's younger than you, more sensible than you, and more motivated than you."

I felt exhausted, as if all my strength had been drained away.

"Lydia, we've been together for three years. In your heart, is this really the kind of person I am?"

Her expression stiffened for a moment before turning cold again.

"Don't play the emotional card with me.

"Ryan wouldn't wrong you."

Fine. Perfect.

I clenched my fists until my nails dug deep into my palms.

"Fine. I'll call the chairman's executive assistant directly and ask him to come confront you, the manager, in person. Is that good enough?"

Seeing me actually take out my phone and dial, Lydia's eyes flashed with a strange panic.

"Where did you get the assistant's number? Enough. Stop making a scene. Come with me."

She reached out to pull me, but I shook her off.

I put the call on speaker.

But from the other end came only a busy tone. No one answered.

Unwilling to give up, I called the chairman himself.

"The number you have dialed is currently powered off..."

The cold automated voice echoed through the silent sales hall.

Ryan covered his mouth beside me, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Wow, Connor. You really prepared the full performance."

He said in that mocking tone, "You knew the chairman was leading a team to visit Bryce Group today, so you deliberately picked this day to come claim the property.

"Were you afraid someone would catch you?"

Only then did I suddenly remember.

The chairman was taking a team to Bryce Group headquarters today to report on the follow-up cooperation for the revived stalled development.

That had been mentioned in yesterday's meeting.

Once Lydia realized this, only pure disgust remained in her eyes.

"Connor, stop pretending. Keep this up and I'll fire you."

Seeing how certain the two of them were that I was lying, my chest felt blocked, and anger surged to my head.

Today, I had to prove it to them. I had to shut both their mouths.

I swept my gaze across the crowd and pulled over the finance manager, who had been watching the show.

"Manager Holt, you handle company documents every day. Tell me, is this company seal real?"

He was an old employee. He had handled thousands of contracts and documents over the years.

No one knew the company seal better than he did.

He studied the half-burned contract carefully, his expression troubled.

"Half of the seal has been burned off. I... I can't confirm it with a hundred percent certainty."

My heart sank instantly.

The next second, he pointed at the private seal beside the company seal.

"But the chairman's personal seal next to it is real."

I instantly found my footing again and straightened my back.

"I told you. The chairman personally approved this. It's real."

Lydia, however, remained unmoved. She looked at the finance manager and spoke in a mild tone that carried undeniable pressure.