Chapter 2

I paid Dylan back, thanked him, and headed to the parking garage.

My ten-year-old car was still parked where I had left it. Several patches of paint had worn off.

A brand-new Porsche was parked right beside it. It was the same car Whitney had given Jude that day.

There were plenty of empty spaces in the parking garage, but Jude had chosen to park right next to me.

He was clearly trying to provoke me.

I had been with Whitney for ten years, yet I still mattered less to her than Jude, who had only been with the company for ten months.

I laughed bitterly at myself.

Without hesitation, I started the car and drove away from the company where I had spent the past several years.

But just as I drove out through the company gates, another car rear-ended me. I got out and saw Whitney and Jude stepping out of the other car.

"Neil, why did you stop so suddenly? I didn't even have time to react!" Jude said.

He walked over and stared sadly at the dent in his car's hood. "What a shame. Ms. Lovell picked this car out herself."

Whitney's expression grew darker.

"Neil, I saw you staring at Jude's car in the parking garage. Be honest. Did you do this on purpose? Did you know he was behind you and slammed on the brakes to get back at him?"

I almost laughed at her accusation.

Here we go again.

She'd blame me without even bothering to find out what had happened.

Jude sighed. "Let's forget it, Ms. Lovell. We shouldn't blame Neil. It's only natural that he's mad at me since he lost his job because of me.

"At the end of the day, it's still my fault. I should've been more careful."

With that, he clenched his fist and raised it toward his forehead in frustration.

But just before his fist reached his face, he deliberately eased up.

However, Whitney didn't notice what he had done. She gently rubbed his forehead and said, "This had nothing to do with you. Stop blaming yourself for everything."

Then she jabbed her finger hard against my forehead.

"Why can't you be more like Jude and learn to take some responsibility? At least he knows how to be humble. You've been working for years. Do you have to be so immature and arrogant?"

Her jab sent me stumbling backward. Once I regained my balance, I couldn't help but find the whole thing ridiculous.

Ever since he joined the company, Jude had been taking credit for my work and scheming to pin his mistakes on me. Yet somehow, he was the humble and responsible one, while I was immature and arrogant.

I knew there was no point arguing with them, so I said nothing and turned to leave.

But Whitney stopped me again.

I thought she was going to launch into another long defense of Jude. But instead, she pulled me aside.

She spoke to me in an earnest, patient tone. "Neil, I only hold you to such high standards because I expect so much from you. Why can't you understand that I'm only trying to help you?"

As I listened to her speak so gently, I felt a little confused.

Soon enough, I figured out what she was trying to do.

Whitney patted my shoulder and said, "I'll withdraw your resignation. Take some time to think about it, then apologize to Jude.

"Also, you're entirely at fault for the accident. Transfer whatever it costs to repair Jude's car."

I caught on and looked up at Jude.

He must have known what Whitney was going to say. He looked pleased with himself and rolled his eyes at me to provoke me.

I scoffed.

"I'm not paying a cent. Go and find out who's actually at fault for the accident. If you can't settle it properly, call the police.

"I have other things to do. I'm leaving."

I turned and walked away.

Whitney stamped her foot in anger behind me. "I already gave you a chance. Don't regret it!"

Would I regret it?

Never.

I got back into my car and sent Dylan a message.

[I've resigned. I can start working at your company tomorrow.]