Chapter 4

The next morning, the project acceptance meeting was held as scheduled at the company's largest conference room.

Although I'd been "sacked," I was still the project's team leader on paper. Therefore, my name remained on the client's guest list.

So, I deliberately wore my bespoke dark suit and arrived at the company entrance right on time.

Alas, I was stopped just as I got to the front desk.

Kevin was wearing an ill-fitting cheap suit and had his hair slicked back with gel. He was ordering Lila around, making her run around carrying materials.

When he saw me, he let out an exaggerated cry of surprise, "Hey now, if it isn't James the Jobless! What's this? Did you come back here to steal something even after you got yourself fired?"

The receptionist looked at me, clearly in a dilemma as she said, "James, Ms. Wallace instructed us not to allow you entry. She said she's deactivated your access card."

"You hear that? You're not welcome here!" Kevin crossed his arms over his chest and strutted over like a peacock, saying arrogantly, "Our boss right over from headquarters is coming over to personally inspect the project herself.

"None of us would be able to bear the consequences if a person with a stain on his record, like you, shows up and offends an important guest."

"The boss from headquarters, you say?"

"Scared yet?" Shane walked over to me as well, carrying a thick stack of documents in his hands. "I heard headquarters is taking this very seriously, what with Ms. Kingsley leading the team herself and all. So, we're going to meet Ms. Kingsley today.

"Once the acceptance meeting is over, we're sure to be given a raise and promoted. As for you…" He trailed off as he sized me up before scoffing derisively. "The only thing you're good for is standing at the door as the security guard."

"Why are you wasting your breath on him?" Lily urged impatiently. "Just get rid of him already. His mere presence is ruining the decor."

Kevin's eyes gleamed as he suddenly let out a chuckle. "What's the rush? Since he's already here, we might as well let him look around. We should let him watch with his own two eyes how we're going to collect our bonuses and how we're going to be commended for our hard work.

"Don't you think it'd be way more satisfying for him to see the sheer difference between our situations?"

Shane immediately understood what he was putting down. "I could always count on your sharp mind, Kevin. That's one way to twist the knife, alright."

And so, Kevin turned to the receptionist and said, "Let him in. We'll just say we hired him as a… porter. It's just as well, really. We do need someone to move the chairs in the conference room."

The receptionist didn't dare object and could only quietly open the door for me.

I didn't say anything. Instead, I simply strode right in.

The conference room was already packed like sardines.

The client's representatives and the company's executives were already there. Hortensia was also at the front, fussing over the equipment like the toady suck-up she was.

When she saw me enter, the fawning smile on her face fell. She was about to blow her top when Kevin immediately rushed over to whisper something in her ear.

After she heard him out, a cruel smile appeared on her lips.

"Since you're so eager to squeeze yourself dry, go stand over there. When Ms. Kingsley gets here, try to read the room and please her. Don't just stand there like a pile of dense bricks," she drawled, pointing at a corner piled with miscellaneous items.

Everyone in the conference room turned to look at me, their eyes filled with mockery and contempt.

I walked over to the corner, but I didn't move any equipment. Instead, I pulled out a spare chair next to the main table and naturally made myself comfortable there, crossing my legs while I was at it.

"Who told you that you could sit there?" Kevin bellowed angrily. "That's a seat reserved for the executives! Who do you think you are?"

"Get up right this instant! Go over there and do your job!" Shane rushed over and reached to yank me up.

Just then, the conference room doors were pushed wide open.