Chapter 3

Gina had indeed become a successful businesswoman. Meanwhile, I had lost everything I once held dear.

The next morning, I arrived at the office right on time.

As usual, I headed to the break room to make myself a cup of coffee.

When I reached the doorway, I heard a group of coworkers animatedly discussing something.

"Did Ms. Harlington really say she was going to give Mike ten percent of the company's shares yesterday?"

"Ms. Harlington has always been a woman of her word. When has she ever gone back on something she said?"

"Mike was personally chosen by Ms. Harlington to be her secretary. Of course she's going to treat him differently."

"Yeah. I feel bad for Perry. He's been with the company for years and hasn't gotten anything out of it."

-

The moment I heard what they said, my heart ached terribly. My fingers, which clasped tightly around the cup, turned pale.

As soon as they saw me, everyone cleared out and was too afraid to say another word.

I walked over to the coffee machine in a daze. I fumbled the cup, and the boiling water spilled over my hand.

Crash.

The cup hit the floor and shattered.

I couldn't believe what I heard was real.

I needed to confront Gina and get an explanation. I turned around and stormed straight into her office.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw Mike massaging Gina's temples.

As he did so, he asked gently, "Ms. Harlington, is the pressure okay?"

Gina looked completely relaxed. She was blushing like a teenager in front of her crush.

The moment she saw me barge in, her expression changed.

"Have you never read the employee handbook? Entering the CEO's office without permission is a violation. Go to Finance and pay the fine yourself."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly on the inside. I had drafted that employee handbook back when I was helping Gina build the company. I never imagined she would one day use it against me.

Unable to suppress my anger any longer, I shouted, "Gina, what gives you the right to give Mike ten percent of the company? What has he ever done for this company?"

Gina looked up at me. The contempt in her eyes made me feel like I was nothing more than a discarded tool.

She smirked and asked, "Perry, who did you hear that from?"

I planted both hands on the desk. My eyes were bloodshot. "It doesn't matter who told me. Just tell me if it's true."

"So what if it is? It's my company. I can give shares to whoever I want. Who are you to question me?

"Perry, know your place. In this company, what I say goes."

Her voice was filled with condescending arrogance.

I stood there frozen. I actually couldn't come up with a valid argument.

Back when I had helped Gina build the company, I never asked her for a single share.

I had always believed that loving someone meant giving them everything, so I had never brought up matters related to money with Gina.

But now the company was preparing to go public. Even a small percentage of shares could be worth a fortune.

She could give Mike ten percent, yet I didn't even own one percent.

Mike looked at Gina with an aggrieved expression. "Ms. Harlington, you should take them back. Perry's upset. I don't deserve them, and I really can't accept them."

Gina patted Mike's hand reassuringly. "Who says you don't deserve them? Having you around makes me feel years younger. That's your contribution."

She then turned to face me.

"You, on the other hand, are a grown man, yet you're being petty over this. You even have the nerve to covet my assets. Let me make this clear. I founded this company. It has absolutely nothing to do with you.

"You're getting older, yet instead of focusing on your work, all you know how to do is get jealous."

Gina looked at me with disgust. It was as if I were something filthy.

"Get lost," she uttered.

My ears rang. My mind went completely blank, and for a moment, I couldn't hear anything around me.

So this was what I meant to Gina. It turned out the company I had poured my heart and soul into building had nothing to do with me.

I walked out of her office numbly. It felt like I had been run over by a car.

When I returned to my desk, I could feel everyone around me looking at me with pity.

That was when Liam called.