All Chapters of Excuse Me, Where Has My Bonus Gone?: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

In the meeting room, my boss, Peter Hurley, spoke with a pained tone and a deep frown. "We hope everyone can be understanding and support the company during these challenging times."If it weren't for the luxury watch on his wrist, I might have believed him. The green of the watch face was so bright that it hurt my eyes.He had just bought it last week, and its market price was valued at over a hundred grand.That was what Peter meant by challenging times?I sat on the left side of the conference table, twirling a pen in my hand until it grew warm.I was the company's top sales performer this year.This year, I had generated 30 million dollars in revenue for the company, with a net profit of at least eight million.According to my employment contract, my year-end commission plus bonus should have amounted to 20,000 dollars.I had already planned how to use that money.Dad had been pressuring me to go back for a blind date. I needed to buy a couple of bottles of fine wine to sh

Chapter 2

Peter's expression instantly darkened, and the smile froze on his face."Soren, what do you mean by that?" He slammed the plaque heavily onto the table."The company is going through such tough times. As a senior employee and the top performer, not only do you fail to show any consideration for the company, but you also make a scene at the annual meeting?""Tough times?" I pointed at his wrist. "Mr. Hurley, did you buy this watch to help you weather the tough times too?"Peter instinctively retracted his hand, then grew furious with embarrassment. "That's my personal money! What does it have to do with you?""That's your business. Meanwhile, my commission is written in black and white in the contract. It's the money you owe me."I looked at him coldly. "The contract stipulates that settlement will be made at the end of the year. Are you trying to renege?"Peter stood up abruptly and pointed at me. "Soren! Watch your tone!"What contract? The company has the final say on this! I

Chapter 3

The "highly valuable" plaque fell into the trash bin, which had already been filled with waste paper and food wrappers.The plaque was too long, so half of it was sticking out of the bin."You!" Peter's eyes widened. "Soren! How dare you throw away the company's honor?""Honor?" I dusted off my hands. "I wouldn't even display this thing in my toilet—it's too trashy."Since you gave it to me, it's mine, and I can do whatever I want with it."I turned to look at Peter, my expression calm. "Peter, remember what you said today. You said I don't deserve the commission, and that I'm a money-hungry nobody."I hope you won't come begging to this nobody later."Peter was shaking with anger. He grabbed his cup from the table, wanting to smash it, but he couldn't bear to part with his favorite cup. So, he forcibly held back."Get out! Get the hell out right now!""Finance! Settle his wages, then kick him out!""I'd better not see you in this industry ever again!"Beside him, Curtis fla

Chapter 4

In the reception area, Lily was slacking off, watching a show on her phone. When the elevator doors opened, she instinctively said, "Welcome to—"That was when she saw me, as well as Gary and the security guard behind me."S-Soren? What are you doing back here?"Her gaze fell on my flip-flops.She continued, "Mr. Hurley said… said you're not allowed in the company…""I'm not here for the company." I smiled, walked past the reception desk, and headed straight for the office area. "I'm here to inspect my property."…In the office, everyone was busy—or at least pretending to be busy.Curtis was standing by the door of Peter's office, holding some files. He was eagerly nodding.When he saw me, he was stunned for a moment, then started shouting, "Soren? You had the nerve to come back?"Security! Where the hell is security? How could they let just anyone in?"His yell drew everyone's attention over to us.Upon hearing the commotion, Peter emerged from his office. When he saw h

Chapter 5

"I-It won't be renewed?" Peter's voice trembled, and his face turned even paler."Soren—no, Mr. Neal! T-There must be some misunderstanding, right?"I looked on coldly as he lost his composure. "There's no misunderstanding. I think I made myself very clear."The entire office was deathly silent. Everyone stopped what they were doing, watching us—especially Curtis.His face was contorted, and his mouth hung open. He glanced at me, then at Peter. His look made it seem as though he had seen a ghost.Curtis stammered, "M-Mr. Hurley, this…"Peter suddenly turned around and slapped Curtis across the face, the smack resounding clearly and sharply."It's all because of you, you bastard! You constantly gossiped to me every day! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have offended Mr. Neal!"Curtis covered his face, stunned by the blow. "Mr. Hurley, I—""What more? Get lost!" Peter kicked him and pointed in my direction. His tone turned sharper as he commanded, "Hurry up and apologize to M

Chapter 6

I looked down at Peter, whose face was etched with regret."You're begging me?" I laughed. "Mr. Hurley, didn't you say yesterday you wanted me to kneel down, pick up that plaque of yours, and wipe it clean?"Peter's body stiffened at those words.My gaze shifted to the trash bin by the meeting room door. "You want me to give you a chance? It's not impossible."Peter's eyes instantly lit up. "Tell me! Tell me whatever you want! I'll walk through fire if I have to!""It's nothing that complicated." I pointed at the trash bin. "Eat the 'highest honor' you gave me yesterday.""Eat… Eat it?" Peter's expression froze.He looked at where I pointed, and he blanched.The plaque had been sitting in the trash since yesterday. It was stained with coffee spills and food scraps, emitting a rotten smell."M-Mr. Neal, you… you must be joking…" Peter said, his voice trembling uncontrollably."I'm not joking." My expression didn't change at all. "Eat it, and I'll consider giving you a one-day

Chapter 7

"Are you interested in it?" I asked Andrew."Of course! Are you renting it out, Mr. Neal? We can discuss the rent!" Andrew sounded absolutely excited."I'm not renting it."I glanced at Peter, who sprawled on the ground, and said deliberately, "I'm giving it to you. It'll be free for a year, with utilities included. There's just one condition—crush him."There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then, a burst of ecstatic laughter erupted."Mr. Neal, I regard you like a brother! Forget a year—give me one month, and I'll run that bastard Peter out of the industry. Rest assured, I've got this covered!"I hung up after that.The entire office was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Peter lay on the floor, his body going completely limp. His eyes were wide open as he stared at me, filled with nothing but despair.He had heard everything.I never intended to give him that "one-day grace period" in the first place."Y-You…" His lips quivered, and he was unable t

Chapter 8

I explained, "It was to test if you were worth collaborating with."When it comes to business, my dad likes to judge someone's character first. He sent me here just to see how much a small business owner, who built his business on end-market sales, could uphold their integrity in the face of profit."Had you just given me the 20,000 dollars yesterday, the vice president of Evercrest would've personally led the team over to sign a ten-year strategic partnership with you—one that was worth a billion dollars."A billion dollars? Those words made everyone gasp.Peter's eyes immediately turned bloodshot with rage. He stared at me, his face twisted with fury."This was supposed to be your lucky break. Unfortunately, you failed to grasp it."I looked at him and continued in a calm tone, "For the sake of 20,000 dollars, you not only offended me, but also the entire Evercrest Group."Mr. Hurley, would you like to take a guess when Evercrest Group's legal department will send the breach-o

Chapter 9

Peter jerked his head up, glaring at Andrew with bloodshot eyes. "Andrew! Don't you get too smug!"Andrew laughed even more jovially. "How can I not be smug? From now on, your office is mine, and your clients… Oh, it seems you don't really have any clients left."He walked over to Peter and placed a foot on his back. "Peter, oh Peter. After fighting for so many years, who would've thought you'd end up like this?"This is what's called—what goes around comes around."Andrew's employees quickly took over the entire office. They began inspecting equipment and making inventories of the supplies, moving as if they had rehearsed it countless times.Meanwhile, the employees of Peter's company were politely but firmly escorted out by security.They stood dazed at the entrance, watching as the place where they once worked changed owners in the blink of an eye.Some wanted to cry, and some wanted to curse, but most of them just felt lost.Just yesterday, many of them thought I was being

Chapter 10

"Has everything been taken care of?" I asked."Yes, Mr. Neal. The lawsuit documents have been filed. The court's asset freeze order will be issued within half an hour. Peter won't be able to escape," Scott replied without hesitation.I nodded and stepped into the elevator, the doors slowly closing.In the final moment before the doors sealed shut, I saw Peter being dragged up from the floor like a dead man.His gaze pierced through the crowd as he looked at me with despair. His mouth moved wordlessly, as if he was cursing yet also begging me.As for Curtis, his loyal lapdog, he had long since disappeared without a trace.I heard he was the first to sneak away like a coward when the security guard started clearing the place out.Of course, when times got tough, the rest would bail.The elevator descended smoothly. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, at my T-shirt and flip-flops.It was time to say goodbye to this chapter of my life.…A week later, in the Neal residence,

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP