Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

Chapter 1 The Dog Bowl

The stainless-steel bowl sat beneath the banquet lights, the metallic finish nearly blinded me. It was no longer simply a dog bowl; it now contained half-eaten food, scraps, and greasy leftovers. Grant stood on the stage, dangling my year-end bonus check between two fingers. His beady eyes glinted with amusement, like he was a circus master waiting for his cheap little circus act to perform. I inhaled deeply. This time, I didn't lower my head. I didn't bend my back like I always had just to pick up their so-called "reward." Instead, I reached up and removed the employee badge I had worn around my neck for the past five years. Then, I flicked my wrist. 'Clang.' The badge sliced through the air in a clean arc and landed straight inside the greasy dog bowl. Soup splashed up from the bottom of the bowl, and a few drops hit the polished leather shoes of the company's top sales rep. The laughter in the room died instantly. "Caleb, what the hell do you think you're doi

Chapter 2 The Man Who Kept the Lights On

"Get out," Vivienne barked. "And don't come crawling back. This company will run even better without you." I packed my belongings in silence, slipping them into my bag. Before I left, I let my gaze linger on the office that had taken five years of my life. The master access card was still in my head. They had no clue that the building's smooth running, emergency fixes, and special favors all depended on the very "company dog" they had just tossed aside. If they wanted to call me trash, so be it. I would leave with the one thing no one could take from me—my dignity. So, I said nothing as I returned the master access card and stepped outside. The winter night air hit me, nearly turning my face to ice. I hugged my coat closer and glanced up at the 15th and 16th floors, their windows glowing against the cold. I joined Whitlock Capital Group with hope in my breast five years ago. I had been hired as an administrative coordinator. Everything changed two years ago. The com

Chapter 3 The First Crack

Only when the last breath of air vanished would they truly grasp what it meant to suffocate. I raised a hand and hailed a taxi. "Home, please." A moment later, my phone buzzed. A bank alert flashed. I had gotten my paycheck, but it was stripped down to the bare minimum. I didn't get my year-end bonus, and they had even clawed back pay for my final days. Then, I got another message. It was from Vivienne. "Caleb, don't think for a second that walking out means you're off the hook. I'll sue you for defamation if you dare run your mouth about the company." I stared at the screen, a bitter laugh threatening to escape. 'They really believe Grant got that lease because he's a brilliant negotiator. That's fine. I'm done with them now. They can forget about Arthur's favor. That's mine. From now on, I'll show them what business is really like.' ... The holiday break finally arrived. The first thing I did when I returned to my hometown was put my phone on silent. Then, I b

Chapter 4 Strictly Business

The switch was hidden in a stupidly specific place that only I could ever find. And as for the key to the server and network rooms, it was either lost in the chaos of Vivienne's infamous drawer or already gone out with yesterday's trash. Mia texted, "What? Then, what should I do? Ms. Cross definitely doesn't know about that. She can't even find the fish food." She sent a panicked emoji right after. I replied, "That's her problem, not yours. You're an intern. It's not your job to clean up after a director. Trust me. Turn off your phone and enjoy the holidays. When everyone goes back to work, you're going to see one hell of a show." I set my phone aside and watched fireworks bloom beyond the window. There was always something hauntingly beautiful about the calm before a storm. As for Grant's beloved saltwater reef tank? Well, she could consider it my first welcome-back gift for her "elevated, global admin team." ... Three days into the holiday break, I was savoring a

Chapter 5 The First Day Without Me

Work officially resumed after a weeklong holiday break. For most people, that meant dragging themselves out of bed and forcing a smile. For me, it was the day I had been waiting for with bated breath. I sat on my balcony at home, wrapped in a thick sweater with a mug of hot coffee to warm my hands. The phone that had been on my knee suddenly lit up. Mia was texting me live updates from the office. Dozens of employees were stuck outside the front doors at 8:30 a.m. The smart lock had died. Vivienne could not find the backup key. People stood in the hallway in their winter coats, stomping their feet and complaining while their breath fogged in the air. In the end, they had to call a locksmith to pry the door open.… By the time everyone finally got inside, the office felt like a freezer. During the holiday break, the building had shut off heat to empty floors to save energy. Before I quit, I always called the building engineers two days before everyone returned and

Chapter 6 The Mess They Made

Now that I was no longer there to hold the fort, the office started falling apart faster than a house of cards. It was certainly happening faster than they expected. The cleaning lady quit on the second day. I couldn't say I was surprised. In the past, I always found a way to get her something from the employee-care budget whenever the holidays came around. Sometimes I'd pay for her groceries, get her gift cards, or just a little extra support when she needed it. When something came up at home, I would help her arrange a replacement or negotiate with the cleaning company to set up a better schedule. Vivienne never bothered with any of that. To her, people like that were invisible until they got in her way. She complained when the woman entered the office without knocking. She complained that the mop smelled. Once, Vivienne actually covered her nose and told her to "do that somewhere else" while the woman was cleaning near her desk There was no bonus or even the tiniest

Chapter 7 Financial Issues

Then, I blocked her.As I gazed at the night sky, I knew that this was just the beginning. The facilities crumbling before their eyes was just the appetizer. Finances would be where it really hurt.After the new year, the property manager sealed off the company's doors with the help of a lawyer's letter.He did it right at the 15th-floor elevator lobby and in front of all employees."Mr. Whitlock, your contact, Mr. Mercer, has resigned. As per our contract, the discount period has ended." The manager spoke in a professional manner as he handed a thick folder to Grant."From this month onward, the rental for 15th and 16th floor units will be reverted to market price. You'll also need to pay up the difference for the past two weeks' management fees."Grant accepted the document and flipped through it, his eyes growing wider and wider with each word printed in black and white."500,000? This is daylight robbery!" he screamed, losing his composure.They used to be charged the prefe

Chapter 8 Lost Investor and Clients

The straw that broke the camel's back soon arrived.An important client was going to visit the office as part of their inspection.This was an investor Grant had been talking to for over six months, and this was his only chance to turn things around.To welcome this VIP guest, Vivienne splurged on some last-minute cleaners and even bought expensive fragrances to cover up the stench of the office. She was so ignorant that this was the best she could come up with.The company looked much better, at least on the surface.However, some things could never be covered up.The clients arrived on Wednesday morning.As soon as they arrived at the entrance, the investor's group was shocked by the result of the broken smart lock.Due to the broken lock, Vivienne bought a U-lock meant for bicycles and used it to lock up the glass door.As a result, anyone who went through the door would cause a loud commotion as they undid the U-lock.A flicker of doubt appeared in the investor's eyes as

Chapter 9 Job Offers

I opened the door but kept the chain in place."What do you want?"I coldly stared at them through the gap."Caleb, it's me!" Grant plastered on a smile that looked uglier in its sheer insincerity."I'm so sorry, Caleb! I was such a fool to be delusional enough to falsely accuse you of corporate espionage! I should've instructed Vivienne to humiliate you online by posting your photos and preparing a smear campaign against you. "I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me just this once!"As he spoke, he tried to shove the bag of gifts through the gap in the doorway.Viviene stood by his side, her eyes darted around guiltily while her face remained ashen.Once Grant was finished speaking, he shot her a glare and spoke in an accusatory tone as he pinned all the blame on her."It's all her fault! Vivienne provoked me into doing it. She said you wanted revenge out of dissatisfaction and claimed it was not a big deal for you to be cyberbullied and humiliated. She even said it would force y

Chapter 10 The End

"You don't need to worry about trivial tasks. You'll be managing a team to set a standard. You'll be paid 50,000 a year, with share bonuses. Will you join us?" Daniel asked.My eyes burned with tears as I tightened my grip around my phone."Yes, I'll do it."A month later, I was officially working for Langford Properties.I brought Mia with me. She had resigned, along with the honest yet abused staff of Whitlock Capital Group.We formed a new team.I was no longer the babysitter of the company now.Instead, I was a professional whose job was to train up a well-oiled administrative team.I made sure that everything was running as it should from facility upkeep and asset management to client reception and employee welfare.The buildings we managed became famous, and we achieved a 100% occupancy rate.Grant's company eventually came falling down on him.His clients ran off due to the lack of profit and negative public opinion.To repay his debts, he sold his fancy car and mans

Scanner le code pour lire sur l'application