Jackpot in the Office, Pink Slip in Reality

Giselle Shaw, the intern, has sent a five-dollar bonus to the company's group chat that has 500 members in it. I get crowned as the luckiest person for being able to claim 20 cents from the bonus. So, Giselle tags me in the group chat immediately. "Hey Rebecca! Since you're the luckiest person in the group chat, why don't you send a bonus here? There are 500 people in this group chat altogether, so you can just send 5,000 dollars here. "5,000 dollars isn't much for you, right? It so happens to be the bonus you've received from Mr. Gallagher because of the project you've secured. You can send us the bonus so that we can get some good luck from you!" The moment I refuse, Giselle begins playing the pity card in the group chat by claiming that she can't reap good luck for everyone in the company. My boyfriend, Vincent Gallagher, rushes into my office and starts berating me angrily. "Rebecca Campbell, just how stingy are you to not want to send a five-thousand-dollar bonus to the group chat despite being a higher-up in this company? You even made a young woman cry! Is this how you do things? "You'd better send a 50-thousand-dollar bonus to the group chat right now and write a five-thousand-word apology letter by hand! I want you to sincerely apologize to Giselle as well! Otherwise, I'll break up with you! You can forget about retaining your position in this company, too!" Chapter 1 Since I didn't respond, Vincent Gallagher grabbed me by the throat and pinned me against the wall. "Are you ignoring me, Rebecca? I told you to send that gift in the group chat and apologize to Giselle publicly!" My stomach was already aching from last night's overindulgence at dinner, and Vincent's grip only made the pain sharper. I had no strength left to argue. I picked up my phone and sent a 50-thousand-dollar bonus to the group chat. Vincent finally released me, but his tone remained cold. "Don't think this is enough to get away with it. Start writing your apology now, and read it aloud to Giselle at tomorrow's morning meeting." With that, he strode out of the office without a glance at me curled on the floor, clutching my stomach. After vomiting violently, I dialed the phone of Vincent's rival company. "I've secured that project you've been competing with Gallagher Group for." A teasing female voice answered. "Rebecca, are you calling to show off on behalf of your boyfriend Vincent?" I smiled faintly. "Boyfriend? That's over. I'm leaving Gallagher Group. They've hired me as assistant director, and I'm taking this project—and all Gallagher Group's investments with it." By the time I left the office, it was afternoon. I headed straight to the general hospital. Vincent was still green, inexperienced in the ways of the world. Over the years, I had drunk so much to secure investments for his company that I ended up giving myself a stomach ulcer. The doctor had warned me countless times to stop overdrinking, but I had ignored it all for Vincent's future. Now, I no longer have to sacrifice myself for Vincent's company. It was finally time to go to the hospital and get proper treatment. When I picked up my endoscopy report and approached Dr. Gregory White's office, I overheard Giselle Shaw and Vincent inside. "It's just indigestion. You don't have to come to the hospital. Vince, you worry too much," Giselle said lightly. Vincent said, "If this turns into a serious stomach problem, it'll be too late. The pain can be unbearable, and I won't let you suffer. I know how much you hate being in pain, Giselle." When he heard footsteps, Vincent turned, and his frown deepened when he saw me. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the office and write your apology?" I ignored him and handed my report to Dr. White. Dr. White's expression darkened as he read it. "Your stomach is in serious condition. If this ulcer is left unchecked, it can cause bleeding and even progress to cancer. How many times have I warned you to stop drinking? You're so young. Why risk your health like this? Do you want to end up with cancer?" I gave a small nod. "I understand now, Dr. White. My health is the most important thing. I'll quit drinking from today onward." Hearing that, Vincent's face instantly turned ashen. Chapter 2 He scowled and snapped, "Rebecca, you're quitting drinking? What about the company dinners? Who's going to entertain the investors? Can't your stomach wait two more years for treatment? Do you even realize how important the investment conference in two days is for the company? How can you let a minor health issue interfere with work? This is completely selfish." I met Dr. White's surprised gaze and snorted silently in my mind. Giselle's slight indigestion made him panic, yet my stomach ulcer—even cancer—was apparently just a minor inconvenience in his eyes. I said, "What, the company can't run without me? Isn't Giselle here? You're always praising her work—let her handle the executives. I'm leaving, Vincent. Once I've handed over my responsibilities, I won't have anything to do with the company anymore." Vincent's frown deepened. "You're not exactly young, Rebecca. Giselle is still inexperienced—how could I let her handle those dinners? Stop joking. At your age, do you really think any company would hire you once you leave?" "Not exactly young," I repeated the words in my mind. I was 35, and for eight years, I had worked for Vincent, witnessing him create an empire from nothing. In any other company, I would have been recognized as a founding member, treated with the respect and benefits that title deserved. With Vincent, I had only the title, none of the perks. I ran the company's day-to-day operations yet earned a mere ten thousand dollars a month. Even a new intern could now easily walk over me. For eight long years, my love for Vincent had made me turn down every opportunity elsewhere. It was my endless compromises that convinced Vincent he couldn't do without me. As I met his expectant, demanding gaze, my resolve solidified. I had endured enough of this life. After leaving the hospital and returning to the office, I immediately drafted my resignation. On the way back, Leona Clarke had told me that my independent office was ready, and I could start anytime. Just as I was about to submit my resignation to HR and settle my final paycheck, Giselle suddenly called a company-wide meeting. "First, I want to thank Rebecca," she began. "Everyone should have received the 50-thousand-dollar bonus in the group chat yesterday, right?" Just as I was reeling, unsure what Giselle was up to, she went on, "Here's another piece of good news. Rebecca is leaving. After discussing with Vince, we've decided that Rebecca's unpaid salary will be distributed to everyone as a bonus." Anger shot through me. I snapped to my feet. "Are you out of your mind, Giselle? What gives you the right to turn my salary into a bonus for others?" Giselle shrank back at my words, and her eyes brimmed with tears. "Rebecca, I assumed that after so many years as an executive, you'd feel a connection to everyone here. I only wanted to make your farewell a happy moment for the team, so I arranged one final bonus. I never imagined you'd refuse. Don't you see us as family?" When the other employees heard that, they all looked at me with disapproval. Chapter 3 "Rebecca, Giselle was only trying to do what's best for everyone. Why are you being so harsh with her?" "Yeah, Rebecca, we've all worked under you for so many years. Now that you're leaving, isn't it normal to give us a little benefit?" I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to respond, Vincent arrived, shielding Giselle, whose eyes were red from crying. "Rebecca, you're picking on Giselle again! She only cares about the company, and you have to go out of your way to upset her. How can you be so vile? If it happens one more time, you're out of this company for good. Don't imagine your executive position gives you immunity. Gallagher Group won't tolerate someone this rotten, at any level." Vincent's unquestioning defense of Giselle pushed me over the edge. I threw my resignation report at him. "Fool! I'm done listening to you. I quit!" With Vincent's furious glare behind me, I walked out without a word. After leaving the company, I headed straight to Clarke Group, Leona's company, to finalize my employment. Leona valued my skills and immediately offered me a base salary of 100 thousand dollars with no cap, plus she arranged for the company's legal team to help me recover the wages Giselle had withheld. While I was communicating with project investors, I received a message from Giselle. "Rebecca, I was wrong earlier. I shouldn't have taken the liberty to turn your salary into a bonus. Mr. Gallagher and I will come to settle your remaining wages and apologize in person." Since Giselle had agreed to return my salary, involving Clarke Group's legal team was unnecessary. I breathed a sigh of relief and sent her my location. When I got into Vincent's Rolls-Royce, Giselle was lounging casually in the passenger seat, sticking cartoon stickers onto the interior. "Rebecca, wait a second. I'm decorating the car for Mr. Gallagher—he gave me the important job of making it look cute!" I recalled how I once tried to add a cartoon sticker to Vincent's car and was immediately rebuked. "I don't like childish things. Don't ever put something like that in my car." It wasn't childish things he disliked—it was me. I closed my eyes and leaned against the seat, ignoring Giselle's playful antics with Vincent in the passenger seat. Soon, the Rolls-Royce came to a stop. I opened my eyes, only to find that we weren't at the Gallagher Group headquarters but in front of a hotel. A sense of dread immediately rose in my chest. I refused to get out. "I thought we were just settling my salary. Why are we here?" Vincent grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of the car. "Rebecca, Mr. Plimpton specifically requested you to entertain him. If you handle him properly tonight, I can overlook your past mistakes and let you return to Gallagher Group as an executive." Vincent's words sent a chill straight through me. Justin Plimpton was a name I knew all too well. At every dinner, he had tried to grope me, and each time I asked Vincent for help, he dismissed me with impatience. "You're 35 and hardly special. Why would a prominent investor like Mr. Plimpton even notice you? You're imagining things." I struggled violently and slapped Vincent across the face. "Are you insane, Vincent? I've already joined another company! I don't care about going back as an executive. I'm not entertaining Mr. Plimpton. Let go of me!" Vincent's jaw clenched, and his eyes turned cold. "Stop this, Rebecca. You're 35. No other company will hire you. Just do as I say, entertain Mr. Plimpton properly, and I'll give you a raise when you return." I kept struggling, hurling curses as I went. Vincent lost all patience, grabbed my hair, and dragged me into the private room. Chapter 4 Justin had been waiting in the private room for a long time. When Vincent dragged me inside, he immediately came forward, scanning me from head to toe lecherously. Vincent grabbed a bottle of strong liquor from the table and poured it straight into my mouth. "I've brought Rebecca. How much you want to drink tonight is entirely up to you, Mr. Plimpton." The sharp liquor burned as it slid down my throat, twisting my stomach into knots. I couldn't stop gagging, but Vincent showed no hint of mercy. Justin's lecherous gaze lingered over Giselle and me. Suddenly, he slammed a bank card onto the table. "I can invest 100 million dollars in your company, but one of the two women you brought tonight has to stay with me for the night." In a flurry, Vincent pushed Giselle behind him and shoved me forward. My head buzzed as I struggled to break free from Vincent's grip. "Giselle's too young! Don't even think about her. As for Rebecca, do whatever you want with her. She's old enough anyway." Tears streamed down my face as I cried out, "Vincent, you monster! I've stood by you for eight years!" A flicker of guilt passed through him before he turned away, refusing to face me. "Rebecca, for the company's sake, help me one final time. You've always loved me above all else, haven't you?" he asked. Before I could react, Vincent ignored my struggles and dragged me up to the suite. The door slammed shut behind me. As Vincent took Giselle away, despair overwhelmed me, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Justin loomed over me with a twisted, savage grin, and the foul, suffocating stench of him pressed in. Just as I was about to give in to hopelessness, the door burst open. "Rebecca! Are you alright?" Justin was flung aside, hitting the floor with a terrified grunt. Relief surged through me, and my body finally surrendered. I passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Leona's face was etched with concern as she said, "I heard you went to Gallagher Group to collect your paycheck. I knew things hadn't gone smoothly when you left Gallagher Group, so I was on my guard, but I never imagined Vincent could do something so monstrous!" Leona's indignation filled me with warmth, yet the anger inside me burned uncontrollably. Gallagher Group's influence was overwhelming. Even if I went to the police, it would be useless. Vincent would suppress everything. The only way I could take revenge was at tomorrow's investment conference. I had to crush Gallagher Group there. Noticing the shift in my expression, Leona gently patted my shoulder. "Don't worry. I've already arranged everything for tomorrow. Gallagher Group won't walk away with a single deal. Once it's over, Vincent will be forced to dump his shares." Chapter 5 The next morning, Vincent arrived at the investment conference with Giselle in tow. Giselle wore a smug expression, clearly convinced that Gallagher Group would secure every investment and project without fail. Vincent's mood soured the instant he noticed me sitting beside Leona. "Rebecca, why are you sitting with Leona? Stop embarrassing Gallagher Group and come sit next to me." Since I refused to budge, Vincent's expression darkened. "Are you sulking again? I kept my promise. After we lock in today's investments and projects, I'll reinstate you as an executive and raise your salary to 15 thousand dollars a month. What more could you possibly want?" I laughed despite myself. 15 thousand dollars a month? Did he really believe he was being generous? "I don't need it, Vincent. Today, you won't secure a single investment or project," I said calmly. Vincent's face fell as I kept pushing back. "Fine. Don't say I didn't give you an opportunity. I had thought of reinstating you for your work yesterday, but I see you don't know how to appreciate it. Don't think a new company makes you untouchable. Gallagher Group will claim every investment and project today, and Clarke Group will be left scrambling to sell off their shares!" Giselle wrapped her arm around Vincent and laughed. "It seems you don't know anything about people. Every one of these investors has worked with Gallagher Group before. Do you think any of them would abandon a proven company for an unknown startup? If you get rejected, don't blame Mr. Gallagher or me when you end up on the streets." I sneered. I knew every investor and project owner in the room, and I knew why they had chosen Gallagher Group before—they valued my proposals. Without me, Vincent and his complete lack of social skills would have ruined the company long ago. I leaned back in my chair, silently waiting for the conference to begin. Realizing they had made fools of themselves, Vincent and Giselle snorted in frustration and reluctantly took their seats. The investment conference began without delay. Investors and project owners eagerly scouted for the companies they wanted to work with. They paused at our table one after another, while Vincent and Giselle were completely snubbed. Panic spread across Vincent's face as he seized a former partner. "Trevor! Have you lost your mind? How could you pick some unknown company over us? Gallagher Group is the top in this industry! Didn't you remember working with us? You can't possibly be blind to our strength!" Trevor Shepard's face darkened at Vincent's aggressive tug. He frowned, dropping all pretenses. "Gallagher Group? Vincent, I gave you credit before because Rebecca's proposal was smart, thorough, and valuable. But your proposal today? It's worse than garbage!" The proposal slipped from his hands and tumbled to the floor. Bright pink cartoon stickers clashed sharply with the conference's serious atmosphere. What should have been a professional, black-and-white document was instead filled with colorful, decorative fonts and a single childish message. "Please invest in Gallagher Group for the sake of this cute cartoon!" Vincent looked at Giselle with disbelief written all over his face. Chapter 6 Vincent snapped, "Giselle, was this your doing? Didn't I make it clear how critical today's conference was? This determines whether Gallagher Group survives or collapses! You swore you had everything under control and that the investments were guaranteed. Tell me, what the hell is this proposal?" Giselle stepped back, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to explain herself. "Mr. Gallagher, I really cared about this conference. That's why I used the stickers I normally put on your car to decorate the proposal. Didn't you say my cartoon stickers were cute and that everyone would like them? If the investors and project owners won't invest in us, it must be Rebecca's fault. After Gallagher Group fired her, she's probably been talking badly about us." Vincent looked at Giselle's pitiful expression, and the scolding he had prepared never left his mouth. He turned toward me and snapped, "Rebecca, was this your doing? Did you go around telling the investors and project owners lies about Gallagher Group and cost me every investment?" I looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "Vincent, are you serious? Do you really believe that? The only reason you didn't get a single investment is that Giselle's proposal was a mess. You still have the nerve to blame me?" Vincent's anger flared. "I've always been responsible for the company's proposals. Giselle just took over, so it's normal that she's inexperienced. If you hadn't thrown a tantrum and run off, leaving her to handle it at the last minute, how could she have messed it up like that?" I couldn't help but laugh. Ignoring Vincent's nonsense, I turned to the others. "If no one here intends to cooperate with Vincent and Gallagher Group, then let's ask him to leave. This conference isn't for people who are just here to stir up trouble." The investors and project leads, who had long lost patience with Vincent's company, immediately jumped in with scorn. "Have some shame. You were the one who let Giselle take over the proposal, and now you're blaming Rebecca?" "I've never had any respect for you. You strut around like a nouveau riche, never bother to show up, and leave Rebecca to handle everything. Without her, your company wouldn't even be worth looking at." "Rebecca's already joined Ms. Clarke's company. Vincent, you might as well call it quits and start dumping your shares. You're only making a fool of yourself." As the investors fired barb after barb, Vincent's face darkened with fury. He glared at me fiercely. "Rebecca, remember—you're my girlfriend! How could you join another company and embarrass mine? Was this your way of getting back at me because you're jealous of Giselle? "I'm giving you one last chance. Apologize right now, come back, and bring every investment and project to Gallagher Group. Crush Leona's company, and I'll forgive you. If not, don't think we can stay together!" I laughed, and Leona rolled her eyes at him. "Rebecca broke up with you a long time ago. You think you're special, but you're worthless. Your ability is nothing, and so is everything else!" Leona was right. When I worked alongside Vincent building the company, he knew nothing. I had done all the work to bring it to this scale. Even if the company eventually ended up in his name, without me, he was nothing.