As the holidays approached, our company held its annual awards banquet. Everyone else received a hefty year-end bonus, but me? The top sales rep? I just got a piece of paper. To be exact, it was a contract transferring the title of "Corporate CEO & Legal Figurehead" to my name. My boss, Richard Vance, patted my shoulder, his face plastered with a hypocritical smile. "Ethan, I've always seen immense potential in you!" "Keep up the hard work in the new year, and I guarantee you'll take home more money than anyone else by the end of it." "Come on, sign this document. From today on, you are the official face of the company. You'll even get a cut of the equity dividends at the end of the year. No other employee gets this kind of VIP treatment!" I stared at him coldly, forcibly suppressing the urge to introduce the sole of my shoe to his doughy face. If I hadn't secretly overheard his conversation earlier, I might have actually fallen for his bullshit! The company's financial black hole was getting bigger by the day. Handing me the CEO title right now? He was clearly setting me up to be his scapegoat. Since you want to play dirty, Richard, don't blame me for playing dirtier. 1 In the executive office, Richard leaned back in his plush leather chair, a cigar clamped between his teeth, smiling amiably at me. "Ethan, your contributions to the company this year have been massive. It's obvious to everyone." "So, the board has decided to give you the ultimate reward." "Once you become the legal CEO, you'll be part of the executive inner circle. From now on, any major company decisions will have to go through you first..." Richard talked a big game, trying to dazzle me with a pie-in-the-sky pitch. I really, really wanted to expose him right to his face and slap my resignation letter across his desk. Just yesterday, I returned to the office after meeting a client. I was planning to go straight to Richard's office to give him a progress report, but my stomach acted up, so I hit the restroom first. While in a stall, I overheard Richard talking on his phone near the sinks. He spoke with dripping contempt: "Ethan is just a dog I keep on a leash!" "I tell him to jump, he asks how high. As long as I throw him a bone and stroke his ego, he'll work himself to death for me like a rented mule." "He's no 'top sales rep.' He just knows a few buzzwords and has a slick tongue. He flirts with the clients, and they hand him the contracts. Even without him, I could send a monkey in a suit to close those deals." "Ethan doesn't even have a college degree. His education is a joke. If he wasn't so easy to manipulate, and if he didn't constantly refuse to ask for a raise, I'd never hire trash like him!" "Our financial loopholes are about to blow up in our faces. At the next board meeting, those investors are definitely going to demand an audit. It's going to be a disaster." "So, I'm going to transfer the legal CEO title to Ethan. Before I do that, I'll have him hand all his active client accounts over to you..." Hearing those words, I was so furious smoke practically blew out of my ears. I almost lost it and beat him to a pulp right there in the bathroom. But ultimately, reason prevailed. Even if I beat the crap out of him, what would it accomplish? If I laid a finger on him, Richard would call the cops, press charges, and extort me for a massive settlement. It wasn't worth it. Richard coughed lightly, pulling me from my thoughts, and smiled his fake smile. "Ethan, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and sign!" "Once you sign and the paperwork is filed, I'm hosting a dinner at The Capital Grille tonight. The whole executive team is getting together..." Before he could finish, I said flatly, "Mr. Vance, I am incredibly grateful for your high regard." "However, my education is limited, and my contributions are negligible. I've been with the company for less than three years. I absolutely cannot shoulder the immense responsibility of being the CEO. You should find someone more qualified." Hearing my refusal, Richard's face darkened slightly. At that moment, his executive assistant, Chloe Miller, spoke up. She gave me a saccharine, fake look. "Ethan, Mr. Vance is showing you incredible appreciation. Don't throw away a golden opportunity like this!" "You don't even have a college degree. In any other corporate firm, they wouldn't even look at your resume." "Mr. Vance not only hired you but mentored you. And now he's elevating you to the executive suite! Do you have absolutely no gratitude for everything he's done for you?" "Mr. Vance believes in you. If you refuse, aren't you just slapping him in the face?" "Ethan, opportunities like this don't come around every day. If you miss this, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." I sneered internally, but kept my face completely neutral. "I know I can't handle the burden of being the legal representative. With my low education and lack of seniority, I'm perfectly happy just being a regular employee." "You, on the other hand, Chloe, have an excellent degree. Plus, you're Mr. Vance's sister-in-law. You are the perfect candidate for the CEO position." "Keep the wealth in the family. Let's leave the CEO title for Miss Miller!" Hearing this, Chloe glared at me viciously and snapped, "Ethan, don't be an ungrateful prick!" "You..." Before she could finish, I cut her off, feigning complete innocence. "Chloe, why are you getting so defensive?" "Recommending you for the CEO role is a huge compliment!" "Could it be that you don't want to be a top executive?" "Or is there something... wrong... with the CEO position?" Chloe was furious. Just as she opened her mouth to yell, Richard slammed his hand on the desk, his face cold. "Enough! Both of you, quiet down!" "Ethan, do you really not want the CEO position?" "If you take it, I can promise you a 5% equity stake in the company..." I shook my head decisively. "I think being a regular employee is great. I'm a man with low ambitions. I just don't have that kind of drive." Richard's gaze turned dark and venomous. He was clearly pissed. However, he didn't blow up immediately. He said coldly, "We'll discuss the CEO position later. Starting today, Ethan, I need you to hand over all your active client accounts to Chloe." "And any projects you haven't closed yet? Transfer those to her as well." "Alright, you're dismissed. Get out." Just as I stepped out of the office, I heard a loud crash from inside. Sounded like Richard had smashed his favorite custom coffee mug against the wall. A cold smirk curled on my lips. You're mad already? The real show hasn't even started yet! 2 I had zero complaints about handing over my clients and pending projects to Chloe. But when the rest of the office found out, the way they looked at me instantly changed. They instinctively distanced themselves, whispering among themselves with thinly veiled schadenfreude. "Is Ethan an idiot? Can't he see the boss is completely phasing him out?" "I always hated that guy. He didn't even graduate college, why the hell does he get to sit at the same level as us Ivy League grads?" "The most annoying part is that his sales numbers are higher than ours. All he does is kiss ass and drink with clients, right?" "Good riddance. A parasite like him should have been fired ages ago." "At the awards banquet, everyone got a fat bonus except him, and he didn't even complain. What a pathetic, brainless corporate slave!" I wasn't exactly popular in the office. It wasn't because I was arrogant or aloof. When I first joined, I genuinely tried to build good relationships with my coworkers. But they all looked down on me. The main reason? My lack of a fancy degree. Back then, Richard saw that I was a smooth talker and had helped him close a massive deal, so he reluctantly brought me on board. At the time, I was incredibly grateful. I worked like a madman. Even though I had the lowest base salary, my workload was the heaviest in the entire company. No matter how others viewed me, I put my head down and crushed my quotas, just to repay Richard for giving me a chance. My first year, I brought in $10 million in contracts, accounting for 30% of the company's total revenue. My second year, I closed $25 million, making up 50% of the revenue. By my third year, 80% of the company's total sales volume was signed by me. And my salary? It remained frozen at the exact same entry-level rate I started with. Even the fresh college grads they hired last year had a higher base salary than I did. Originally, I planned to ask Richard for a raise after the awards banquet. Now? There was absolutely no need. The debt of gratitude I owed him had been paid off tenfold a long time ago. But Richard wanted to squeeze the very last drop of value out of me, and then kick me into the abyss to take the fall for his crimes. That wasn't just bad business; it was pure evil. Over the next few days, I clocked in and out normally, completely ignoring the bizarre, mocking stares from my coworkers. Until the day before the winter holidays. The moment I walked into the office, the atmosphere felt different. My coworkers looked at me like I was a clown, their eyes brimming with malicious joy. I had just sat down at my desk when Richard walked out of his office. He was holding a thick stack of red bonus envelopes, handing them out one by one. The staff was grinning ear to ear. Richard cleared his throat and smiled warmly. "Everyone worked hard this year. I hope we can keep up the momentum next year and hit new revenue records." "Today is the last workday before the holidays. You can all clock out early this afternoon. Remember to be back in the office on the 8th. I'll have kickoff bonuses waiting for you." The office erupted in cheers, aggressively showering Richard with flattery. Richard glanced at me, a fake, plastic smile on his face. "Ethan, there's no bonus for you. Don't take it personally." "Given your sub-par performance during your last few contract negotiations, the clients had some complaints. It negatively impacted the company's reputation. Honestly, you should be thankful I'm not docking your pay." "This holiday, don't bother going back to your hometown. Stay here and man the office." "And don't even think about holiday overtime pay. Consider it your unpaid contribution to the company to make up for the reputational damage you caused." After Richard finished, the mockery on my coworkers' faces grew even more intense. I had already handed all my clients and projects over to Chloe, so Richard didn't even bother pretending to be nice anymore. His stance was crystal clear: as long as I refused to sign the CEO transfer paperwork, he was going to make my life a living hell. My response was simple. I pulled out the resignation letter I had already prepared and dropped it on my desk. "Find someone else to man the office. I quit." 3 My resignation went through flawlessly. Richard signed off on it right then and there. After I packed up my box and walked out the glass doors, Chloe stood in the executive office, looking confused. "Richard, didn't you say we had to force Ethan to take the CEO title?" "Why did you approve his resignation so easily?" "Do you have a new scapegoat lined up?" Richard smiled confidently. "Relax. Ethan isn't escaping my grasp." "He is the absolute perfect fall guy. Think about it: over the last few years, he signed the vast majority of our contracts. His name is all over our biggest projects." "As long as we force him to become the legal CEO, when the company's finances explode in six months, we can pin 100% of the blame on him." "I've already forged evidence showing him taking kickbacks and embezzling company funds. When the time comes, I'll leak it, and Ethan will become public enemy number one." "Your job right now is to keep his old clients happy. Squeeze as many advance payments out of them as possible." "That way, in six months when the company goes bankrupt and Ethan goes to federal prison, we can take the cash and disappear to a tropical island." Chloe sat on Richard's lap, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Richard, what about my sister?" Richard let out a disgusted snort. "When she goes bankrupt, you think I'm going to stay with that ugly old hag?" "Besides, she's not even your biological sister, and you've always hated her anyway. This is the perfect chance to get your revenge!" Chloe's smile grew wider. She wrapped her arms around Richard's neck. "If she hadn't suddenly been 'found' and brought back to the Sterling family, all the Sterling wealth would have been mine." "She grew up in the country. Her looks, her body, her education—she's inferior to me in every way. But just because I'm the adopted daughter, she inherited everything. It's not fair." "She funded this entire company. Once we tank it, she'll lose everything." Richard laughed arrogantly. "When the financials blow up in six months, right before we leave, I'll clean out our joint bank accounts and empty the house. She'll be just as broke and destitute as that loser Ethan!" Chloe kissed Richard hard, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's put that aside for now. How are you going to force Ethan to willingly become the scapegoat?" Richard smiled evilly. "Ethan's family is poor. His parents are old, but they're still working minimum wage jobs just to survive." "If his parents were to have a little... accident... and couldn't work anymore? And suddenly needed a massive amount of cash for medical bills? Do you think Ethan would come begging to me?" "When that happens, I'll have him completely by the balls!" Just as Richard and Chloe were getting handsy in the office, a frantic knocking echoed on the door. "What is it?!" Richard barked angrily. His trusted assistant's panicked voice came through the wood. "Boss, your wife is here! She's already in the lobby!" 4 Richard and Chloe scrambled to fix their clothes, both looking visibly panicked. Chloe stammered, "Richard, why is my sister here?!" "Didn't she leave all the company operations to you?!" Richard ran a stressed hand through his hair. "How the hell should I know what that old hag is plotting!" "Why didn't she call ahead?!" "Do you think she's here to audit the books?!" "Pull yourself together. Don't act suspicious." The moment they stepped out of the office, a sharply dressed woman in her mid-thirties strode into the bullpen. It was Richard's wife, Victoria Sterling. The employees all greeted her with immense caution and respect. The veterans knew exactly who held the real power. It wasn't Richard; it was the formidable Victoria, who could crush Richard with a single thought. Richard slapped on a look of sheer joy and rushed over. "Honey! What are you doing here? I thought you were out shopping and playing bridge with your friends!" Chloe also plastered on a bright smile, adopting a playful tone. "Victoria! Were you worried Richard was messing around behind your back? Don't worry, I'm keeping a close eye on him for you!" Victoria completely ignored Chloe. She looked at Richard and asked flatly, "Where is our top sales rep? The guy named Ethan. Is he here?" Hearing this, the employees exchanged bizarre looks. After all, I had just quit an hour ago. The owner's wife suddenly showing up specifically looking for me was incredibly strange. Chloe asked cautiously, "Victoria, why are you looking for Ethan?" Victoria glanced at Chloe, then turned back to Richard. "Ethan's parents were in a severe car accident. They're in the hospital." "He's our top performer. It's only right that we go show our support." "I was shopping nearby when I heard the news, so I came straight here. I was going to take Ethan to the hospital to see them." Chloe was just about to blurt out that I had quit, but Richard desperately shot her a warning glare. He quickly turned to Victoria, his face a mask of sycophantic concern. "Honey, I just heard the news too! I was just getting ready to head to the hospital!" "Ethan came in this morning throwing a massive tantrum, screaming about resigning. I have no idea what got into him. I tried to talk him out of it for an hour, but he wouldn't listen. I had no choice but to approve it." "He probably got the call and rushed straight to the hospital. Let's head over there right now. We can check on his parents, and while we're at it, we can try to convince him to come back to the company." Victoria gave Richard a long, unreadable look. She didn't say a word, and simply turned to leave. Richard and Chloe followed closely behind. Half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital room. When they saw the people standing outside the door, both Richard and Chloe froze. The people standing there were the primary investors and board members of the company! Richard looked at them in complete shock, instinctively asking, "What are you guys doing here?" The board members completely ignored Richard and Chloe, respectfully greeting Victoria instead. Victoria looked at Richard and said flatly, "I asked them to come!" "I'm going to announce something right in front of them!" Richard and Chloe's hearts plummeted into their stomachs. "Announce what?" A cold sneer crept onto Victoria's lips. "You'll find out in a minute." "Let's go inside and check on Ethan's parents first." Without waiting for their response, Victoria pushed open the door to the hospital room. When they saw what was inside, Richard and Chloe's faces contorted in absolute, paralyzing terror.
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