02
“Mr. Bower, Cecilia has contributed immensely to the company. She’s been doing the work of a Vice President for years despite her title as Director. Now that the company is going public, Isn’t parachuting someone into the VP position a bit much?”
“Exactly! Without Cecilla, there would be no Denol Tech as it stands today. If you don’t appoint her as VP, I’ll be the first to object!”
Several of my colleagues, who had fought alongside me for years, couldn’t hold back their indignation and spoke up in my defense.
Leonard’s face darkened instantly. He scanned the room, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Am I the boss, or are you? Do my decisions now require your approval?*
Leonard’s gaze then softened as he turned to me.
“I know you’re upset,” he began, his tone gentle and almost patronizing. “But Rachel has a doctorate in economics, experience abroad, and expertise in managing public companies. She’s objectively better suited for this role. I made this decision for the good of the company. After ten years, I would have expected you to understand…”
I couldn’t help but interrupt him, my voice cutting through his polished excuses. “Enough with the pretense. Isn’t this just because she’s your first love?”
Leonard had been my senior in college. He was charming, wealthy, and the object of nearly every girl’s affection.
Rumor had it that he’d once been passionately in love with his childhood sweetheart, Rachel. After high school, she’d left for studies abroad, and their relationship ended abruptly.
Years ago, when I had once helped a drunk Leonard home, he had mumbled her name repeatedly. So the moment I heard it today, everything clicked.
Leonard’s expression hardened at my blunt accusation, the brief flicker of guilt replaced by
disdain.
“Yes,” he said, his tone unapologetic. “She’s my first love. And what of it? Did I say anything untrue?
To be frank, the company is going public soon. Based on your qualifications and capabilities, you’re not fit for the Vice President role. And for the record, the VP position has been vacant all these years because I was saving it for her!”
His words hit me like a physical blow. My vision blurred, and I stumbled, barely keeping myself upright.
In that moment, the last shred of hope I’d held onto crumbled.
Leonard had once told me that he didn’t promote me to Vice President because he wanted me to maintain a close connection with the staff, fostering team unity.
I had believed him, naïve and trusting.
Now, hearing the truth, I realized what a fool I’d been. Ten years of dedication, sacrifices, and love, yet none of it had ever mattered. To him, I was always replaceable.
A storm of emotions consumed manger sadness betrayal and an overwhelming sense o
12:07 Mon, 16 Dec M.
humiliation.
*.37%
If appointing his first love as VP without consulting me was a slap to my contributions, leaving the position vacant for a decade just for her was a desecration of the love I had poured
into him all these years.
The meeting ended with me storming out, slamming the door behind me.
Back in my office, I sat at my desk, trying to make sense of it all. For ten years, I had given everything to Leonard and this company. I had even passed up countless opportunities. He had known how deeply I cared for him, and he had gladly basked in my love.
But now, why was he doing this? Did my decade of devotion truly mean so little compared to woman who had reappeared out of nowhere?
“Cecilia, everyone in the company knows you love Leonard,” Maddie said as she barged into my office, her voice filled with anger.
“Everyone expected you two to end up together. But now, he brings in his first love and takes your VP position? This is outrageous!
Why don’t you quit? Take the team with you and stow
you!”
your your own
own company. We’ll all follow
She had been my trainee years ago and had worked closely with me for seven years.
Now, she was the most vocal in protesting this betrayal, even going so far as to lead her entire team in a strike to show solidarity with me.
