03
Through the glass, I caught sight of Leonard, Clad in a tailored suit, he exuded his usual aura of aloof confidence. Beside him stood Rachel, her pearl–white dress a stark contrast to my darkening thoughts. They wore laughing, chatting like they shared the perfect world.
Ten years. I had fought for him for ton long years,
From a naive girl charging into love headfirst to a middle–aged woman steadfastly holding onto that love, I had sacrificed so much.
I turned down high–paying overseas offers, Ignored countless suitors, and poured my heart And soul into him. I had even missed my last chance to see my mother before she passed.
I always believed that after everything we’d endured together, he would understand my
devotion, and we would be together. But now…
“Don’t hesitate any longer,” Maddie said, breaking through my thoughts.
After a moment of silence, I replied quietly, “You started here as an intern. Are you really willing to leave?”
She froze, my question giving her pause.
From near bankruptcy to now, Leonard’s company was like a child we had raised together.
For Maddie, and even more so for me, leaving would be akin to severing a part of ourselves.
And yet, the part I couldn’t bear to leave most was Leonard, the man I had loved for ten
years, the man I had built up with my own hands.
To be honest, I wasn’t ready to give up. Not on him, not on us.
Most of the employees had been recruited and trained by me. They were furious at how the
company had treated me, and they showed their protest in subtle but impactful ways.
For instance, Rachel’s directives were met with deliberate inefficiency. Her requests for reports were either ignored or severely delayed.
When she tried to win them over by hosting a team dinner, not a single person showed up, all
armed with conveniently timed excuses.
Leonard, desperate to restore order, called multiple meetings, even losing his temper at one
point. But the silent rebellion persisted.
After two weeks of chaos, Leonard came to me.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I frowned, glancing at the check before meeting his eyes.
“For all these years of hard work, Cecilia, you deserve compensation. Without you, there
wouldn’t be a Denol Tech. But the company needs to move forward…”
I interrupted him, my voice void of emotion. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Annoyance flickered across his face, but he tamped it down, sighing. “Cecilia, because of you, Rach can’t do her job…”
“Cecilia? Rach?”
I cut him off again, this time with a bitter laugh. The sound was hollow, my chest tightening
with sadness.
12:07 Mon, 16 Dece M
Annoyance flickered across his face, but he tamped it down, sighing. “Cecilia, because of
you, Rach can’t do her job…”
“Cecilia? Rach?”
I cut him off again, this time with a bitter laugh. The sound was hollow, my chest tightening
with sadness.
For years, when we weren’t in the presence of colleagues, Leonard had always called me “Cissy,” a term of endearment. Now, he addressed me formally while reserving intimacy for
someone else.
Ten years of devotion, and I still couldn’t compete with the return of his first love. Something in my expression must have struck a nerve because Leonard’s tone turned cold. “Your presence is disrupting the company. I’ve decided it’s time for you to leave.
To compensate for your contributions, you can write a check for any amount under 100
million. It’s yours.”
Though I had anticipated this outcome, hearing it aloud still shook me. I stared at him in
disbelief.
“What did you just say?”
He mistook my shock for dissatisfaction with the offer and scowled.
“Cecilia, I admit your efforts were significant, but don’t be greedy. You were just a broke student when you joined. Ten years for 100 million is more than a fair deal.”
A fair deal?
Hearing those words from the man I had loved for a decade hurt more than I could have imagined. My chest felt tight like I couldn’t breathe. But even in my heartbreak, I couldn’t let it go.
gave up a lucrative overseas offer to join your failing company. I sacrificed my youth, endured hardships, and even risked my life for this. Do you really think I did all that for money?
Leonard leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold and dismissive. His lips curled into a mocking
smile.
“Isn’t it?” he asked, his tone cutting. “Women like you, with humble beginnings, see men like me as their chance to secure a brighter future. You gambled and won. A hundred million is more than enough for your investment. Take it and move on.”
How shameless of him!
Finally, I realized he had seen me as nothing more than a woman trying to climb her way out of obscurity. No wonder I never became the Vice President. To him, I never deserved that spot,
All my efforts over the past decade were in vain.
