05
“Hah… an employee!
“I’ve spent ten years doing everything for you, nearly losing my life! And in the end, I’m nothing more than an employee to you!”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Cecilia, you’re the biggest fool in the world. Stupid and naive!”
Leonard’s patience finally snapped. “Can you stop using your sacrifices as leverage? I know. you’ve done a lot for the company, but isn’t 100 million enough to repay you?”
“Enough?” I spat back, my voice trembling with fury.
Can a hundred million buy back the ten years of my youth?
Can it erase the pain of missing my mother’s final moments because I was working for you? That regret will haunt me for the rest of my life. Tell me, can money fix that?
Can it heal the permanent damage to my body? I can’t even carry a fruit basket without my hands trembling! Can money undo that?
For ten years, I’ve given everything to you, Leonard. My time, my health, and my love. And what have I lost because of it? You know better than anyone! Tell me, how could money possibly buy that?”
My voice rose, all the frustration and anger that had been bottled up finally spilling over in a torrent of raw emotion.
Leonard’s face turned pale. For a moment, he seemed genuinely shaken, his red–rimmed eyes darting away from mine. “… …”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Just then, Rachel barged into the room, her expression cold and unyielding. “Don’t push your luck,” she snapped. “Take the money and leave, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
She strode to Leonard’s side, wrapping her arm possessively around his. After whispering a few soothing words to him, she turned back to me, her tone dripping with disdain.
“Do you think you’re some kind of hero? You’re not. You’re just a pathetic, delusional lapdog. Always giving and hoping without an ounce of self–awareness!”
“Here are your choices, she continued. “Take the money and walk away with what little dignity you have left, or I’ll call security to drag you out, and you’ll leave with nothing.”
I trembled with rage, barely able to contain myself. I forced myself to turn to Leonard, my
voice quiet but firm. “You want the same?”
Leonard averted his eyes, his voice low. “Rachel isn’t just the company’s Vice President. She owns 30% of the shares. Her decisions are the company’s decisions.”
My eyes widened in shock.
Ten years ago, I had worked tirelessly to pull Denol Tech from the brink of bankruptcy. After three grueling years, we had finally cleared the debt and started turning a profit.
That night, Leonard and I celebrated with a bottle of 1982 Lafito.
Drunk on both wine and success, he handed me a document: an offer for 30% of the
3.37%
12-08 Mon, 16 Dec
Drunk on both wine and success, he handed me a document: an offer for 30% of the company’s shares. “You’ve earned this,” he said with a smile, planning to confess his feelings to me that very night.
I was overjoyed and overwhelmed. But after some thought, I declined the offer.
I wanted him to know that my love wasn’t about money or shares. I told him that night, with all the sincerity in my heart, that I loved him and would do anything for him. My dream was to take the company public and, at the bell–ringing ceremony, propose to him in front of the world.
I never imagined it would come as a cruel, ironic betrayal.
The shares I had refused in a moment of love were now in the hands of his childhood
weetheart. He held her close, protecting her like she was his world.
Perhaps, if I had signed that document, things would have been different. Maybe we would have built a life together and even had children by now.
But it was too late for “what ifs.”
I forced the wistful thoughts from my mind and nodded at Leonard.
“I see,” I said quietly.
There was no greater sorrow than a heart that had finally died. I was utterly disappointed, nd my love for him was extinguished, leaving nothing but ashes
B00 Mon, 16 Dec
