06
*37%
I toro off my employee badge and tossed it onto the desk before storming out.
As for that chock Loonard had offered, I didn’t even glance at it. To me, those ten years were now moaningless.
“This is too muchi Scrow this! Cocilla, I’m leaving with you!”
“Cocilla, you brought me up from scratch. If you leave, what’s the point of me staying?”
Lod by Maddie, many of my loyal colleagues orupted in protest, each of them declaring their intent to quit alongsido mo. But in the end, I did all I could to calm them down.
The truth was, most of thom had families to support: mortgages, car loans, children in school. The current economy wasn’t forgiving, and I had no idea where I was h
headed next. How
could I take them with me and risk their livelihoods?
As I walked out of the Denol Tech building, I couldn’t help but glance back at the large sign atop the skyscraper. Tears welled in my eyes.
Over the past ten years, I had given so much for this company. I had once drunk so much to secure a deal that I ended up with a perforated stomach and alcohol poisoning.
I had risked my life, driving as fast as I could on the highway, nearly crashing, just to make it to a contract signing on time..
I pulled Denol Tech from the brink of collapse, pushed it toward success, and helped it near the finish line of going public.
I had always thought I’d spend my life fighting for the company and for Leonard, thinking I’d found my purpose.
I
But now, I was walking away, broken and defeated, with nothing left but the scars.
For the first time in years, I took a long break. No work, no responsibilities, just time for myself. For over half a year, I traveled, played, and let myself rest.
During that time, countless offers came pouring in from headhunters and competitors. It seemed I had become a hot commodity in the industry. But I turned them all down.
I wanted to let go of everything, to clear my mind before starting anew.
It was ironic, really. Over the last few years, as I helped Denol Tech conquer markets and rise
through the ranks, I turned down offers from major companies offering million–dollar salaries.
Why? Because I was focused on Leonard. On helping him take the company public, on standing beside him at the bell–ringing ceremony, on proposing to him in front of the world.
I worked long hours for pennies, living off a meager salary while pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion. And yet, I found joy in it all because I believed in us. In the end, I lost to his childhood sweetheart.
It was both ridiculous and tragic.
After my vacation, I accepted a position at Soaring Tech, Denol Tech’s fiercest competitor.
It wasn’t out of spite; it was simply impossible to refuse the offer.
A Vice President position, a million–dollar salary, 5% profit–sharing, and 10% stock options if the company went public. Who could turn down such a deal?
37%2
14:00 MON, 10 Dec
Surprisingly, my new workplace was better than I had expected. The team at Soaring Tech didn’t resent me as a “parachute hire.” On the contrary, they were collaborative and supportive, making my transition seamless.
One day, I heard through the grapevine that Denol Tech had failed in its bid to go public. The news came with reports of Leonard exploding in rage and having a massive argument with
achel.
I couldn’t help but smile at the irony but didn’t bother digging into the details. The past was e past, and it wasn’t worth dwelling on.
I thought that chapter of my life was closed, that I’d never cross paths with Leonard again. wever, at a project negotiation meeting, our paths crossed once more.
