"Mr. Larson, Priscilla has done so much for the company," one of my colleague said. "Even though her title is head of marketing, she's been doing the work of a vice CEO. Now that we're about to go public, you're bringing in another vice CEO. Isn't that a bit much?"
"Exactly," another chimed in. "Without Priscilla, there wouldn't be Larson Technologies. If she's not made vice CEO, I won't agree to it!"
Several colleagues, who had worked alongside me for years, couldn't stand it anymore and spoke out in my defense.
Corey's face instantly darkened. He scanned the room before speaking coldly, "I'm the boss here. Do I need your approval for every decision I make?"
After saying that, his eyes locked with mine, and his expression softened.
"I know you're upset, but Jayda studied abroad. She has a PhD in economics. She knows how to manage a public company, and she's much more qualified than you. I'm doing this for the company's future. You've been with me for ten years, so you should understand—"
Unable to listen to his hollow words any longer, I cut him off with a bitter laugh, "Stop with the excuses. Isn't it really because she's your first love?"
Corey was my senior in college. With his good looks and background, he was the dream guy for every girl on campus.
It was said that he had a childhood sweetheart, with whom he had a passionate relationship before she left for abroad after high school.
One night, after a drinking binge, I had to help Corey back to his place. He kept muttering Jayda's name at that time. So when I heard her name earlier, I already had an answer in mind.
Corey's face darkened as I called him out. His gaze turned scornful. "Yes, she's my first love. But was I wrong to say what I said?
"Forgive me for speaking frankly. The company is about to go public. You're not qualified for the vice CEO position, not with your abilities or education. The reason I've kept that position vacant all these years was to save it for her!"
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I almost staggered, barely keeping myself upright.
At that moment, the last shred of hope I had left shattered.
Corey had once explained to me that the reason he didn't appoint me as vice CEO was to prevent any distance between me and the staff and to keep morale high.
I had foolishly believed him.
Now, hearing the truth from his own lips, I realized that perhaps I had wasted ten years. Maybe I never held much value in his eyes at all.
In an instant, a whirlwind of emotions—anger, sadness, and resentment—filled my entire being.
If bringing in his first love to be vice CEO without consulting me was a slap in the face to all the hard work I'd put in for the company, then keeping that position vacant for ten years—just to save it for her—was a betrayal of everything I had ever felt for him.
The meeting ended with me storming out of the room.
Back in my office, I couldn't make sense of it. For the past ten years, I had given everything to Corey and the company. I had turned down countless opportunities. He knew how I felt about him, and he enjoyed the love I had for him.
So why was he suddenly doing this to me? Did my ten years of sacrifice and love really mean nothing compared to his first love who had just come back into his life?
"Priscilla, everyone at the company knows how much you love Corey, and we were all rooting for you two to end up together. But now, he brings his first love into the company and steals your position as vice CEO. This is too much. Why don't you resign and start your own business with us?"
Reyna Watkins pushed open the door to my office, looking upset. She was someone I had mentored since her trainee days. We'd worked together for seven years.
Seeing me backstabbed like this made her furious. As a sign of protest, she'd even led her entire team in a strike.
