“Could it be her phone just acting up?”
Before I could dwell on it further, a sudden burst of applause erupted from the audience.
The presentation had ended and at that moment, I realized the truth. Wendell, not only had he presented the new product features, but he had skillfully taken the reins, positioning himself as the developer and effortlessly erasing my role from the picture.
A bitter laugh echoed in my mind, but I chose to remain silent, not wanting to air the truth for everyone to see.
However, the senior employees around us weren’t as composed. Their faces betrayed their disapproval.
Wendell gave a courteous bow to the audience before striding toward us, his voice smooth as he addressed me, “President Laurier, thank you for this opportunity to present.”
Before I could form a reply, Leigh’s voice cut in, sweet and effortless, “Wendell, no need for all the formalities between us.”
She reached out, casually adjusting his slightly misaligned collar, her fingers moving with an ease that only came from years of familiarity. It was as if they had been a pair for far longer than I had ever realized.
Wendell smiled at me, his eyes brimming with nothing but disdain, a smug victory written all over his face.
I didn’t flinch. Instead, I offered him a calm smile, masking everything beneath it.
The presentation had been a massive success. As soon as the product launched, it rocketed to the top of the trending charts.
At the cocktail party that followed, Leigh and Wendell became the shining stars, the center of attention.
They moved through the crowd with an ease that came from years of familiarity, raising their glasses, laughing freely, like an inseparable couple.
Meanwhile, I stood quietly in a corner, a silent observer of the spectacle unfolding before me.
No one took notice of my presence and truthfully, I didn’t care to be noticed.
I finished my drink, the silence around me almost comforting and then quietly slipped away.
Back at the office, I was packing up the last of my things when my phone buzzed with a stream of photos.
The sender was Wendell.
Each photo was a punch to the gut, showing him and Leigh in intimate, explicit moments at a hotel.
In the past, I would’ve lost my composure, fury surging through my veins.
But now, all I felt was emptiness.
I didn’t even waste a moment questioning the photos’ authenticity.
Ten minutes later, I posted a statement on social media, announcing my permanent departure from Ellis Corporation.
The post sent shockwaves through the industry, quickly overshadowing even the buzz from the new product launch.
Everyone knew that I was the real driving force behind the product, its creator and its heart.
Wendell? He was just the face, a hollow figure without substance.
Without my expertise, the product’s future was as bleak as a storm cloud on the horizon.
Unsurprisingly, Ellis Corporation’s stock took a sharp dive; the once-steady rise was now plummeting.
The Ellis Family scrambled to salvage their reputation, panic etched across their faces. And Leigh?
She rushed away from the cocktail party, the anxiety in her eyes unmistakable as she sought me out.
When she stepped into my office and saw the emptiness of my desk, her gaze faltered for a moment before she steeled herself.
“Harris, why did you post that statement?” she demanded, her voice strained.
“Do you realize the damage this has caused the company?”
I met her gaze coolly, my voice calm but unwavering. “Assistant Gatlin made it clear during the presentation that he’s the developer and head of the new product.”
“And with him around, that should be more than enough.”
Leigh’s face flushed crimson with fury, her brows furrowing like storm clouds ready to burst. Just as she parted her lips to speak, a female employee burst through the door, panic painting her features.
“President Ellis, something’s gone terribly wrong! Assistant Gatlin is threatening to jump!”
“He says he’s failed you, failed the company…”
“And most of all, he’s let Harris down!”
Leigh’s complexion drained of color, her breath hitching in shock as she bolted from the room.
I didn’t spare her another thought, finishing my task with cold precision before gathering my things and leaving the office.
As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Wendell perched on the window ledge, his figure a tragic silhouette against the glass.
Leigh, tears streaking down her face, was pleading with him, her voice shaking with desperation. A crowd of employees had gathered, watching the scene unfold with morbid curiosity.
As I watched Wendell’s hands, white-knuckled and clutching the window frame, a sudden understanding hit me.
I was about to leave when Leigh rushed toward me, her fingers locking around my wrist with a grip that felt almost frantic.
“Harris, you’re here just in time!” she gasped, pulling me closer.
