I was on the verge of begging.
“Stephanie, I know you have your plans. Maybe you can’t wait… but could you at least give me a few more days?”
“No.” Stephanie cut me off sharply, her tone firm and cold.
She noticed how flushed and miserable I looked. Only then did her expression soften slightly as she stepped forward, trying to coax me.
“Liam, don’t be unreasonable. You’ve been working so hard that you barely even look at me anymore. We’re getting married next month. You should take a few days to rest…”
“Dean is my friend’s younger brother. She asked me to help him and I can’t just turn her down, can I?”
It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart.
I was in so much pain. I could hardly breathe.
Was it really about doing a favor for a friend?
Or was it because he pleased you so well in the hotel last night?
I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head, stepping away from her touch.
“If there’s no room for discussion, President Myers, then I suppose it’s fine if I resign.”
Her expression changed instantly. “Are you kidding?”
“No. I’m serious.”
I pulled a resignation letter from my bag and tossed it onto her desk.
“Approve this. Also, remember the 20% equity I hold in the company—it should be included in my final payout.”
Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked out of her office, ignoring her voice calling after me.
I took out my phone and texted my brother Timothee, asking him to pick me up.
While I waited, Dean strolled by with a cup of water and seized the opportunity to provoke me again.
“Liam Jones, what are you so proud of? Everyone knows you only held that director’s seat because you were Stephanie’s fiancé.”
“Let’s be real, old-fashioned, uptight guys like you aren’t attractive to women anymore. Stephanie prefers someone like me.”
He lifted his chin smugly, looking pleased with himself.
I nearly gagged.
“Well then, good luck using your body to climb to the top. Just make sure you don’t lose your soul on the way up.”
I looked down and focused on my phone, editing and submitting my resume.
But then came a wave of chatter from the coworkers around me.
“Come on, everyone knows Liam Jones is Myers’s fiancé. She used to treat him like a god, what’s he pretending for now?”
“Exactly! Vice President of a branch office is already a great position. If it were me, I’d be thrilled.”
“He’s just too much. No wonder they’re not married yet and look at Director Henry, he’s got that sultry face. Even I’d drool over him. No wonder she chose him!”
“Bet you anything, Liam is just throwing a tantrum. He’ll still end up going to the branch. Even if he knows Myers is having an affair, can he really give up that wealthy, cushy life?”
I smiled bitterly.
Before I could say anything, someone suddenly barked back on my behalf.
“What the hell do you people know?”
Timothee had arrived five minutes early—and had clearly overheard the entire conversation.
He didn’t hold back.
“If connections were all that mattered, then why the hell did my brother work his ass off for years and still only make it to Director? He’d be Chairman by now!”
“That damn Stephanie thinks giving her boyfriend a title is favoritism? What a joke.”
“She’s nothing but a shameless, conniving woman playing boss. If you all love it here so much, stay. We’re out of this dump!”
Timothee was like a firecracker, firing back at each one of them without hesitation.
When he finished, he grabbed my hand and led me out with a flourish.
My heart warmed.
Watching him stand up for me like that, I couldn’t stop my eyes from turning red.
