Chapter 2

After successfully closing the renewal deal with our long-standing major client, I had just bought them a coffee and was about to share the good news with Victoria when her message popped up first:

"Alex, are you trying to fly to the moon? Twenty bucks for one cup of coffee? Are the coffee beans made of gold or something?"

On the phone, Victoria's voice was exceptionally loud. Even without speakerphone, the entire coffee shop could hear her clearly.

I felt a burning flush creep up my neck. I forced an awkward smile at the client and rushed outside the shop to explain:

"Vicky, I'm treating a client. This client is crucial; they're our company's lifeblood…"

But Victoria scoffed, cutting me off.

"Look at you, all high and mighty now. I'm not in the office, so no one's watching you, and you finally found a chance to spend money, right?"

"Today, it's twenty bucks for coffee. Next, will it be two thousand for a client dinner? And then two hundred thousand for gifts to maintain the relationship? Look at Blake; he never needs all this for business deals. If you're not capable, stop making excuses. Go get that money refunded right now. I'm still on a business trip with Blake, I don't have time to waste on you."

I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Right. Blake, of course, didn't need any of those social graces.

Because he was Victoria's most trusted assistant.

Blake had only been with the company for less than three months but had already taken on numerous projects, basking in glory.

But no one knew that those were all deals my colleagues and I had already secured. Victoria had simply used the excuse that "the company should be like a warm family" to demand we cater to Blake, forcing us to unconditionally hand over our projects and clients to him.

As for me, Victoria only gave me a meager $200 allowance each month. I was practically starving, surviving on cheap, generic ramen noodles bought in bulk, barely enough for two meals a day. My bargain-bin shoes, bought for less than ten bucks online, would fall apart constantly, and I just kept gluing them back together with Super Glue, over and over again.

Because I couldn't even afford to treat clients to a meal, I'd been sneered at by clients more times than I could count, so I had no choice but to constantly refine my proposals, often pulling all-nighters, organizing data and documents until three or four in the morning.

But Victoria simply ignored all my efforts.

Or perhaps, she just didn't care.

Snapping back to reality, I took a deep breath and pleaded softly:

"Victoria, I finally secured this deal. Can we just… not do this? Just for my sake."

Victoria snorted coldly.

"I've only been away for a few days, and your wings have grown, haven't they? And 'respect'? What's your 'respect' even worth?"

"If everyone in the company handled deals as lavishly as you, how would we even stay in business?"

"Alright, I'll ask you one thing: are you going to get the refund or not?"

I glanced back at the client, who was growing visibly impatient, and clenched my teeth.

"Vicky, believe me, this time…"

But the next second, the call was abruptly cut.

I couldn't help but smile wryly.

Victoria was always like this.

Any slight inconvenience, and she'd immediately throw a tantrum and give me the silent treatment.

But at least I had survived this hurdle for now. If Victoria was just angry, there was still a chance to explain later. However, Aether Corp. was a top-tier leader in the industry.

If we pissed them off, not only would future collaborations be dead, but our standing in the entire industry would be jeopardized.

I put my phone away and returned to the coffee shop to discuss the follow-up cooperation with the client.

We hadn't spoken more than a few sentences when the barista approached with two large iced Americanos.

Just as I reached for them, the barista sneered and *dumped* both cups directly over my client's head and mine.

"Look at you two, so high and mighty, talking big about multi-million dollar deals, yet you can't even afford a twenty-dollar coffee and demand a refund?"

"Don't you just love scamming people? Well, today, it's on the house! Drink up!"

Suddenly, all the customers in the shop turned their heads, staring at us.

"No way, they can't even afford a twenty-dollar coffee? And they have the nerve to pretend to be business elites?"

"Isn't that the Aether Corp. logo? I thought they were a top-tier industry leader. Still scrounging for freebies when they come out to do business? Doesn't look so good."

Listening to the whispers around us, the client's face immediately darkened. He looked straight at me.

"Mr. Chen, I expect an explanation."

I quickly apologized, offering him a tissue, before turning to the barista.

"Sir, I already paid. Are you mistaken?"

The barista looked disgusted.

"Don't play dumb with me. I've seen plenty of your type."

"Dare you swear that the person threatening to leave bad reviews every day if I didn't refund wasn't you?"

With that, the barista shoved his phone screen in my face.

The text message showed the other person threatening the barista for a refund, or they would leave bad reviews daily.

And that number was Victoria's.

A wave of bitterness washed over me.

I had clearly told her I was on a business meeting. In her eyes, was my career and my reputation less important than twenty dollars?

After a long moment, I sighed softly, ready to pay to smooth things over.

But the next second, the payment page flashed a "password incorrect" message.

Before I could react, Victoria's triumphant message came through:

"Who said it couldn't be refunded? You should be thrilled to have such a thrifty, budget-savvy girlfriend like me."

"Oh, and I changed the password. Consider it a lesson for talking back. You can walk home today."

Seeing me hesitate to pay, the barista lost patience.

Just as he was about to lay hands on me, the client stepped in and paid ten times the amount.

I was about to thank him for his help, but the client looked down at the now-damp contract, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into the trash.

"Mr. Chen, I don't see the need for this cooperation anymore."

"The person on the phone just now, was that your company's Ms. Lin? We've cooperated for five years, yet in Ms. Lin's eyes, I'm not even worth a single cup of coffee. This isn't just an insult to me; it's a blatant disregard for Aether Corp. itself."

"I will report everything that happened today to headquarters."

I panicked, quickly grabbing his arm and bowing apologetically.

After all, Aether Corp. was our partner, accounting for 90% of the company's profits. It wasn't an exaggeration to say they supported the entire company.

"Ms. Davies, I apologize on Victoria's behalf. She might just be in a bad mood today…"

But before I could finish, the client shrugged off my hand and left without looking back.

I quickly pulled out my phone, ready to tell Victoria the news.

After all, Mr. Henderson of Aether Corp. was infamous for his massive ego and how much he valued respect in the industry.

Other suppliers had been blacklisted simply for not giving him the first toast at industry events—a sign of deep disrespect to him.

Not to mention, today, our company had caused his company's reputation to suffer.

I had to act fast, before the matter was reported to headquarters. There was still a chance to salvage things.

But I called Victoria ten times in a row, and no one picked up.

As I was about to send her a message, I saw Blake’s Ins feed.

It was a freshly recorded, cringey short video.

In the video, Blake sat on the hood of a luxury sports car, striking a 'deep' pose, with a special caption:

"That feeling when you share a video, and the next second, what's in it is right in front of you? Priceless."

In the bottom right corner of the video, Victoria had even spent twenty thousand dollars to buy him a local trending promotion.

The video's likes kept climbing, but my heart grew colder and colder.

All these years, no matter how incredibly stingy Victoria was with me, I always thought it was because she had been abandoned by her parents and grew up in poverty, which made her so afraid of being poor. I thought that’s why she developed such a personality.

So, no matter how cheap or demanding she was with me, I always just smiled it off.

But now, I finally realized.

It wasn't that she was reluctant to spend money. It was just that I wasn't worth it.

I gave a bitter, ironic laugh and casually liked Blake's video.

Everyone at the company knew that Blake and I didn't get along.

It was like throwing a rock into a still pond—ripples exploded everywhere. Soon, many colleagues were in the comment section, gobbling up the drama.

Victoria called then.

"Alex, can't you just make my life easier for once?"

"Blake's young, so his words can be a bit naive sometimes, but you shouldn't cause a scene on social media. What will other employees think of him if they see this?"

"Go hand over that deal to Blake, then clarify in the company group chat that I did it to celebrate his success. When I get back from my business trip, I'll promote you and give you a raise."

From the other end of the line, I could still hear Blake's fake, whiny sobs, intermingled with Victoria's words.

I couldn't help but laugh, a harsh, bitter sound.

Even at this point, Victoria's only concern was Blake.

Since she clearly didn't care about me at all, why should I break my back managing her company for her?

Snapping back to reality, I scoffed.

"Can't do it."

Victoria was stunned, about to erupt in anger and threats, but I didn't give her the chance. I hung up directly.

Just then, the client sent me a file.

It was a draft lawsuit from Aether Corp.

They said it had already been submitted for processing and would be approved in three days at most.

In the past, I probably would have called immediately, groveled and begged for forgiveness.

But now, I just smiled faintly and replied with a simple "okay."

Three days. Victoria should be back from her trip by then.

I wondered what expression she'd have on her face when she returned and realized she had completely ruined the company herself!