Chapter 5

Monday morning, my mood was surprisingly good.

My colleagues sensed the change and asked if I had good news.

I just smiled and didn't explain.

Ryan, on the other hand, looked preoccupied, stealing glances at me from time to time.

Brooke must have told him about the divorce.

At 10 AM, Ryan walked to my desk.

"Alex, can we step out and talk?"

"During work hours, if you have something to say, say it here."

I didn't look up.

"It's… not very convenient."

He glanced at the surrounding colleagues.

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

I continued typing.

"Alex!"

He grew agitated, his voice rising.

Everyone in the office looked over.

"What is it, Ryan?"

I looked up, feigning innocence.

"Is there a problem?"

He wanted to say something, but seeing so many eyes on him, he swallowed his words.

"No… nothing."

"Then go back to work."

I lowered my head again.

"Oh, and the project report I assigned you last week is due tomorrow."

"How's it coming along?"

Ryan's face instantly went white.

He'd been so wrapped up in Brooke's affairs these past few days that he hadn't focused on work at all.

Not a single word of the project report was prepared.

"I… I'm still organizing it…"

"Oh, well, better get on it."

I checked my watch.

"You have twenty-four hours. That should be enough time."

Ryan gritted his teeth and returned to his desk.

I knew he hated me, but he didn't dare act on it.

At the company, I was his direct superior.

Plus, he was guilty and didn't want to escalate the situation.

At lunch, Ryan followed me again.

"Alex, please, let's find somewhere to talk."

His voice was pleading.

I looked at him, then nodded.

"Fine. Conference room."

There were only two of us in the conference room.

Ryan closed the door and turned to face me.

"Alex, Brooke told me everything."

"Told you what?"

"About the divorce."

He took a deep breath.

"I know you hate me, but please don't make things difficult for Brooke."

"She's innocent. It's all my fault."

I almost burst out laughing.

Now he wanted to protect Brooke?

"Ryan, do you really think you're a knight in shining armor?"

"No, I'm not. I just don't want to see Brooke get hurt."

"Then why didn't you think about hurting her family when you cheated?"

I looked at him.

"Or did you just assume I didn't deserve consideration?"

He froze, opening his mouth to speak but failing.

"Let me tell you, what happens between me and Brooke has nothing to do with you."

I stood up.

"You should be more concerned about yourself right now."

"Myself?"

"Yes, yourself."

I looked at him, my eyes devoid of emotion.

"Ryan, do you think betraying me comes without a price?"

His expression changed.

"Alex, what are you going to do?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

I patted his shoulder.

"Oh, and don't forget tomorrow's report."

"Mess it up, and your quarterly performance bonus is gone."

With that, I pushed the door open, leaving Ryan alone in the conference room.

At 3 PM, I received a call from my lawyer.

"Mr. Greene, the asset protection measures are in place."

"All accounts under your wife's name have been frozen."

"Additionally, a mortgage has been registered on the property deed, preventing her from disposing of it privately."

These were measures to prevent Brooke from transferring assets.

Though aggressive, they were highly effective.

"She should have received the notification by now," the lawyer continued.

"I expect she'll contact you very soon."

Indeed, less than half an hour later, Brooke called.

"Alex Greene, what the hell are you trying to do?"

Her voice was furious.

"Why did you freeze my accounts? Why can't I withdraw any money?"

"Because half of that money is mine."

I said calmly.

"You have no right to dispose of marital assets before the divorce agreement is signed."

"You're insane! How am I supposed to live?"

"That's not my problem."

"Alex Greene! You're going too far!"

"I'm going too far?"

I sneered.

"Brooke, when you were using my money to book hotel rooms with another man, did you think that was 'too far'?"

"When you were planning to take half my assets and marry someone else, did you think that was 'too far'?"

The other end of the line went silent.

"I… I wasn't planning to marry anyone else…"

"No? Then what about that condo in [upscale neighborhood] you and Ryan were looking at?"

She was utterly speechless.

"Brooke, you still have two days left of the three-day deadline I gave you."

"Let me know your decision."

I hung up.

My phone immediately rang again. It was Ryan.

"Alex, listen to me…"

I hung up directly.

He called again, and I hung up again.

Finally, I turned off my phone.

The next morning, Ryan, as expected, hadn't prepared the project report.

"Ryan, where are the documents?"

I asked him in the conference room.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Greene, I… I was last night…"

"Last night what?"

"I… I wasn't feeling well…"

"So, being 'unwell' means you're exempt from your responsibilities?"

I looked at the other colleagues present.

"Colleagues, do you think feeling unwell is an excuse for not completing your work?"

Everyone shook their heads.

In this situation, no one would stand up for Ryan.

"Ryan, as a core member of this project team, you failed to complete the report on time."

"This will affect the entire project's progress."

"I am officially issuing you a warning."

"Any similar occurrences will result in further disciplinary action."

Ryan’s face flushed crimson, but he didn't dare argue.

Because I was speaking the truth.

He simply hadn't done his job.

After the meeting, Ryan followed me.

"Alex, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Doing what on purpose?"

"You're deliberately messing with me! Because of Brooke!"

I stopped and looked at him.

"Ryan, are you suffering from delusions of persecution?"

"What do you mean, I'm deliberately messing with you?"

"The report was assigned a week ago. This is normal work procedure."

"You failed to complete it, and I'm giving you a warning. This is normal management procedure."

"Where exactly is the problem?"

He tried to argue, but couldn't find a reason.

Because procedurally, I had done nothing wrong.

"Also, from now on, do not discuss personal matters in the office."

I continued.

"This is a workplace, not your private chat room."

"If it happens again, I'll consider reassigning your duties."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Ryan stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched at his sides.

But he didn't dare act on his anger.

Because he was guilty, and he knew it.

More importantly, he was now a fish on a chopping block, completely at my mercy.

In the afternoon, Brooke called me again.

"Alex, let's meet."

Her voice sounded utterly drained.

"I've thought it through. I agree to the divorce settlement."

"Good. Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the lawyer's office."

"No, Alex, I mean…"

"Mean what?"

"I agree to the divorce, but the asset division…"

"Fifty-fifty."

I cut her off.

"Brooke, you have no room for negotiation."

"Either accept, or we'll see each other in court."

"But…"

"No buts."

I hung up.

Ten minutes later, Ryan stormed to my office desk.

"Alex Greene, you can't do this to Brooke!"

The office instantly fell silent.

Everyone stared at us.

I slowly looked up at him.

"Ryan, I warned you not to discuss personal matters in the office."

"I don't care what's private or not private! You're just getting revenge!"

His voice was loud enough for the entire floor to hear.

"You're abusing your power to get back at me, and you're making Brooke leave with nothing!"

"What's the point of this?"

People in the office started whispering.

Though they didn't know the exact details, they all guessed the general situation.

I stood up, my voice calm:

"Ryan, you are shouting loudly in the workplace, disrupting your colleagues' work."

"You are suspended, effective immediately."

"What?"

"Pack your things immediately and leave the company."

"Await further notice from HR."

Ryan froze.

He hadn't expected me to suspend him outright.

"Alex Greene, you can't do this!"

"I can. Because I am your direct superior."

I looked at him.

"And your behavior just now constitutes serious misconduct."

"Security!"

I called out to the door.

Two security guards walked in.

"Please escort this gentleman out."

Ryan looked at me, his eyes filled with rage and resentment.

But in the end, he could only slunk out of the company, humiliated, under the gaze of everyone.

Watching him walk away, I felt no guilt whatsoever.

This was the price of betraying me.

And this was just the beginning.