Chapter 2

Now I understood.

Even as sales director, I’d sat with everyone else. The difference was that I had an entire row to myself, with an open view of the team across from me.

Now he couldn’t wait to push me out. My new desk was opposite his, in the cubicle right beside the window.

Even with the air-conditioning running in summer, we weren’t allowed to close the blinds. The sun poured through the glass, glaring off the monitor and baking the desk.

Still, that was nothing. I quietly packed my belongings and picked up my computer to move. Derek stopped me.

“Not so fast. We need to check what’s on that computer. What if you’re taking client information with you?”

“Sure. Take a look.”

I turned it on and let him search to his heart’s content.

The chairman had personally recruited me. Back then, he’d told me one thing.

“Ethan, your word will carry real weight in this company.”

His health had declined in recent years, and he’d gone overseas to recuperate. What they were doing now struck me as ridiculous.

I knew exactly what Vanessa was thinking. Get rid of me once the hard work was done and cut the company’s costs.

Unfortunately for her, cutting costs wasn’t that simple.

Derek couldn’t find anything suspicious, so he finally waved me away.

Jason sent me a message. “Don’t worry, Ethan. We’re all on your side!”

I sent back a smiley face. What difference did their support make? I didn’t believe the executives on the twenty-third floor were unaware of what Vanessa was doing. They’d allowed it.

That meant the chairman, on the other side of the ocean, probably knew too. In that case, there was no point arguing with them.

I clocked out at the end of the day like everyone else. Whatever I’d done before, from now on I’d follow company procedure exactly. Surely they couldn’t object to that.

Normally, I’d meet clients for coffee and a chat after work.

Not anymore.

I drove straight home and stretched out on my long-neglected bed. Watching the sunset, I felt fantastic.

Usually, I’d be taking clients to dinner and making the rounds. Now I finally had time to do things for myself. I pulled out my phone, searched for theater tickets, and booked a seat.

My favorite stage actor had performed hundreds of times, and I hadn’t made it to a single show. Now I finally had the chance.

Then I was added to a new sales group chat.

Derek was the administrator.

“@Everyone: Starting today, all sales staff must submit a daily activity report. Who you met, what you discussed, and whether they’re interested—I want to see everything.”

“Everyone must identify five qualified prospects a month. Fail to meet the target, and your month-end performance score will be cut by twenty percent.”

Jason messaged me privately to complain.

“Look at him. Supposedly he studied overseas, but he’s dragging out every outdated management trick in the book!”

“Has he ever even worked in sales? Does he think qualified prospects grow on trees? Five a month! The contracts this company closes each month mostly come from existing clients!”

“The economy’s terrible. It’s not that easy. Big accounts are beyond most of us, and there are only so many small businesses in this city. He’s not giving us a chance!”

Reading his complaints, I only offered a little reassurance. “Take it one step at a time. Just do what management asks.”

“You’re really going to let him walk all over you, Ethan? I couldn’t do it. If it were me, I’d have quit already! I can’t stand this crap!”

Jason always spoke his mind. I smiled at his messages and didn’t reply.

I wasn’t in a hurry.

They’d find out soon enough.