Chapter 3

Victor sat beside me in the livestream studio, a smug smile on his face.

Comments raced across the phone screen.

“Get this crooked saleswoman out of the industry!”

“She’ll do anything to hit her numbers. Lock her up!”

“Good on the company for taking out the trash! Blacklist her!”

With every attack, something inside me grew colder.

Victor nudged me with his elbow and murmured so only I could hear.

“You’re up, Emily.”

“Make sure you sound sincere.”

I lifted my head, looked into the camera, and took a deep breath. My voice was hoarse but perfectly clear.

“Regarding this bribery allegation, I acknowledge that the woman in the video is me.”

The comments exploded.

“Holy shit, she admitted it! Shameless!”

“She confessed! What else is there to discuss? Blacklist her!”

“People like her disgrace the entire industry!”

Then I changed course, raising my voice.

“But!”

“I never bribed anyone! That envelope didn’t contain money. It held a birthday card my daughter drew by hand!”

“It was Daniel Brooks’s daughter’s birthday!”

For a moment, the livestream went silent.

Victor’s expression changed instantly.

This wasn’t the script we’d agreed on!

He tried to interrupt, but it was too late.

I didn’t give him a chance.

“I admit I made mistakes. My mistake was spending three months chasing this deal…”

“Talking myself hoarse and sitting through countless alcohol-soaked business dinners, then still being naive enough to believe…”

“That after I landed a three-hundred-million-dollar contract, my company would have my back!”

“My mistake was being falsely accused of bribery through a maliciously edited video…”

“And still foolishly expecting the company to investigate and give me a chance to clear my name!”

“And my biggest mistake was believing that years of loyalty and service meant anything when weighed against stock prices and office politics!”

My voice grew more intense, every word torn from somewhere deep inside.

“So let me make this clear!”

“I, Emily Parker, am resigning as sales director, effective immediately!”

“I will no longer work for a company that treats its employees as disposable!”

“And I reserve the right to pursue legal action against those who defamed me, as well as the executives who allowed—and actively encouraged—this to happen!”

I tore off my employee badge and slammed it onto the table.

“Goodbye.”

Then I stood and walked out without looking back.

The livestream went wild.

“Holy shit! What a plot twist!”

“A birthday card? What the actual fuck? If that’s true, this company is disgusting!”

“Support her! This is clearly an internal power struggle, and they made her the scapegoat!”

“We need the truth! Look at that VP’s face! I’m dying!”

Victor probably never imagined I’d dare blow up his plan in front of a live audience.

He wanted to destroy my reputation. Fine. I’d turn this into a public spectacle instead.

We’d see who ended up humiliated.

Outside the building, I let out a long breath. Some of the weight crushing my chest finally lifted.

That night, messages poured in from coworkers, friends, even former clients.

Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

I didn’t answer.

I simply posted a recording of the livestream to my Snapchat story without a caption.

Then I turned off my phone and went to bed.

For the next week, I paid no attention to the scandal.

I took my daughter to the beach, built sandcastles with her, and watched the sunset.

A week later, Richard’s number appeared on my screen again.

I answered without speaking.

His voice was frantic and painfully ingratiating.

“Emily! My best director! You finally answered!”

“I was wrong! I was an old fool, and I let that snake Victor deceive me!”

“I’ve fired him! His useless cousin is gone too!”

The desperate flattery made my stomach turn.

“The company needs you, Emily!”

“Come back! I’ll raise your salary! Promote you! The VP of sales position is yours!”

I felt nothing. If anything, I found it funny.

“Too late.”

I said it quietly.

“No! It’s not too late!” Richard was almost begging. “We’ll issue a public apology immediately! Clear everything up! Just come back, and we can work out anything!”