Chapter 4The Mistress Got My Bonus While I Got The Debt

Under Piper’s lead, the project, supported by the foundational work and framework she had essentially stolen from me, continued smoothly for a while.

This convinced Graham that he no longer needed me.

The few remaining legacy clients still under my management were forcibly transferred to other colleagues under the guise of “unified management.”

He began chipping away at me in public forums, his passive-aggressive hostility palpable.

During the morning huddle, he’d randomly call me out: “Bella, I looked at your workload statistics for the month. It’s almost blank! We don’t pay people to sit around. Show some initiative!”

If he walked past my desk and saw me browsing industry news, he’d sneer: “Well, look at you, so relaxed. Found a new job, have we? If so, pack up and leave. Don't occupy a valuable seat.”

He even had HR send an email, citing an “office space optimization” initiative, demanding I move my desk to a desolate corner by the breakroom, a space that never saw sunlight.

I didn't protest. I quietly packed my things and moved.

I took every petty obstacle he threw at me, waiting. Graham, however, finally lost his patience and decided to force the issue.

He called me into his office, getting straight to the point.

“Bella, let’s be adults about this.” He leaned back in his CEO chair, looking down on me. “Everyone sees your recent behavior—the slacking, the zero work ethic. It’s severely damaging the team morale and the company culture.”

I played dumb. “Graham, I don’t understand. When did I start slacking off?”

He scoffed. “Still denying it? You clock in and out exactly on time, you refuse new assignments, you’re not communicating with your old clients, and you spend your day playing solitaire or browsing the web! What else would you call it?”

“You misunderstand, Graham.” My tone was sincere. “I don’t dare answer client calls easily, for fear of saying the wrong thing; I don’t dare take on complex projects, for fear of miscalculating costs; and I certainly don’t dare work overtime, for fear of consuming more company resources and causing an even greater loss.”

“I am strictly adhering to your explicit instructions to mitigate risk and avoid creating any new, actual losses for the company.”

He pointed at me, sputtered for a full minute, and could not land a single syllable.

Graham just wanted me to quit so he wouldn’t have to pay my severance package.

I cut to the chase. “Graham, you just don’t want to pay the N+1, do you?”

“That is slander!” He raised his voice, volume hiding his guilt. “The company adheres to policy! You have an attitude problem, you’re not keeping up with the company’s trajectory!”

I looked at his flustered, paper-tiger expression and simply found it pitiful. Using the smallest possible cost to resolve the biggest headache—that was his guiding principle.

I decided not to argue over the severance money. It was beneath me. I was simply waiting for the grand drama I had set in motion.

I said lightly, “I’ll resign. In the next two days.”

Two days. That was enough.

Enough time for the stolen, outdated analysis report to detonate all the hidden issues during the truly critical project testing phase.

Graham’s face lit up with satisfied triumph. He clearly assumed I was folding under the pressure, giving up the fight.

“Hmph,” he grunted through his nose. “Smart move.”

He waved his hand, dismissing me like a bothersome fly. “Process your paperwork quickly. Don’t drag it out and disrupt the others.”

“Will do.”

I turned and left his office.

The project entered its most crucial testing phase right on schedule.

On the morning of the test, the documentation described logic and data that were fundamentally inconsistent with the actual system. A critical, fatal flaw. The entire project team went into a panic.

Mr. Thompson’s acceptance team was already en route. If we couldn't demonstrate today, the partnership would be over, and the company would face massive breach of contract penalties.

Graham roared, “Piper Wells! What the hell is going on? These reports, these proposals—didn’t you prepare them?”

Piper flinched, tears instantly welling up. “T-these foundational reports and core modules were all done by Bella! I, I just built the follow-up work on her basis!”

He bellowed toward the door, “Bella! Get her in here!”

“No need to call, Graham.” I walked in, holding a slim folder.

He lunged toward me. “Bella, quick! What’s wrong with this? Fix it, Thompson’s team is almost here!”

I held up a hand, looking perfectly innocent.

“Graham, I’m afraid I can’t. I just finalized my separation paperwork. I’m no longer an employee of this company.”