Chapter 4The Billion-Dollar Breakup: Confessions of a Former Doormat

I had to promise to buy Carter a green Rolex Submariner just to get him to leave me alone for the weekend.

I rushed back to the office, pulling an all-nighter until the next morning.

Today was a massive day: the Executive VP, Mr. Sterling, was coming in for a site visit.

I had to present our project roadmap. If I nailed this, a major promotion and a massive bonus were guaranteed.

But the moment I saw Mr. Sterling's new executive secretary, I knew I was screwed.

It was Chloe Jenkins.

She had clearly gotten some work done. Her 7-out-of-10 face had been surgically forced into a 9.

Fillers, Botox—her skin was flawless, paired with that trendy 'innocent but sexy' makeup. She practically sparkled, making everyone else in the room look dull.

She shot me a mocking glare, casually setting down her purse, gracefully turning her wrist as she took a pretentious sip of coffee.

The bag? Fifty grand.

The watch? Over a hundred grand.

Her outfit? Easily ten grand.

The jewelry around her neck? Another hundred grand.

She was casually flexing everything she had, silently mocking me. Reminding me that no matter how high I climbed, I still had to read the room when she was in it.

I pushed down my anxiety and delivered my presentation perfectly.

But I barely got three sentences in before Mr. Sterling cut me off.

"I heard you've only been out of college a few years. Are you really equipped to handle a project of this scale?"

He turned to the rest of the room.

"Why are veterans who have bled for this company for years getting passed over, while she gets promoted?"

"Is there something wrong with your management structure?"

For the rest of the meeting, Mr. Sterling specifically called on someone else to report.

After it ended, my team members were called in for one-on-one interrogations.

I was being boxed out.

I went to the restroom to splash cold water on my face. Chloe was leaning against the sinks, smiling brightly.

"Harper, you worked so hard for so long. But all it takes is a snap of my fingers, and everything you've built vanishes. Are you scared?"

I looked at her in the mirror.

Her eyes were bigger—definitely a canthoplasty.

Her nose looked a little translucent under the harsh light—a rhinoplasty.

Her smile was stiff. She was afraid to make any major expressions—definitely some bone-shaving.

I replied coldly, "Is it just a snap of your fingers, or the slice of a scalpel? A face like that... the maintenance fees must be brutal."

Her smile vanished instantly, but then she relaxed.

"Heh. Well, I have men willing to spend money on me, so I can tweak whatever I want. Unlike you. You have to buy your way into a man's life. You've emptied your bank accounts over the last few years, haven't you?"

For a second, I didn't know what to say.

I had treated myself like a pack mule for years.

Just to escape the System's clutches, I worked myself to the bone and dumped every penny onto Carter.

Look at me now—broke, exhausted, clipping coupons.

Meanwhile, Carter was out there living like a pampered billionaire.

People at work whispered that I had an unhealthy obsession, that I was pathetic for hanging onto him.

But they didn't know I didn't have a choice.

I wiped my face and hands, keeping my smile perfectly intact.

"You're right. I spent a fortune on Carter. And didn't he funnel a nice chunk of that cash straight to you?"

"Did my money help pay for your plastic surgery?"

"When you think about it, shouldn't you be thanking me for your new face?"

Chloe's expression twisted in rage.

She swung her heavy designer bag right at my head.

I didn't dodge. I took the hit square on the shoulder.

I looked past her, aiming my eyes at the doorway.

Chloe noticed, spun around, and froze. Mr. Sterling was standing right there.

She immediately panicked.

"She's lying! She's trying to frame me!"

"I paid for every hotel room you and Carter ever booked. Want me to pull up the receipts?"

I casually pulled out my phone and started scrolling.

I had kept meticulous records of every single dime I spent on Carter. That was my blood money.

Mr. Sterling glared at me, his eyes full of venom.

I just smiled and politely excused myself.

I walked slowly. Faintly, I could hear Mr. Sterling cursing her out: "You lying bitch, you told me you were pure."

I couldn't hear whatever Chloe was crying about in response.

I didn't see either of them for the rest of the afternoon.

When I was leaving work, the receptionist leaned in and whispered the gossip.

Mr. Sterling had stormed out in a rage, and Chloe was chasing after him, sobbing. Her arrogant, triumphant attitude from this morning was completely gone.

I smiled, handed the receptionist a luxury hotel gift card, and thanked her for the premium tea.

Walking out of the corporate high-rise, I looked up at the glass facade.

I knew I couldn't stay here anymore.

I needed an exit strategy.

Sure enough, the next morning, a termination notice was waiting on my desk.

Not only were they firing me, but they were launching an "internal investigation."

They wanted to "audit" how I got promoted so fast and why my salary was so high.

They framed it like I didn't deserve it.

But every single project I touched had been a massive cash cow for the company.

Several of them had become industry benchmarks, literally taught in business seminars.

Yet, out of Mr. Sterling's mouth, I was just someone who slept her way to the top?

Even if I wanted to rely on my looks to get ahead, I'd have to cure my nausea first!

A greasy, middle-aged creep like him? I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.

I graciously stepped away from my desk and invited IT to search my computer.

Only a few minutes later, they scurried away looking panicked.

Immediately after, the HR Director rushed over.

"Do you realize what you're doing is highly illegal?!"

"Hmm?"

I looked at him, a slow smile spreading across my face.

"I was actually just about to bring that up. You see, these files were recorded illegally. But I'm just the one who found them."

"A while back, our office security cameras broke. A client conveniently sent over some prototype surveillance tech, so I installed them to test the product performance."

"I had no idea it would accidentally record certain executives colluding and embezzling company funds."

"I was actually planning on forwarding these videos directly to Mr. Sterling to review..."

"Don't send it!" the HR Director squeaked.

I looked at him cheerfully, not saying another word.

His face darkened. Swallowing his rage, he lowered his voice.

"Harper, Mr. Sterling knows all about your past drama with Chloe Jenkins. He doesn't want to see your face in this building ever again."

"Going to war with us and dragging everyone down with you isn't going to help."

"Let's be realistic. What do you actually want?"

I knew the oven was hot enough.

I replied coolly, "I just want what I'm owed. Take back the dirty water you tried to pour on my name. The honors, the bonuses—I want both."

The HR Director walked away, looking like his soul had left his body.

Not long after, several department heads marched into Mr. Sterling's office.

An hour later, a company-wide email was blasted out.

The email praised my outstanding contributions and formally awarded me the "Employee of the Year" honor.

It stated that I had found a better opportunity elsewhere and had graciously declined the company's counter-offer to stay.

Oh, and it included a $1 million departure bonus, noting that the company's doors would always be open to me.

They gave me the money and saved my reputation.

I was highly satisfied.

After processing the wire transfer with Finance, I finally felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

I bumped into Mr. Sterling by the front doors.

Surprisingly, he gave me a stiff nod.

I guessed the other directors had sold him a story about my brilliance, and he bought it.

He probably regretted letting me go but had too much ego to walk it back.

I gave him a polite smile, turned, and stepped into the elevator.

Belated affection is cheaper than dirt; a boss's regret is worth even less.

On to the next chapter.