The room seemed to hold its breath at the mention of six million dollars. The sum was a staggering increase from the initial five million, making it a significant investment for the entire Sevan region.
"I trust your judgment, Edward," I replied, my voice steady.
At this, Melody and Jessica cried out in unison, "Don't leave!"
Edward's brow furrowed deeper, his tone icy. "Do you intend to hold me here against my will? When did Skylight Group start resorting to thuggery?"
"Mr. Walker, you misunderstand," Jessica interjected, stepping forward. "Perhaps we could discuss this further in the conference room."
She cast me a series of meaningful glances, which I chose to ignore. Edward was clearly advocating for me, and I wasn't about to undermine him.
This situation demanded resolution, and it wasn't going to be swept under the rug.
Seeing her silent pleas fall on deaf ears, Jessica bit her lip, turning to Melody. "Mr. Walker, we can't let you leave without resolving this. We believe Skylight is a better fit for you than Skyliart."
Edward scoffed. "Why should I entrust my advertising to a company that calls my good friend here a disgrace and fires him?"
He gestured towards Philip, whose face was a vivid shade of embarrassment. "Mr. Walker, I..." Before he could complete his sentence, Jessica cut him off, her voice icy. "Philip, apologize to William. Now."
Philip's face flushed a deeper red, his eyes filled with humiliation. With visible reluctance, he turned to me. "I'm sorry. I was wrong."
His insincere demeanor and resentful gaze were clear indicators of his forced apology.
I didn't care whether he was coerced or not; the satisfaction I felt was undeniable, especially given the expressions of those around us.
"Is that your idea of an apology?" Edward's tone was sharp, his expression dark. "That's not remorse, that's a declaration of war!"
Melody, too, frowned, her voice equally cold. "Philip, apologize again. This time, mean it."
Philip's teeth ground together audibly. Eventually, he bowed his head, his voice a defeated whisper. "William, I was wrong. Please, for the sake of our past as colleagues, forgive me."
"Sorry, we're no longer colleagues," I replied nonchalantly, turning to Jessica. "Isn't that right, Jessica?"
Jessica's face was adorned with a smile, but I knew she was seething beneath the surface. Yet, she wouldn't let a six million dollar deal slip through her fingers; the company's reputation was on the line.
If Edward and I joined Skyliart, Skylight would be the laughingstock of the industry, and the blame would undoubtedly fall on her. She understood the gravity of the situation better than anyone.
"William, my previous words were spoken in anger, and should not be taken to heart," Jessica said, her tone softer. "Here's my proposal: you return to the marketing department, your salary and year-end bonus reinstated. As for this year's annual assessment, I'll ensure you receive an 'excellent' rating."
A tumultuous storm of emotions raged within me, an intricate tapestry of countless threads that made decision-making a formidable task. If I chose to retreat, I could potentially evade the current maelstrom, yet the unsightly scars left in the wake of Skylight's debacle might persist, casting a long, unshakable shadow.
My greater concern, however, was Edward's perception of my choice. After all, a man consumed by resentment, incapable of rational judgment, would appear notably insignificant in the world of adults. Given the slight improvement in our circumstances, if we were to start afresh, the time and effort already expended would be challenging to quantify.
As I grappled with my thoughts, Edward's soft voice broke through, "William, what are your thoughts?" His words held a deeper connotation, subtly suggesting, "I believe this is a viable solution. Perhaps you should consider stepping back as well?"
Grasping his insinuation, I decided to acquiesce, replying, "Alright, since Jessica has suggested it, let's go along with it. However, I have a minor request. I wonder if Jessica would be open to it?"
Upon hearing this, Melody's brow furrowed, her tone adopting a hint of sternness, "William, don't push your luck."
Jessica, however, merely nodded lightly, signaling Melody to allow me to proceed, "Let him speak."
Facing forward, I voiced my demand with unwavering conviction. "He has consistently shown me disrespect, undermining our company culture and repeatedly flouting rules and regulations. As a leader, I implore Jessica to assign him the task of cleaning toilets as a form of self-reflection."
My words sent a ripple of murmurs through the room. Philip's face drained of color, and he retorted angrily, "William, I did disrespect you but I have already apologized! You're just seeking revenge!"
Both Jessica and Melody's expressions darkened simultaneously, and the atmosphere grew palpably tense.
I smiled serenely, retrieving my phone from my pocket and playing a video. The footage depicted Philip lounging and ridiculing me as I cleaned his workstation, nonchalantly cracking sunflower seeds, and boasting, "Rules are meant to restrain people like you. I am the top seller, the company won't dare touch me."
The video struck like a bolt of lightning, leaving Philip dumbfounded. "When did you record this? You... you were filming me without my consent?"
A cold smile danced on my lips. "This is what they call poetic justice."
Reflecting on his past insults, my retaliation was merely allowing him to reap the bitter harvest of his actions. Initially, my plan was to discreetly gather evidence of his misconduct and present it to the company's disciplinary department at the opportune moment, but the present situation provided the perfect platform.
The room descended into a dead silence. Melody pursed her lips, her gaze complex as she studied me, as if scrutinizing a complete stranger.
[For not uploading any chapters yesterday I am doing for you guys a mass release I will be releasing (5) chapters today I hope you enjoy.... sorry for not meeting your expectations yesterday.]... 1....
Note: for every review and power stones given to the book I will be releasing accordingly
1 review= 2 chapters.
2 reviews= 4 chapters. And as follow.
5 power stones= 2 chapters
10 power stones= 4 chapters. Thanks I hope you can help the book grow.