The Business Affair

"Janet, please. I don't want to go home and get married off! That old man has already beaten two wives to death. If I marry him, I won't survive. Please don't force me to go back."

Chris shoved me hard. His eyes were full of rage.

"Janet, how can you be so cruel? Do you have to push Shirley to her death?"

People around us started whispering, looking at us nosily.

"Janet, what are you doing? Did you actually force Shirley to kneel?"

"Janet, even if your family's richer than ours, everyone's equal. How could you make Shirley kneel? That's too mean."

After being shoved by Chris, my waist slammed against the corner of the desk. Pain shot through my back, and I inhaled sharply.

I rubbed the sore spot, walked straight up to Chris, and slapped him across the face.

"Chris, what right do you have to lay a hand on me?"

Then, I kicked Shirley aside.

"If you want to kneel, kneel in front of others. Don't kneel in front of me. It's a sore sight."

Everyone froze in shock. Their outrage grew louder.

"Janet, did you just hit her? You've gone too far."

I snorted.

"Too far? When I stayed up day and night to get this partnership, where was all of your concern? When I drank myself into the hospital for a contract, why didn't you say I was going too far?

"When you took the bonuses from the project I secured, why didn't any of you say that was too far? Even a workhorse gets better treatment than what you all do after squeezing me dry."

The crowd went silent.

I sneered sarcastically.

"If being pitiful means one deserves what belongs to others, then why don't you all donate your corneas to the blind people in the world? Since you are too blind to tell right from wrong, maybe you don't need them anyway."

People suddenly understood how ridiculous they sounded and began apologizing to me. Then, they turned to Shirley.

"Shirley, Janet poured her heart and soul into this project. She's the one who actually qualifies to lead it."

"Exactly. Even if your situation is sad, you can't guilt-trip her. Janet doesn't owe you anything."

Seeing the crowd switch sides, Shirley panicked. Her crying became even more pitiful.

"Janet, that's not what I meant! If you really want to force me to death, then I'll just go die."

My heart clenched from anger. I was stating facts, yet she twisted it into me driving her to suicide.

It was ridiculous. Anyone with eyes could see the truth.

But Chris, blind as always, pulled Shirley into his arms. He turned to me and ordered, "Janet, from today on, Shirley is the project lead. You're just a team member now. Do your job."

I clenched my jaw, furious. "Why? I secured this partnership. I'm not giving it up!"

"What do you mean you secured it? Luxton Group is partnering with us because our company is capable. Don't act like you did it all yourself. Even without you, Shirley could've handled it. She might've done even better," he said coldly.

Shirley nodded in agreement. "The Luxton Group only chose our company because they heard about Chris's reputation as a genius. That's why they trust us."

I snorted. One look at Chris's face told me he believed every word.

"Since that's what you think, then fine. I won't be the lead."

Chris assumed I had given in. He looked quite pleased.

"Janet, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. There's no need to fight Shirley over this."

Shirley strutted over proudly.

"Janet, keep handling the part of the project you were responsible for. Once the final plan is ready, I'll sign the contract with the Luxton Group."

I almost laughed.

When I was the project lead, I carried a quarter of the workload myself. Now, she wanted me to keep doing the hard labor while she enjoyed the credit? How convenient for her.

"Sorry, but I'm not doing it."

Shirley frowned. "Janet, this project is important to the company. Don't be childish."

Chris thought I was throwing a tantrum as well.

"Janet, if you keep doing this, I'll have to kick you out of the company."

When I heard that, I grabbed my bag and stood up.

"Great. I'll leave right now. And since you fired me, don't forget my tripled severance."

I walked out of the company without looking back.

Once outside, I called my brother, Steven Luxton.

"Steven, cancel the partnership. Chris fired me."

Steven was shocked. "Isn't Chris your boyfriend? You two built that company when you were still in college. Why did he fire you?"

I told Steven everything that happened.

Steven slammed the table in anger.

"Break up with him. Immediately! A guy like that is trash. I'll find you someone more handsome and loyal. As for that partnership, forget it. If it weren't for you, a tiny company like his wouldn't even make it past our first round of screening."

After getting home, I still felt frustrated when I thought about all the effort I had put in.

Steven saw how down I was and read my mind instantly.

"Janet, come to my company. You can handle this partnership yourself. Get familiar with the place. You own shares in the company, anyway. Once you settle in, you get to choose whoever you want to work with."

I thought for a moment and agreed.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the Luxton Group bidding meeting.

The moment I walked in, I saw Chris with his arm around Shirley's waist. When he spotted me, he looked annoyed.

"Janet, you're not the project lead anymore. How do you even have the nerve to show up?"

Shirley looked at me with open mockery. "Janet, didn't you say you were leaving the company? Why are you still here?"

I shot them a cold look. "This isn't your company. Why can't I be here?"

Chris snorted. "Janet, if not for using our company's name, you wouldn't even get through Luxton Group's front door. Leave before security drags you out and embarrasses you."

I rolled my eyes and was ready to walk away, but Chris grabbed me and threw me onto the floor.

"Security! Why is just anyone allowed inside?"

The guards came running.

"This woman is pretending to be from our company and causing trouble. Get her out!"

I quickly explained, "There's been a misunderstanding. I'm the project lead representing Luxton Group."

Chris let out a mocking laugh.

"Are you still lying? You just left our company and suddenly became Luxton Group's project lead? Who do you think you are? As if Luxton Group would ever want you!"

As I was thrown out the front door, people whispered around me.

I snorted and sat down right outside. I'd like to see how they planned to hold the meeting without me.

Inside the Luxton Group conference room, ten minutes passed. Chris asked the executive staff member when the meeting would begin.

The executive staff member frowned.

"Our project lead isn't here yet."

Another thirty minutes went by before he spoke again.

"Didn't Ms. Saunders say she arrived early? Why isn't she here yet?"

Someone suggested calling to check. I was sipping coffee at the cafe downstairs when the call came in.

Hearing the question, I said calmly, "Oh, I was thrown out. I'm at the cafe downstairs."

A few minutes later, Chris and the others rushed in. Their faces were drenched in sweat.