Trade Me for a Schemer? Enjoy Your Fall

After I help my boyfriend register his company and successfully land his first deal, he finally decides to make our relationship public.

But his junior from college, who's always had this weird hostility toward me for no reason, beats me to it by sliding into the seat next to him.

She leans against my boyfriend's chest, her voice smug and satisfied. "Didn't you say you'd wait until the company officially launched? So why the rush now?"

My boyfriend says nothing. Instead, he hands her a share certificate and announces to the entire room that she's the company's largest shareholder.

The room explodes. Everyone starts whistling and cheering them on. The junior takes the opportunity to kick me while I'm down, throwing insults my way.

My boyfriend doesn't just fail to stop her. He actually joins in with his own snide remarks. "Sure, you helped me set up the company and brought in our first client, but she's the one who can actually take us somewhere."

I don't get angry. I graciously acknowledge the junior's new position.

I want to see how far they would get without me, their biggest asset and most valuable connection.

When Owen Hayes publicly announced that his college junior, Lila Reed, was the company's largest shareholder, the entire room erupted.

I stood frozen in place. After days of overtime and messed up sleep schedules, my head was buzzing. I even wondered if I'd heard him wrong.

"Look at Charlotte Shaw's face! It's changing colors like a mood ring!"

"She's been with the CEO this whole time and doesn't even have shares, but look at Lila. She's already a major shareholder!"

"Just because she closed a few big deals, she thinks she's above everyone else? She's still just an employee."

"Always complaining about this proposal or that proposal. And now? Ha!"

"She's nothing but a joke."

My colleagues laughed loudly around me, not bothering to hide it from my ears. I knew they were taking this opportunity to mock me on purpose. They were also using this chance to cozy up to Lila and win her favor. Owen wasn't going to stop them anyway.

When Lila heard their comments, she flashed me a smug smile. Her tone, however, dripped with false sweetness.

"Charlotte, aren't you happy for me? You're not clapping, does that mean you're unhappy with something?

"Though I guess that makes sense. If we're talking about seniority, this should really go to you."

She slowly pushed the share certificate across the table toward me.

Owen flinched like I'd stepped on his tail. He immediately snatched the certificate back and placed it firmly in Lila's hands.

His tone was both helpless and doting. "Lila, you're too kindhearted. That's not what the company values."

Then he shot me a cold glance.

"Stop trying to stir up trouble. You failed to close the deal with Cloudview Construction Group and cost us millions! We're already doing you a favor by not firing you. What gives you the right to