Chapter 1

A new general manager was parachuted into our company. Word on the street was that he was the golden boy of some big shot at the corporate headquarters.

To manufacture some quick results, he fired me, the company's top sales producer, on his very first day. He then shifted all my high-value clients directly under his own name.

He even drastically slashed the profit-sharing ratios for our clients. He did all this just to suck up to the executives at the main office.

At the annual corporate gala, he boasted to everyone. He said, "Look how talented I am. I've only been here a few months, and I've already secured several million in profit."

While he was basking in his own glory, he had no idea. He was single-handedly driving the company straight into a brick wall.

1

I was a senior director at a digital marketing agency owned by a massive tech conglomerate. My role was basically that of a VP of Sales.

Our business revolved around connecting with clients and handling their online branding, promotion, and sales funnels. I am nearly thirty years old, and I personally held the keys to sixty percent of the company's revenue.

Beyond just sales, I had taught myself coding, web design, and e-commerce strategy. Because of this, my performance was legendary. I was the top producer year after year.

Our previous general manager had recently jumped ship for a better offer. My colleagues were all teasing me at the water cooler. "Hey, Jade, when are you taking us out for a steak dinner to celebrate your promotion?"

I gave them a modest smile. "Nothing is official yet, guys."

"Come on, it's a done deal!" they insisted. I just laughed it off, but in my heart, I was genuinely excited.

I had worked so hard and turned down so many headhunters from rival firms. What was it all for? It was for that title and the raise I had earned.

The next day, however, we received an official notice. The head office was sending over a new general manager. His name was Leo Trent, and he was supposed to be some kind of professional turnaround expert.

Many of my colleagues felt the injustice on my behalf. I felt a sting of disappointment for a moment, but I quickly adjusted my mindset. I told myself that as long as my commissions stayed high, the title didn't change my bank account.

However, the very day Leo Trent arrived, he called me into his office. He told me I was being terminated immediately.

I was stunned. I looked him in the eye and asked, "Why?"

"You're thirty this year, aren't you? You're not exactly a spring chicken anymore," Leo said, leaning back in his chair.

"When a woman passes thirty, her energy and capabilities take a nosepipe. It's a biological fact."

"Plus, you're unmarried and childless. You'll definitely be facing pressure to get married and start a family soon, right?"

"As the GM, I have to mitigate risks for this company. Of course, that's not even the main issue."

"The main issue is that I've looked at your client list. Most of them are stable accounts you've had for over a year."

"For stable resources like these, the company doesn't really need you to maintain them. Anyone could do it."

"So, sorry, but this company doesn't pay for dead weight." Leo had a middle-part hairstyle and a slightly bloated physique.

He shrugged his shoulders, putting on a face that was supposed to look helpless. To me, it looked like a pathetic, ugly mask.

"I personally maintain sixty percent of this firm's business. What more do you want?" I demanded.

"It's true I haven't brought in new leads lately, but that's because I've been passing them all to my team members. Can't you see their growth?"

I was desperately trying to defend my decade of hard work. But this man just gave me a look of misplaced intellectual superiority.

"Like you said, I can just hire a fresh grad to keep those clients happy for a fraction of the cost."

"With the salary we pay you, I could hire three hungry twenty-year-olds."

I was speechless. Was that really how he saw it?

I had only put the clients under my team's names to help them hit their bonuses. I was still the one doing the heavy lifting on branding and promotion strategy.

But looking at him, I realized I didn't want to waste another breath. It didn't matter anymore. It wasn't like I didn't have other options.

"Fine. When does the severance paperwork come through? Once the payout is settled, I'll hand over my files," I said.

I had given up. Or rather, I had reached my limit. A leader like this wasn't worth my loyalty.

But what Leo said next completely destroyed any shred of respect I had left for the man.

"I expect you to submit a voluntary resignation letter. Let's keep this professional and part as friends."

"What? On what grounds?" This time, I couldn't help it. I slammed my hand on his mahogany desk.

If I was fired, I'd get a massive severance package worth over a hundred thousand dollars. If I resigned, I'd get zero.

And he called this "parting as friends"? If I were the type to get physical, I would have thrown a punch right then and there.

Leo smiled like he held all the cards. He narrowed his eyes at me and whispered, "I know all about the gifts you've been taking from clients."

"You―" I felt the blood rush to my head.

After a long silence, I gritted my teeth. "Are you really going to use that as leverage?"

Leo spread his hands out casually. "I'm just stating facts."

"Fine. Leo Trent, right? Karma is a real bitch. I'm out of here."

I clenched my fists, turned around, and walked out of that office. I started packing my things immediately.

My colleagues were all staring, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. A few of the veterans who were close to me whispered, asking what was wrong.

I just shook my head, feeling completely drained. I didn't want to talk. I had given ten years of my life to this place, only to be kicked out like trash.

Regarding the client gifts―it was the unspoken rule of our industry. It was something everyone did, but no one talked about.

If you didn't accept a small token of appreciation, the clients would feel uneasy. They would think you didn't value them or that there was no personal bond.

In our line of work, a simple tweak in a promotion schedule could mean a massive shift in their revenue. A gift was their way of saying thank you for the extra effort.

Most companies in our field actually encouraged it to build stronger ties. It was about loyalty, not greed.