Chapter 2

2

That afternoon, Valerie Hayes came over.

We had started at the company together. Unlike me, she was now the Finance Manager.

She sat across from me, rubbing her temples and holding a stack of messy spreadsheets.

"Look at these books. They're a nightmare. You're lucky. You just chase deals. You don't have to stare at numbers all day..."

She paused, then lowered her voice.

"But I heard you quit. Is it true?"

After the small talk, she finally got to the point, grabbing my arm.

"It's about last year, isn't it? It sucks having your hard work snatched away. I get it."

"But Nate was just trying to be a good person. He was thinking about the ethics of the situation..."

"Valerie," I interrupted.

I looked her in the eye. "Everyone knows I've spent years drinking through dinners to close deals. My stomach is a mess. It really is my health."

She looked shocked for a second, then leaned into my ear.

"We all know how much you've done for this place. The company knows it, too. Last year was a mistake."

"But trust me, the firm won't forget you. Nate won't forget you."

Won't forget me?

The words felt like a slap in the face.

In my early years, I went to the ER five times in a single month just to close accounts.

When I finally landed the big ones, Nate would spend an hour praising his own leadership. Then he'd turn to me.

"You're too aggressive, Harper. You got the job done, but you're being irresponsible with your health. Don't do it again."

He dismissed my sacrifice with a shrug.

Back then, Valerie would say, "Nate's just mad because he cares about you. He worries about his team."

But last year, he just stayed silent while the theft happened.

Once the work was done, he'd pop up to give a few hollow compliments.

Even worse, he started forcing me to take interns on my calls. He called it "giving them exposure."

In reality, he was just letting them dilute my commission.

Then came Elara and her 'tragedy.'

He talked a big game about caring for employees.

But he didn't lose a cent. He just took my hard-earned success and gave it away to look like a hero.

He got the reputation. I got the bill.

Back then, Valerie told me, "You're talented. You'll have other chances."

"Valerie, don't waste your breath. My mind is made up."

I went back to my work and ignored her.

Valerie huffed, grabbing her files. "Fine. It's not like the old days, anyway. If you won't do the work, plenty of others will."

After she left, the HR manager stopped by.

He did the routine exit interview stuff, trying to see if I'd crack.

I kept my mouth shut.

Eventually, Elara herself showed up with a Starbucks latte, setting it on my desk.

"Harper, I know I've benefited from your help. But you don't have to leave. Have I been that bad to you?"

She looked so heartbroken. Her eyes started to well up.

I hated that look.

Bad to me?

Was it 'good' when she intentionally let me get wasted at meetings so she could look sober? Or when she put her name on my reports before handing them to Nate?

"You're fine, Elara. It's just my health."

"Well, if that's the case... you'll explain everything to Sutton Pierce, right?"

"I will handle the handoff as required by my contract."

"That's not what I mean..."

Elara stood up abruptly, her voice a sharp whisper.

"I need you to make it clear to Pierce Global that this was your personal choice. It has nothing to do with the firm."

I smiled. "Once I'm gone, you can explain it yourself."

She turned bright red and hurried away.

I spent the rest of the day organizing my files.

Which client, which stage, who the contact was.

I had kept these records for a decade.

I used to think they were a map of my growth.

Now, they were going to be my evidence.