Chapter 3

3

As soon as word got out that I was officially leaving, the office turned cold.

People stopped stopping by my desk. They walked in wide circles around me, whispering behind their hands.

When I went to the restroom, I heard them laughing.

"Who's going to hire her at her age? She's past her prime."

"She thinks she's special just because she closed a few deals. The firm doesn't need her. Nate isn't going to crawl back."

"She's such a bitter old woman. Always walking around with a long face."

One of the voices belonged to an intern I had personally trained.

It was pathetic. I sat in the stall and laughed at myself.

When I got back to my desk, a new intern named Daisy Miller slipped a box of fruit and some milk onto my desk.

"Harper," she whispered. "I heard what they said in the bathroom. They're just ungrateful. Don't listen to them. You're going to do great things."

Those few words managed to clear the dark clouds in my chest.

She was right. I would be fine.

At 2:00 PM, Nate called a meeting for the entire project team. He announced it publicly.

"Starting today, Elara Frost will take over all of Harper Vance's accounts. I expect everyone to help Elara get up to speed during the handoff."

I wasn't even invited to the meeting. I was already being erased.

After the meeting, he sent a blast email to the whole department and then messaged me privately.

"You're technically no longer part of the team. I'm doing this for the company's stability."

Elara was the first to reply in the group chat with a thumbs-up.

Then she messaged me. "Harper, I need a full spreadsheet of every project status, history, and contact by tonight."

Six major accounts.

Hundreds of documents and unique timelines.

She wanted a brand-new spreadsheet by tonight.

Even though I had already organized the files, she just wanted to make my life difficult.

I replied, "The data is complex. I'll follow the standard handoff procedure. It'll take three days."

She snapped back, "Three days is too long. Nate needs an update now."

I ignored her next five messages.

A few days later, I was on a video call with Sutton Pierce, giving her a final update. Elara suddenly barged in.

"Hi, Ms. Pierce! I'm Elara Frost, the new lead on this account. I'm not sure if you heard, but Harper is dealing with some health issues and had to resign."

Sutton's face darkened at the interruption.

But Elara didn't notice. She kept rambling on.

After the call ended, Elara turned to me with an ego the size of a skyscraper.

"From now on, let me handle the talking. I'm the boss here."

I didn't argue.

A moment later, HR showed up again.

"Harper, we need you to sign this."

"Since you're resigning voluntarily, you're forfeiting your annual bonus and your commissions. This document confirms you won't be seeking compensation."

I looked at the paper.

It was basically a way for them to steal $400,000 from me.

$20,000 for the year-end bonus and $380,000 in earned commissions.

Ten years of my life.

They had already erased my name from my work. Now they were erasing my paycheck.

"Just sign it. It's standard for voluntary departures..."

"I'm not signing that."

I looked the HR rep in the eye. "What I earned is mine. I'm not signing away a penny."

"Harper, come on..."

I turned my back on him.

That night, I got a text from Sutton Pierce.

"Are you okay? Your colleagues are talking trash about you behind your back. Do you need help?"

It was short and professional.

She even sent me a few screenshots of their internal chats.

They were claiming I was incompetent and trying to blackmail the firm on my way out.

"Thank you, Sutton. I can handle it."

After I replied, I stood outside the office building for a long time.

Last year, Elara used 'my' bonus to buy a brand-new Mercedes.

I was still driving a beat-up sedan.

My phone rang. It was Sutton.

"Since you're leaving anyway, I have a position open. Are you interested in a chat?"

I smiled. "Absolutely."