Chapter 3

3

"Alright," I said with a light chuckle.

"Since you put it that way, Mr. Palmer, consider this my resignation."

I reached out and picked up the banner from the table.

A smug grin crept onto Derek's face, assuming I was backing down.

"That's more like it. Young men need to learn some patience―"

Before he could finish his sentence, I turned around and walked over to the tall trash can by the conference room door.

I loosened my grip.

Thud.

The "immensely valuable" banner dropped right into the garbage, landing among discarded coffee cups and rotting fruit peels.

Because it was too long, half of the silk fabric hung over the rim.

"You!" Derek's eyes widened in outrage.

"Zachary! How dare you throw away company honors!"

"Honor?"

I dusted off my hands casually.

"This junk is too scratchy to even wipe my ass with."

"Since you gave it to me, it's mine."

"And I do whatever the hell I want with my own things."

I turned to face Derek, my gaze completely calm.

"Remember what you said today, Derek."

"You said I'm not worth two hundred grand. You said I'm just a greedy nobody."

"I just hope you don't come crawling back to beg this nobody later."

Derek trembled with rage. He grabbed his artisanal mug, ready to smash it, but hesitated because it was expensive, setting it down with shaking hands.

"Get out! Get the fuck out right now!"

"HR! Settle his final wages and kick him out!"

"Don't you ever let me see your face in this industry again!"

Liam piped up from the side, fueling the fire.

"Where's security? Call security! Don't let him steal company property!"

I ignored their barking.

I walked straight back to my desk and packed my few personal belongings.

There was not much to pack anyway.

Just a travel mug and a few technical books.

As for my client roster? It was all memorized in my head.

Besides, those high-profile clients trusted Zachary Thorne, not this pathetic little firm.

I carried my cardboard box toward the exit.

As I passed the reception desk, the young receptionist looked at me with genuine sympathy.

"Zach… are you really leaving?"

"I'm out."

I smiled at her gently.

"The energy in this place is rotten. Stay too long and you'll end up broke."

Behind me, Derek's furious roar still echoed from the conference room, spewing curses.

I reached the elevator lobby and glanced back at the office floor.

This entire floor spanned roughly ten thousand square feet.

It sat right in the heart of the downtown financial district.

Back when Derek rented this space to show off, he insisted on this prime location.

The lease was anything but cheap.

I pressed the down button.

The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off the noise inside.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a contact saved as "Wallace."

Wallace was the head property manager of this skyscraper.

"Hello, Mr. Thorne? What can I do for you, sir?" Wallace answered in an intensely respectful tone.

"Tomorrow morning at ten, bring the lease agreement for this floor and meet me in the main lobby."

"Understood, Mr. Thorne. Is there a change in the lease?"

I caught my reflection in the elevator mirror, watching the tired look on my face give way to a subtle smirk.

"A massive change."

"I want to see just how big Derek Palmer's visionary picture really is."