After our breakup, I decisively quit my job. I was ready to leave the country when my ex-boyfriend and ex-boss, Mark, suddenly appeared at the airport, trying to win me back. He said he’d fired his assistant, Chloe, and from now on, I’d be the company’s Vice President. But just as I decided not to leave the country and was ready to go back with him, he ripped his hand from mine and called Chloe: “You win your bet. This idiot actually thought I’d keep her around.” Then he sneered at me, “Just a joke. You actually fell for it? Go on, get out of here. No one’s stopping you this time.” The colleagues present laughed at me, as if I was some pathetic puppy who’d wag its tail and come running back with a single wave of his hand. But what they didn’t know was that I wasn’t leaving the country because my new company had just finalized an acquisition. And I was about to become their new CEO. I wasn’t angry when my ex-boyfriend, Mark, smugly told me his attempt to win me back had been nothing more than a cruel joke. I just pulled out my phone to call a ride home. The colleagues standing by watched me with mocking eyes, sneering: “Skylar, Mark said he doesn’t want you. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your flight, just leave already!” “Didn’t you say you got a job abroad? What happened? Did they ditch you again?” Mark watched them mock me, indulging in their taunts, not bothering to stop them. This suffocating, humiliating workplace bullying had been a constant shadow over me for years. I used to argue back, feeling deeply wronged that my boyfriend, who was literally the head of the company, never stood up for me. But now? I felt nothing. It was like watching a pathetic clown show. “My business, I don’t think it concerns you, does it?” I said, my voice flat. Mark scoffed, his gaze sweeping over me with disdain. “Even now, you’re still talking tough?” “With your meager abilities, do you honestly think you could’ve lasted in this company all these years if it wasn’t for me?” “Going abroad? What a joke.” Yes, I, a top-tier university graduate, had thrown away a high-paying job most people could only dream of. I had helped him build this company from the ground up. Yet, in Mark’s eyes, I was completely useless, someone who only got where I was through his charity. I almost laughed out loud. I used to love Mark more than life itself. Even after decades of hard work, only reaching a manager role, I never complained. But then he started giving my projects to Chloe, his new assistant, again and again. He even dumped her screw-ups onto me, making me take the fall. He used it as an excuse to cut my pay and suspend me, while giving Chloe a promotion and a raise. That’s when I finally woke up. This one-sided love, sustained only by me, had to end. So I quit on the spot and broke up with him, deciding to pursue opportunities abroad. I never expected him to pull such a “joke” on me, especially when I was just about to board my flight. I didn’t feel sad or heartbroken. Just… perplexed. How blind had I been to fall for a man like him? I shook my head, not bothering to argue. “You’re right about everything. Can I go now?” I walked around Mark, heading for the gate. But he suddenly grabbed my arm, his eyes locked on me with a sneer. “You’re such an actress! Your excuse about going abroad has been exposed, and you’re still putting on a show?” “Out of respect for our past, I’ll give you an out.” “Come back with me, and I’ll let you be Chloe’s assistant.” Seeing his condescending posture, I finally understood the real purpose behind Mark’s “joke.” On the surface, it was a bet with Chloe to see if I’d be soft-hearted enough to stay. But in reality, he just wanted me to remain at the company, to be his and Chloe’s slave. I had to admit, Mark was incredibly thorough in planning Chloe’s future. He gave her promotions, raises, and even assigned someone to assist her. Meanwhile, I, who had helped him achieve his dream of being a boss step by step, saw him ruthlessly take everything from me to pave Chloe’s way. I let out a cold laugh. “Chloe isn’t even worth my time, let alone my help.” Mark’s face instantly darkened. “Skylar, it seems I’ve indulged you too much all these years, making you think you’re so important…” Before he could finish, a figure suddenly approached from a distance. “Mark!” Mark instantly softened, walking to meet her. “Chloe!” Chloe glanced at me, then smiled at Mark. “See, I knew Skylar’s talk about going abroad was just an excuse. She really didn’t leave.” Mark glared at me, his eyes full of disdain. “Some people think too highly of themselves, believing the company can’t function without them!” “Unlike you, Chloe, you’re talented and humble. Since she won’t take the opportunity, then fine. Let’s go.” Chloe, however, pulled Mark’s hand, her voice a pathetic whine. “Mark, we can’t leave yet. My watch has been missing ever since Skylar quit last time.” “That watch was my grandmother’s heirloom.” She then looked at me, pleading. “Skylar, please just give it back.” Before I could even process what was happening, Mark suddenly glared at me in a fury. “Skylar, did you actually steal something?!” I was about to deny it, but Mark coldly cut me off. “Don’t try to deny it. Are you really suggesting Chloe would lie about you?” “You don’t even have a job now, who knows if you’ve turned into a thief?” Then he commanded a few other people: “Open her suitcase, search it!” I stared at Mark in disbelief. For the past ten years, living together day in and day out, he knew my character better than anyone. Just because of Chloe’s baseless accusation, he wanted to publicly open my suitcase? Earlier, he played a cruel joke on me, and I didn’t want to argue. But this, this act of outright bullying, finally ignited my fury. Not disappointment, not heartache. Only pure, unadulterated rage and disgust. “Stop it!” I yelled, furious. Chloe, feigning innocence, said, “Skylar, why are you getting angry? Could it be… that you actually took it?” Now Mark’s gaze turned even more hateful. He signaled two people to block me, his voice cold. “Don’t mind her, keep searching!” I watched in horror as my suitcase was toppled, my private clothes spilling onto the floor. Furious to my core, I screamed for airport security. Only then did they awkwardly stop. “Didn’t find anything,” Chloe said, disappointed. “Never mind, don’t make it hard on Skylar. She’s had it tough enough.” Mark, however, shot me a venomous glare. “I bet some people stole it and sold it!” Then he turned to Chloe, his voice gentle. “It’s okay, Chloe. I’ll buy you a new one.” As they left, he coldly swept his eyes over me. “Skylar, when you’re homeless and desperate in the future, don’t come crawling back to me.” With that, he walked away with his entourage, Chloe shooting me a triumphant glance. I said nothing, but a cold laugh formed in my heart. They still didn’t know that the company’s major projects had imploded, and it was on the verge of bankruptcy and acquisition. And I wasn’t leaving the country because my new company had just appointed me as the new CEO of their company.
My new company’s headquarters were abroad, a well-known multinational corporation. Near graduation, because of my excellent grades, I had received an invitation from them. But Mark had persuaded me to stay and help him start his business, so I rejected the opportunity. A while ago, when I broke up with Mark, they immediately called me, inviting me to join. But just before I boarded the plane, I suddenly received a call. Their domestic subsidiary had decided to acquire local enterprises to integrate resources, which included Mark’s company. They had decided to appoint me as the new CEO. After I got home and put my luggage away, I arranged to meet with Ms. Smith, the head of the domestic subsidiary. I arrived at the restaurant early and waited for her. But I never expected to see Mark and Chloe there, laughing and chatting, until they saw me. Mark froze for a moment. Then he walked over, looking annoyed. “Skylar, are you stalking me?” “You were so defiant earlier, weren’t you? What, regretting it now?” Before I could speak, Chloe chimed in, chuckling. “Mark, with so many people watching, Skylar probably just didn’t want to lose face by saying yes.” “How about this? Skylar, if you apologize to Mark properly, I’m sure he’d still give you a job opportunity.” “What do you say, Mark?” Mark looked me up and down, displeased, then feigned a difficult expression. “Since Chloe is pleading for you, it’s not impossible. Drink this bottle of wine, and I’ll let you be an assistant again.” He pointed to the bottle on the table. A cold laugh echoed in my heart. Mark knew perfectly well I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink alcohol, yet he proposed such a condition. He was just waiting for me to humble myself and beg him. But he had miscalculated. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone.” “Waiting for someone? Ha, you’re really stubborn, aren’t you?” Mark sneered. “I’ve known you for years; don’t think I don’t know your little schemes.” “You just think being Chloe’s assistant is beneath you, don’t you?” “But these days, what’s face worth?” As she was speaking, Ms. Smith, my scheduled guest, walked over. She extended her hand to me. “My apologies, Ms. Skylar, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.” I completely bypassed Mark, smiling as I shook Ms. Smith’s hand. “Ms. Smith, let’s talk inside. We have a couple of flies buzzing around out here, quite annoying.” “Yes, yes, of course.” Mark stared at me in disbelief. As I was about to walk into the private room with Ms. Smith, I heard Chloe whisper to Mark, loud enough for me to hear: “Looks like Skylar’s meeting some headhunter for a job, huh?” The next moment, Mark suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path. He sneered. “Skylar, you’ve really gotten cocky. You’d rather find a job yourself than beg me?” “But I have to warn you, considering your past performance, I’ve already warned everyone in the industry about you. No one will hire you.” “Now, do you regret it?” He watched me with a smirk, seemingly waiting for me to turn back. But he was wrong. Mark’s meager influence wasn’t enough to threaten me. And because of my departure, and Chloe taking over all major projects, his company had already accumulated many risks and was on the brink of bankruptcy. Of this, he was completely oblivious. I said blandly, “Mark, confidence is a good thing. But I hope you’ll maintain that same attitude when your company goes bankrupt and gets acquired.” “Skylar, you–!” Mark was so furious he was about to curse me, but then he turned his attention to Ms. Smith. He pulled out a business card and practically shoved it into Ms. Smith’s hand, his tone oozing arrogance. “Mark, CEO of Sterling Group. Skylar is my former employee. She has a terrible work ethic and was just fired.” “I advise your company to choose very carefully.” With that, he shot me one last glance, linked arms with Chloe, and strutted away. Ms. Smith frowned, clutching the business card, and looked at me. “This…” “He’s just a pathetic little man. Let’s go inside and talk,” I said with a faint smile. Ms. Smith casually tossed the business card into a nearby trash can. Inside the private room, we discussed the acquisition of Mark’s company. We strategized to capitalize on the recent project failures and acquire it at a rock-bottom price. Ms. Smith then pulled out the personnel list from the original company, asking me to help create an optimization plan. I knew everyone’s professional capabilities and conduct like the back of my hand, so I promised to provide a solution as soon as possible. After talking with Ms. Smith, I went home. But as I stepped through the door, I saw Mark sitting on my sofa. With his long legs crossed, staring at me with a chilling gaze. I couldn’t help but frown. “What are you doing here?”
I glanced at the front door. That’s when I remembered I’d forgotten to delete his fingerprint after we broke up. Mark didn’t answer, just said coldly, “Who told you my company went bankrupt and was acquired?” I was busy changing my shoes, not bothering to respond. Mark’s face grew even darker. “As you wished, the company did indeed go bankrupt.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised Ms. Smith had been so efficient. She said it at lunch, and it was done by the afternoon. Mark continued. “Skylar, I don’t know how you got this information ahead of time.” “But don’t celebrate too soon.” “The company that acquired us is a huge corporation. They’ll help me deal with the previous project issues.” “I’ll still be in management.” I walked over and brewed myself a cup of tea, not at all surprised. I knew this, of course. It was because my optimization list hadn’t been finalized yet, so the original company personnel were temporarily retained. “So?” I asked calmly. Mark’s eyes were locked on me. “I want you to hand over all your old client resources to Chloe, and I’ll arrange a manager position for you in the new company.” “You should know, with the backing of the head office, Sterling Group will only be stronger than before.” “Offering you your manager role back, that’s a pretty generous offer.” I suddenly laughed. He said it with such righteous conviction, as if he was doing me a huge favor. But I knew very well that after the company’s acquisition, Ms. Smith would release the development plan I had written. One of the stipulations was that after I took office, positions would be assigned based on ability. Mark was making this demand for one reason only. He wanted to use my old client resources to help Chloe demonstrate her abilities and secure her position as Vice President. I had to admit, his love for Chloe was deep. Too bad he’d bet on the wrong person. “Mark, you’re incredibly naive.” My words instantly darkened Mark’s face. He suddenly stood up and walked toward me, step by step. His tall frame loomed over me, radiating a chilling pressure, his eyes piercing through me as if he saw straight into my soul. “Skylar, I know you’re still jealous of Chloe.” “You feel wronged, wondering why I changed toward you and was so good to her?” “But I need you to understand, our identities are different now. I’m the boss.” “And you? You’re just a woman who worked for me. A girlfriend like you simply isn’t a match for me anymore.” “But Chloe, she brought me a fresh thrill and made me feel like a man. You can’t compare to her.” Mark stared at me intently, his voice unusually gentle. “I’m giving you one night to think about it.” With that, he turned and left. I shook my head helplessly. I immediately deleted his fingerprint, then opened my laptop and sent over tomorrow’s termination list. The next morning, I officially started my new role at the company. As I entered, colleagues were buzzing, discussing the company’s acquisition. Mark, as always, was making empty promises to everyone. He claimed he was still part of management and that if everyone worked hard, things would remain the same as before. Until someone noticed me, his eyes suddenly lit up. He walked over to me, his tone triumphant, as if he’d expected me to come crawling back. “Had a change of heart? Willing to hand over the client files to Chloe?”
I let out a soft, mocking laugh and shook my head. Mark’s face fell. Before he could speak, Chloe, standing nearby, chuckled. “Skylar, why are you being so difficult?” “If you weren’t planning to hand over the client files, then what are you doing here?” “Don’t tell me you’re here to work today?” Her words drew snickers from the other colleagues. I raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I am here to work.” At that, the onlookers burst into laughter, pointing at me. “Work? More like looking for a job! Does she seriously think she can just waltz in now that we’ve been acquired?” “She must be dreaming!” “Skylar, weren’t you going abroad? How come you’re applying to our company now? Haha!” I was about to speak, but Mark’s voice cut me off, dark and stern. “Skylar, are you ever going to stop this nonsense?!” “I offered you a chance to give Chloe the client files, and you’re still being stubborn as a mule?” “Did you not understand what I said yesterday? Do you want to be unemployed?” I shook my head regretfully. “Mark, you’re the one who’s about to be unemployed. You should be making your own plans instead of wasting time.” Mark looked at me, then suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “Look at Skylar, everyone. Has she lost her mind? Telling me to make plans?” “What, I’m the former owner of this company. Do you think you can fire me or something?” “Skylar, believe me, as long as I’m here today, you won’t even find a job as a cleaner…” Just as the words left his lips, two figures walked through the company’s main entrance. They were Mr. Hayes and his assistant, sent by the head office to help me reorganize the company. Mark recognized them, his face changing instantly. He quickly plastered a smile on his face and went to greet them. “Mr. Hayes, you’re here! Has our new CEO arrived yet? I’d like to formally greet them.” Mr. Hayes merely glanced at him, said nothing, and walked straight to me, nodding respectfully. Then, he addressed the assembled crowd. “This is our company’s new CEO, Skylar!” For a moment, Mark’s smile froze on his face. He asked, unnaturally, “Mr. Hayes, you must be joking, right?” “Skylar is a useless woman, how could she possibly… ” Suddenly, Mr. Hayes pulled out the termination list I had personally compiled yesterday and slapped it onto Mark’s face. He pointed at Mark and Chloe, his voice cold. “You two are terminated. Pack your things and get out!”
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