Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
I nearly killed myself landing the massive contract with the State Architectural Institute. Yet, my husband claimed I was dead weight holding the company back.
He handed all my hard-earned credit straight to his precious first love.
Instead of blowing up, I smiled and handed her my title of Design Director on a silver platter.
"Running projects is exhausting anyway. Why don't you take my entire position while you're at it?"
In an instant, everyone in the office thought I had completely lost my mind.
None of them realized that the deal was only ours because of my unique portfolio and personal connections.
Without me, the project wouldn't just fail—the entire company was going to burn to the ground.
I woke up with a brutal hangover after wining and dining clients late into the night.
The second I walked into the office, my blood ran cold.
"Chloe, everything our company achieved today is thanks to you!"
"You've worked so hard. Let's drink to that!"
Ethan Hayes raised his glass amid the roaring cheers of the staff. Flushed with alcohol, he interlocked his arm with Chloe Miller's, downing an intimate couple's shot together.
After swallowing the drink, Chloe wrapped her arms affectionately around Ethan's neck.
"Ethan, as long as it helps you, no amount of hard work is too much for me."
A brown-nosing colleague immediately chimed in to flatter him:
"Chloe, I've never seen Mr. Hayes take an arm-locked shot with anyone before. He clearly thinks the world of you!"
"She's the real hero of this company! Come on, everyone, raise a glass to Chloe!"
Watching the celebratory scene unfold in the office, my chest felt crushed under a slab of concrete.
Today was Saturday. Ethan and I had originally booked a reservation at an upscale restaurant to celebrate our breakthrough year.
Yet when I woke up from my stupor, he was nowhere to be found.
If one of my subordinates hadn't tipped me off about this office party, I would still be entirely in the dark.
I had foolishly assumed he just wanted me to sleep off the alcohol.
Now, watching him share an intimate drink with his golden girl, the bitter truth hit me like a slap to the face.
He hid it on purpose.
Chloe turned her head, caught sight of me, and plastered on a look of dramatic shock.
"Clara? Why are you just showing up now?"
"We thought you called in sick, so we started the meeting without you. I'm so sorry!"
Her words sounded sweet, but her eyes dripped with smug mockery. She even leaned closer into Ethan's side, watching me like a pathetic spectator.
Ethan didn't offer a single word of explanation. Instead, his brow furrowed in utter disgust.
"Clara, you reek of alcohol. Don't you know how much I hate that smell? You knew damn well we had a company celebration today, so why are you so late?"
"Well, since you're finally here, transfer the State Institute project over to Chloe. We wouldn't want you messing it up with your drinking habit."
Hand over the State Institute project to Chloe?
I spent over six grueling months securing that contract!
It was an impossibly complex bidding war. Massive corporations with bottomless pockets were fighting for a slice of the pie.
Our firm, Hayes Crest, was microscopic compared to those giants. To level the playing field, I ran around every city department for months, drinking with stakeholders until 2 AM and landing myself in the ER with acute gastritis.
Now that the ink was practically dry, Ethan was ready to hand half a year of my blood, sweat, and tears to Chloe with a casual wave of his hand.
What an absolute joke.
Years ago, when Ethan claimed he wanted to build an architecture firm from scratch, I didn't hesitate for a second. I walked away from my tenured, high-paying post at the prestigious State Architectural Institute, took all my personal savings, and backed his dream.
With a background only in basic accounting, he couldn't design a doghouse, let alone run operations.
Over the years, every single major contract fell on my shoulders.
I was running sales by day and drafting blueprints by night. By running myself ragged, I dragged Hayes Crest into the city's top three firms.
And Chloe? She merely shared a few glasses of wine with him and effortlessly stole my crown.
Looking at them now, Ethan had probably been plotting to get rid of me for a long time.
Years of marriage and loyalty couldn't hold a candle to his nostalgic darling. How pathetic.
Maybe it really was time to walk away.
With a silent, bitter laugh in my chest, I looked at them deadpan and said, "Fine."
A flash of smug triumph crossed Chloe's eyes, yet she immediately launched into her innocent act.
"Clara, I'm just a newcomer. This project involves tens of millions of dollars. How could I possibly qualify?"
"I only offered because Ethan mentioned you've been busy drinking with clients every night and had no time. I just wanted to lighten your load."
Ethan chuckled, patting Chloe affectionately on the arm. "Chloe, you're a prestigious Yale elite. If you can't handle it, no one in this company can."
Hearing that, I burst out laughing.
The "Yale" Ethan loved boasting about was actually an unaccredited online community extension program that merely rented a seminar room near campus.
Only an idiot like Ethan would treat her like a top-tier scholar and hire her at an exorbitant salary.
Hearing my laugh, Ethan's face darkened instantly.
"What's so funny, Clara? With your limited skills of getting drunk with clients, you wouldn't even be the Design Director if it weren't for me!"
"The firm is finally stable. If Chloe hadn't put in a good word for you, I would've fired your useless ass a long time ago!"
A cold sneer broke across my lips.
Ethan seemed to have forgotten how this company started. I handled every single client, passed my architectural know-how to him, and downed bottle after bottle to secure our first deals.
Now that the company was thriving, he saw me as a burden, looking down on me with disgust.
As his insults grew harsher, I took a deep, steady breath and walked straight up to Chloe.
The surrounding colleagues hastily stepped back, terrified that a catfight was about to break out and they'd get caught in the crossfire.
Instead, I remained calm and composed. Pulling an equity transfer contract from my bag, I offered a tight smile. "Handling projects is exhausting anyway. Why don't you take my title of Design Director and my shares while you're at it?"In a fraction of a second, the entire room stared at me in absolute disbelief.
They all thought I had snapped from rage and was making empty threats.
After all, every single person in the office knew how much blood and tears I had poured into this company to get it where it was today.
"Clara, don't be reckless! If you walk out, years of your hard work will be gone!" one colleague whispered anxiously.
Hearing that, Ethan assumed I was using a resignation threat to manipulate him. He barked angrily:
"Clara, what the hell is this tantrum? I'm the CEO! Am I not even allowed to critique you anymore?"
I let out a soft, mocking laugh.
Isn't this exactly what he wanted?
I was letting his beloved first love inherit everything that belonged to me.
From my affection to my status, and every trace of me in his life.
Shouldn't he be popping champagne?
Beside him, Chloe clutched the equity transfer document. Her eyes were burning with raw greed, yet her voice remained dripping with false modesty.
"Clara, are you mad because of what Ethan said? Please don't misunderstand! I truly just wanted to help!"
"You're the Design Director and the company's backbone. Everyone respects you. How could a newcomer like me dare accept company shares?"
She made a slow, hesitant gesture to hand the paperwork back to me, moving at a snail's pace, clearly unwilling to let go of the fortune in her hands.
Seeing through her act, I gave her hand a gentle push forward with a calm smile.
"Why would I be angry? I couldn't be happier."
"With a brilliant 'Yale' graduate leading our design department, the company will reach unprecedented heights. You're the perfect fit."
Ethan looked at me with deep suspicion, eyeing me up and down before scoffing coldly:
"Chloe, if she's handing it to you, take it. With your talents, you would've become a shareholder sooner or later anyway."
"Since the whole team is here today, let's make it official: the company has a new Design Director."
Dropping her sweet façade, Chloe beamed with delight and tightly clutched the signed equity papers to her chest.
I smiled inwardly.
Ethan had been so busy playing house with Chloe that he had no idea the competition for this project was fiercer than they could ever fathom.
The only reason we were picked was that the veteran director of the Institute personally approved my unique blueprints.
Those blueprints were still solely in my hands, known to me and me alone.
More importantly, Chloe had no clue that holding the title of Design Director came with full legal and professional liability.
Standing by, Ethan noticed my icy composure after giving up both the project and my executive seat. Perhaps feeling a prick of guilt, he cleared his throat:
"Fine. Since you're being so cooperative, I'll let you join our celebration banquet today."
"Just make sure you pour Chloe a few respectful glasses of wine later."
Chloe immediately furrowed her brows in fake distress:
"Oh, I assumed Clara was on sick leave, so I didn't reserve a seat for her. How about she takes mine?"
Ethan immediately looked at her with tender concern.
"You're the star of the show today! How could you give up your seat?"
Turning back to me, he dismissed me like an afterthought. "Clara can just stand and drink a couple of toasts later. She's used to it anyway."
Hearing his callous words, I let out a sharp, cold sneer. "No need."
Chloe's eyes flashed with venomous mockery, but her voice was pure victimhood.
"Clara, you're not still mad at Ethan, are you? If it makes you feel better, I'll apologize to you!"
Saying this, she leaned toward me with a pitiful, whining expression. Sickened by her theatrical drama, I raised a hand to block her approach.
Yet the moment my fingers barely brushed her sleeve, Chloe acted as if she had been hit by a freight train, stumbling backward and tumbling dramatically onto the floor.The next second, Chloe was clinging pathetically to Ethan's leg like a battered puppy.
"Ethan, please don't be mad at her! As long as Clara feels better, she can kick me as many times as she wants!"
Ethan snapped out of his shock, his eyes blazing with fury as he pointed an accusing finger at my nose:
"Clara Vance, how dare you put your hands on her! Have you lost your damn mind?! If anything happens to Chloe, your worthless life won't be enough to pay for it!"
I folded my arms, watching Chloe's performance in icy silence.
Noticing my calm stare, panic flickered in Chloe's eyes. She immediately clutched her chest, groaning in agony as she slumped against the floor.
"Ethan... my chest hurts so much. I can barely breathe..."
Ethan instantly cradled her against him, his eyes swimming with desperate worry while he roared at me:
"You're just jealous that Chloe is infinitely more capable than you, so you're trying to destroy her!"
"We don't need a talentless, petty psycho like you in this firm. Pack your shit and get the hell out of here!"
Talentless? Petty?
Fine. I couldn't wait to see if Chloe Miller had what it took to handle the State Institute without me.
I spun on my heel and walked out.
The head of the State Architectural Institute had invited me to dinner tonight. I was originally planning to decline.
Now, there was no need!
The old director had moved mountains to help me with this project. No matter what, I needed to show my gratitude.
I headed to a luxury department store downtown to pick up two vintage bottles of aged Macallan.
To my misfortune, as I exited the private liquor boutique, I ran straight into Ethan, Chloe, and their posse of colleagues.
"Clara? What are you doing here?" Ethan stepped forward, blocking my path.Chloe's eyes locked onto the high-end liquor gift box in my arms. Her voice went up an octave.
"Look at that premium whiskey! Clara must have realized her mistake and bought it to beg for your forgiveness, Ethan."
Hearing her words, the tension on Ethan's face melted into smug arrogance.
He scoffed coldly. "At least you know your place. But don't expect me to let you off the hook so easily!"
He strutted right up to me, sneering with condescension:
"Still, if you behave, I might give you a second chance."
"Once the banquet starts, you'll perform a little talent for everyone to lighten the mood. Then, pour three glasses of whiskey and apologize to Chloe on your knees. If you do that, I'll consider letting you back into the firm."
"Of course, once you're done pouring, you'll have to stand and watch us eat. After all, there was never a seat for you at our table. Chloe, take the bottles."
With that, Ethan sneered, turning his back on me to stride toward the hotel dining hall.
Following his order, Chloe stepped forward to snatch the box. I shifted sideways, dodging her grip entirely. "This isn't for you."
Ethan stopped dead in his tracks. He whipped around, his face twisting into an ugly sneer. "Playing hard to get? Let me tell you, Clara, this drama is getting pathetic."
"Exactly, Clara, drop the act," Chloe sneered dismissively. "If you really push Mr. Hayes over the edge, dropping to your knees and begging won't save you."
The other colleagues chimed in, curling their lips in disgust:
"Stop putting on a show to save face! Acting all proud at a time like this?"
"Right? I never noticed before, but Clara Vance's only real skill is having a stubborn mouth!"
Basking in their bootlicking, Ethan looked down his nose at me. I maintained my cold, unyielding silence.
Seeing my defiance, his expression darkened dangerously. "Since you love acting so much, don't force me to tear down your stage!"
Chloe chimed in with mocking laughter: "Ethan, if she loses her stage, how is she going to clown around for us later?"
Ethan spat, "That's her problem! Ungrateful bitch. Grab those bottles from her!"
At his command, Chloe and two male employees lunged toward me.
I struggled against their grip, but Chloe viciously kicked the back of my knee. I stumbled hard, and the wooden gift box slipped from my hands, shattering against the marble floor with a deafening crash.
Rich, amber liquid and broken glass pooled across the tiles.
Chloe instantly slapped on a terrified, tearful expression. "Clara! No matter how angry you are, you can't just smash the bottles!"
Ethan's face turned completely livid with rage.
"Clara Vance, I gave you a way out, and you throw a violent tantrum?! You terrified Chloe! Get on your knees and apologize to her right now!"
He stepped into my space, trembling with fury, looking ready to rip me apart.
Chloe shot me a look of pure, triumphant malice, yet her voice remained sweet and breathy: "Forget it, Mr. Hayes. Clara clearly hates me. Don't force her. A little mistreatment doesn't bother me..."
Her words only fueled his fury. "Stop defending her! If she doesn't drop to her knees and apologize today, I'm filing for divorce!"
He puffed out his chest, glaring at me with supreme confidence, convinced he held all the cards.
I had long grown numb to his cruelty. Looking down at the shattered glass and wasted vintage scotch, my hands clenched tightly into fists.
"Kneel and apologize! Don't waste everyone's time! Clara, did you hear me?!"
I lifted my head, meeting Ethan's arrogant glare with absolute calm.
"Then let's get divorced."
"What did you just say?"
A wave of stunned murmurs rippled through the crowd. Chloe's eyes flashed with wild excitement, though she kept up her sickening act:
"Clara, don't be rash! Hayes Crest is about to sign a multi-million-dollar deal with the State Institute! Even though I was the one who brought the contract in, I don't mind letting you ride on our coattails."
The surrounding colleagues immediately jumped in to flatter her:
"As if she deserves to ride on anyone's coattails! She should have cleared out long ago. Chloe and Mr. Hayes are the true power couple!"
"Exactly! Once this deal goes through, Mr. Hayes's net worth will skyrocket. A useless burden has no place standing beside him."
I kept my fists clenched, while Ethan's smug grin grew wider.
"You hear that, dead weight? Divorce, or get on your knees. Make your choice!"
"Then divorce it is!"
A sharp, authoritative voice cut through the air from the entrance, accompanied by the brisk rhythm of approaching footsteps.
"Don't be afraid, Clara. We're all here. Let's see who dares lay a finger on you!"
It was my former junior and my old mentor!
I turned around, and warm tears instantly pricked my eyes.
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Watch & Promotions
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