The meeting ended on an unpleasant note, and I stormed out.

I didn't understand why James had to treat me this way in my promotion meeting.

He could have told me in advance but chose the most embarrassing way.

David, the department manager I had hired years ago, was most indignant and refused to work, complaining on my desk,

"I heard that Lily got into trouble overseas and was fired by the company. Her reputation was ruined, and she couldn't find a job. That's why she's back!"

He continued,

"You saw how he was; we're all ignored while he's only concerned about his little lover. It's disgusting! I spit on it!"

I remained silent, staring blankly at my old desk, scratched and worn after years of use.

After nine years with the company, I needed my own office.

Back then, James had said that the company needed more space, and I went to his office every day anyway, so it was pointless to assign a separate office to me.

I naively agreed at the time.

But now, Lily had her office as soon as she arrived, with a luxurious redwood desk, chair, and a high-end Mac computer.

Then, I realized that all the excuses James gave me were excuses.

He didn't think I was worth it.

"Why don't you resign!"

David exclaimed, drinking his water and still indignant.

"I now understand the reasons were excuses; James felt I was not worth it."

'Why don't you resign!"

David drank some water and said indignantly,

"We are all working with you. I think this company is going to go under sooner or later!"

I remained silent momentarily and said softly,

"Can you bear to do it?"

He was stunned and remained silent.

We had fought shoulder to shoulder since the company was founded, and it was more than just a job for us.

XHA was the child I had brought up with my own hands.

I couldn't bear to let it go.

My colleagues were even more dissatisfied with the appointment of Lily as Vice President than I was.

Especially those in senior management;

we had worked together for so long and had no conflict of interest.

Our emotional ties were extraordinary.

Although they couldn't confront James directly, they still expressed their dissatisfaction privately.

Lily's work could have been better.

David, who was working with her, did not give her important clients but only unimportant or challenging ones.

Other departments' information could have been easier to obtain.

They only provided it when she requested it and did not provide it if she did not.

James angrily asked them about it, but they replied that they did not know what she needed and that they had given her everything she wanted.

James had no choice, so he turned to me.

He called me into his office and said in a gentle tone,

"You have worked hard these years. Although you are a secretary, you have to do everything."

I looked at him expressionlessly and said,

"Just say what you want."

James was somewhat dissatisfied with my lack of awareness but said,

"Since Lily has come, you don't have to be so busy anymore. You can give all your clients to her and focus on being a secretary in the future."

He said it as if it was just an unimportant matter.

My body shook, and I couldn't believe it.

I had old clients that I had followed for several years. He knew very well what I had sacrificed to obtain these clients.

At that time, when the company was starting, we were struggling and had no resources.

We could only grab clients in the cracks of other big companies.

However, it took work.

Those people were all tough to deal with.

I still remember when we had just graduated, that fifty-year-old, pot-bellied client took us to KTV, pointed to a row of liquor on the table, and grinned, showing his yellow teeth to James, saying,

"If you drink one glass, I will order a million-dollar order!"

James was arrogant and couldn't tolerate such an insult, so he angrily pulled me out.

But I knew the company's funding chain would not hold up if we didn't secure that order.

Our hard work over the years would have been for nothing.

I looked at him with a soft smile and pulled him to sit before the client.

"James can't handle alcohol; let me accompany you to drink!"

To this day, I still remember the spicy taste of the whisky, the caramel-like color burning with hot flames.

As it went down my esophagus and into my stomach, I had the illusion that my whole body was being ignited.

I don't usually drink alcohol, but I drank eight cups that day.

When I finally rushed into the bathroom, I vomited so much that my tears mixed with the vomit on my face, and my internal organs felt like they would come out.

However, I still clung tightly to the client, forcing him to sign the contract on the spot.

He was stunned by my desperate behavior and gave me a thumbs-up:

"You're amazing!"

Then he immediately placed an order for ten million yuan.

As soon as he signed the last letter, I passed out.

I was rushed to the hospital and had my stomach pumped the whole night.

When I woke up, the morning light was faint, and James was leaning over my hospital bed with red eyes.

I weakly smiled at him:

"Why are you crying? Our child is safe!"

At that time, he always referred to the new project as our child.

At first, I was a little embarrassed, but when I was alone, I would secretly delight in the unique intimacy of the name.

I loved James, and he knew it too.

James was still young then, far from the mature and steady man he is today.

He choked up and said:

"Why did you do that? If you had died last night..."

He couldn't finish his sentence and lowered his head, trembling slightly with a crying tone: "... Don't scare me like that again in the future."

But I felt that it was worth it.

Because of this incident, I later developed a severe stomach disease until now.

After that, similar things happened several times.

At that time, James was too young and hot-headed.

He couldn't bear many things. Every time, I stood in front of him.

I love him and will do everything possible to help and preserve his hard work.

I was so foolish at that time. I could bear this suffering for James.

But now, he, who used to swear not to let me down, wants to kick me out of the center of the company's power.

Trembling, I said,

"James, do you know how much I've done for the company all these years? Why are you treating me like this?"

James frowned impatiently,

"I know you've done much for the company, but who hasn't? Is it interesting that you keep bringing this up?"

"Lily just arrived, and there are many things she doesn't understand. It would help if you gave these clients to her first. Besides, what kind of clients does a secretary like you need?"

"I don't need them," I said coldly.

Seemingly surprised that I refused him, James hesitated for a moment.

"If I were you, I wouldn't make myself look so ugly,"

Lily pushed the door open and walked in.

She went to James's side, lifted her head slightly, and looked at me disdainfully.

"Don't forget your position just because you've been here long. The company belongs to James; without him, you're nothing."

She sneered,

"If you cooperate with me now, you can continue to work. Otherwise, I'll fire you, and you must pack up and leave."

I didn't say anything; I just looked at James and whispered,

"Is that what you think too?"

James looked at me unchanged,

"Lily is the company's vice president, and she can decide who stays and who goes."

After a long pause, I nodded calmly and said,

"I understand."

I removed my work badge from my chest and threw it onto James's desk.

"I quit, damn it!"