Chapter 2
Matthew's office sat on the top floor, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire downtown financial district.
Just like him, the place was cold, empty, and felt downright oppressive.
I stepped inside, and he swung the door shut behind me with a practiced motion.
With a sharp click, the outside world was completely sealed off.
He didn't take a seat—just stood there in front of me, looming over me with that commanding presence.
"Yvette Jennings."
He called my name, eyeing me up and down with a critical gaze.
"Five years here—just another face in the crowd. Your record's always been average, not a single standout moment."
He held my file in his hand, every word sounding like he was writing my epitaph.
"Explain yourself. Why did you do it?"
I lifted my head and looked him straight in the eye.
"Mr. Leigh, I only did what I believed was best for the company," I said, my voice steady.
"Best for the company, you say?"
He laughed, like I'd just cracked the world's funniest joke.
"You? Just an ordinary employee, and you think you can talk to me about what's best for the company?
"Do you even get how many of your coworkers are gonna get fired because of your vote?"
I scoffed to myself.
Now he was acting like he suddenly cared about the team?
Like he gave a damn about us when he decided to axe half the staff.
"Mr. Leigh, I'm sure you have your reasons for what you suggested," I said, keeping my voice steady and calm.
"I trust your judgment to lead the company out of this mess.
"As an employee, of course I want to see the company succeed."
My tone was calm and sincere.
I was telling the truth.
If the company did well, I'd be the one making real money as the biggest shareholder.
But to Matthew, that sounded like the ultimate slap in the face.
His face grew even darker.
"Spare me the speeches.
"Spill it. Who put you up to this?"
"Was it Mr. Gale? Or Mr. Chesson?"
He was starting to think I was just a pawn, sent by another shareholder to screw with him.
Honestly, I couldn't blame him for thinking that.
A nobody in the company like me suddenly casting the deciding vote at a shareholders' meeting, supporting a plan that would make everyone hate me.
That just didn't make any sense.
"I made this decision on my own," I said.
"On your own?"
Matthew closed in on me, his presence so overwhelming it was hard to breathe.
"So you just wanted to steal the spotlight?
"Yvette, you're using your little tricks in the wrong place."
He slammed his hand down on the desk.
"You're fired!
"Get the hell out. Right now!"
Here it came.
If this had happened before, I probably would've turned pale and pleaded for another chance.
But now, I was totally unfazed.
Fire me?
He thought he called the shots? He had no idea who was really in charge here.
I didn't budge—not even a blink.
"Mr. Leigh, under the labor contract, you don't have the right to fire me without proper cause," I said, keeping my voice cool and steady.
"I voted in favor of your plan. How does that count as grounds for termination?
"Did I screw up on the job? Or did I violate any company policy?"
Matthew was momentarily at a loss for words, caught off guard by my response.
He glared at me, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury.
He probably never thought that someone he always saw as insignificant would ever dare to stand up to him.
"Good. Very good."
He laughed in anger.
"I'm not firing you.
"But I'll make sure you understand that Sliver Tech isn't a place where people like you belong.
"Starting tomorrow, you're going to the archives."
The archives—the most remote and dead-end department in the company.
It was where they dumped all the employees they'd given up on, the place where careers went to die.
This was just his way of pushing me out the door without actually firing me.
"Alright, Mr. Leigh."
I accepted it calmly, not even flinching.
I turned to leave.
Just as my hand touched the doorknob, his icy voice cut through the air behind me.
"I'll be watching you. Don't let me catch you slipping."
I stopped, but didn't turn around.
"Right back at you, Mr. Leigh."
The news that I'd been sent to the archives spread like wildfire—within an hour, everyone in the company knew.
When I got back to my desk, everyone was looking at me with that gloating look.
Especially Lovisa Lane, our department head.
She strutted over in her high heels, hips swaying, and started in with that mocking tone.
"Look at you, Yvette. Aren't you something?
"Showing off at the shareholders' meeting, and now you're getting sent to the archives to be put out to pasture. How's that feel?"
Lovisa never liked me—she was always on my case.
She couldn't stand that I wouldn't suck up to her, and she always stuck me with the toughest tasks.
Back then, I just put up with it to keep my job.
Staring at her face, plastered with way too much makeup, I couldn't help but think how ridiculous she looked.
I didn't even bother to respond—just kept packing up my stuff, like she wasn't even there.
Me ignoring her really pushed her buttons.
"What's with that attitude? Cat got your tongue?
"Let me tell you, Yvette, don't think working in the archives is going to be a walk in the park."