Chapter 3 · I Stole My Boss's Business

Wednesday at lunch, I took a couple hours off.

I told everyone I had to go for a check-up at the hospital. But in reality, I was meeting up with Kelly, the headhunter.

We'd arranged to meet at a café down the street from the office.

Kelly turned out to be younger than I'd imagined, looking to be just over 30.

"Ms. Parker, it's great to meet you. I've heard a lot about you," Kelly said with a warm smile, reaching out to shake my hand. "You have quite a reputation in the industry. Several clients have spoken highly of you."

I smiled and didn't say anything.

"Let me give you the rundown," she said and opened her iPad.

"NovaTech Solutions—you probably know them. They're the second biggest in the industry, pulled in 400 million last year. Their sales director left last month, so they're looking for someone to step in," she explained.

"Why did they leave?" I asked.

"Personal reasons," she replied.

I nodded. "What kind of person are they looking for?"

"Someone with a strong portfolio of major clients, solid team leadership experience, and ideally, someone they can bring over from a competitor," she replied and looked right at me. "You're exactly what they're after."

I paused for a moment. "What's the package?"

"Double your base salary, stock options as well. Sales Director title, and you'll report directly to the VP," Kelly replied.

"How many people are on the team?" I asked.

"Fifteen," she said.

Fifteen people... Right now, I only had three people on my team. And they were shared with other teams.

"So, are you interested?" Kelly asked.

I looked at her. "Let me think about it."

"Alright." Kelly handed me her business card. "Just let me know anytime. By the way, they'd like to schedule an interview for next week."

I took the card. Next week... That was fast.

Back at the office, I sat at my desk, lost in thought.

Fiona walked over. "Lynn, where did you go? You don't look so good."

"I'm fine," I replied.

"By the way, there's a meeting this afternoon. Mr. Carter asked you to prepare," she added.

"What meeting?" I asked.

"Quarterly review meeting," she replied.

I nodded.

At three in the afternoon, I walked into the conference room.

John was sitting at the head of the table, scanning the room. "Today's meeting is all about reviewing our Q3 performance," he said.

He turned to me. "Lynn, why don't you start?"

I opened my laptop. "For Q3, I signed contracts totaling eight million, achieving 115% of my target."

John nodded. "Good."

Then he turned to Emily. "Emily, how about you?"

Emily stood up, looking a bit nervous. "I... I closed deals worth one million in Q3, achieving 75% of my target."

One million. 75% completion rate. And she got promoted to Sales Supervisor.

I brought in eight million, smashed my target at 115%. And I was still stuck as a sales manager.

John smiled. "Emily's still new here, just learning the ropes. Lynn, help her out and show her how things are done."

I looked at him. "Sure."

"By the way," he said, shifting gears, "the Grandway project is moving into the contract phase next week. Emily will be tagging along with you on this one."

My fingers tightened around the pen. "Mr. Carter, I've been managing the Grandway project on my own."

"I know." He smiled. "But big projects need extra hands. Emily can shadow you and pick things up."

Always with the learning. Yeah, I knew what that really meant. She'd 'learn,' and then the glory was all hers.

"Lynn, you've been here a long time." John looked at me. "You need to think about the bigger picture."

Big picture. Again.

I dropped my gaze. "I get it."

After the meeting, I went back to my desk and sat there for a long time.

Fiona walked over. "Lynn..."

"I'm fine," I replied.

"Emily's way out of line." She lowered her voice. "Everyone knows the Grandway project is your client."

I smiled. "It's alright."

"What do you mean it's alright? Lynn, you can't keep letting them walk all over you—" Fiona said.

"I said it's alright." I cut her off, fired up my computer, and got back to work.

Fiona let out a sigh and walked away.

I stared at the screen. Only one thought was running through my mind: Next week, I'm going to that interview.

Chapter 3

Wednesday at lunch, I took a couple hours off.

I told everyone I had to go for a check-up at the hospital. But in reality, I was meeting up with Kelly, the headhunter.

We'd arranged to meet at a café down the street from the office.

Kelly turned out to be younger than I'd imagined, looking to be just over 30.

I smiled and didn't say anything.

"Let me give you the rundown," she said and opened her iPad.

"Why did they leave?" I asked.

"Personal reasons," she replied.

I nodded. "What kind of person are they looking for?"

I paused for a moment. "What's the package?"

"Double your base salary, stock options as well. Sales Director title, and you'll report directly to the VP," Kelly replied.

"How many people are on the team?" I asked.

"Fifteen," she said.

Fifteen people... Right now, I only had three people on my team. And they were shared with other teams.

"So, are you interested?" Kelly asked.

I looked at her. "Let me think about it."

"Alright." Kelly handed me her business card. "Just let me know anytime. By the way, they'd like to schedule an interview for next week."

I took the card. Next week... That was fast.

Back at the office, I sat at my desk, lost in thought.

Fiona walked over. "Lynn, where did you go? You don't look so good."

"I'm fine," I replied.

"By the way, there's a meeting this afternoon. Mr. Carter asked you to prepare," she added.

"What meeting?" I asked.

"Quarterly review meeting," she replied.

I nodded.

At three in the afternoon, I walked into the conference room.

John was sitting at the head of the table, scanning the room. "Today's meeting is all about reviewing our Q3 performance," he said.

He turned to me. "Lynn, why don't you start?"

I opened my laptop. "For Q3, I signed contracts totaling eight million, achieving 115% of my target."

John nodded. "Good."

Then he turned to Emily. "Emily, how about you?"

Emily stood up, looking a bit nervous. "I... I closed deals worth one million in Q3, achieving 75% of my target."

One million. 75% completion rate. And she got promoted to Sales Supervisor.

I brought in eight million, smashed my target at 115%. And I was still stuck as a sales manager.

John smiled. "Emily's still new here, just learning the ropes. Lynn, help her out and show her how things are done."

I looked at him. "Sure."

"By the way," he said, shifting gears, "the Grandway project is moving into the contract phase next week. Emily will be tagging along with you on this one."

My fingers tightened around the pen. "Mr. Carter, I've been managing the Grandway project on my own."

"I know." He smiled. "But big projects need extra hands. Emily can shadow you and pick things up."

Always with the learning. Yeah, I knew what that really meant. She'd 'learn,' and then the glory was all hers.

"Lynn, you've been here a long time." John looked at me. "You need to think about the bigger picture."

Big picture. Again.

I dropped my gaze. "I get it."

After the meeting, I went back to my desk and sat there for a long time.

Fiona walked over. "Lynn..."

"I'm fine," I replied.

"Emily's way out of line." She lowered her voice. "Everyone knows the Grandway project is your client."

I smiled. "It's alright."

"What do you mean it's alright? Lynn, you can't keep letting them walk all over you—" Fiona said.

"I said it's alright." I cut her off, fired up my computer, and got back to work.

Fiona let out a sigh and walked away.

I stared at the screen. Only one thought was running through my mind: Next week, I'm going to that interview.