Chapter 2
She gripped my hands, her face pale. "I'm fine. It's just my stomach acting up again." After wiping the corners of her mouth, her voice turned gentle as she pleaded, "Honey, can you hang in there a bit longer? Just wait—wait until the year-end bonus comes, okay?"
Seeing Yolanda in pain, my eyes burned with unshed tears.
Actually, what I wanted more was the position of CTO, instead of the bonus.
Only if I got that position could I finally pursue my dream—the 'Smart Chains' I'd been planning for years.
Yet looking at Yolanda's pale face, all the words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat. In the end, I could only say, "Fine!"
Late at night, I stood on the balcony smoking. My phone lit up. It was a message from Yosef.
"Yale, I'm so sorry. I truly had no idea this would happen."
*****
The cold wind in January rattled the windows as I stared at the year-end performance figures on my computer screen. For the third time, the calculator produced the same result—just 75 percent of my rightful earnings.
"Again?!" I massaged my temples. The harsh fluorescent lights in the office made my eyes sore.
My phone buzzed with a message from Yolanda: "Honey, I made your favorite braised pork ribs tonight. Come home early." She even added a cute emoji at the end.
I started at that message for a while, thinking, "In the past seven years, all my annual bonuses have shrunk for no reason."
Every time I complained about this, Yolanda would soothe me with her gentle voice, saying, "It's okay. We'll just tighten our belts a little."
"Yale, still sitting there?" Yosef peeked in, a little hesitant. "Team dinner, remember?"
"Pass. My wife's expecting me at home." I forced a smile and turned off the computer.
As I walked out of the office building, I happened to run into Mandy Shelton from the Finance Department.
As soon as she saw me, her expression instantly turned uneasy. She gave me a quick nod and hurried away.
"Yale!" A voice cut through my thoughts. That was from Yosef, who ran to me.
"Well, I just remembered. Yolanda asked me to bring this to you!" he said.
That was an exquisite gift containing the watch I had been meaning to buy.
I frowned. "Yolanda?"
His face changing instantly, Yosef stammered, "Well, I was talking about Yolanda from the Administration Department. Doesn't she often send gifts to us?"
Yosef's flustered expression really made me confused.
That watch was worth at least $6,000. Given our current financial situation, how could Yolanda afford it? Could it be a knockoff?
Did Yolanda know about the humiliation I went through at work and try to make me look good?
"Yale!" Nelson Martin, the director of the Planning Department, called out to me. "The company's annual gala is coming up this weekend, but I need to accompany my wife back to her hometown. Could you stand in for me?"
"Just take leave if you can't make it. I also need to be with my wife," I replied.
"But there's a raffle at the gala! What if I win something and I'm not there? Come on, old pal, do me this solid! With so many people attending it, no one will even notice the difference!" Nelson said.
*****
Time coming to Thursday, I worked late in the office, reviewing the details of the M&A proposal. Suddenly, I got another call from Nelson.
"Come on, Yale! We're such good buddies. Just do me a solid tomorrow, will you?" said Nelson on the phone.
"I told you, I'm swamped," I replied, turning him down flatly. "Ms. Lynn sent the M&A proposal back, asking me to polish the details. So I'll be working late tonight and tomorrow."
"Well, aren't you the lucky one? So you're at the office right now?" Nelson said.
"Yeah, still working on the redraft," I said, glancing at the clock—it was already past nine. "What's wrong?"
"Perfect timing! I need a huge favor—it's urgent." Nelson sounded frantic. "I've got a client meeting first thing tomorrow, but I completely blanked on the contract details."
"Since you're at the office, could you please snap a quick picture of the files in my cabinet for me? I really don't want to drag myself all the way over to the office tonight!" he added.
Hearing what he said, I frowned. "But your office is on the 26th floor! That's the executive floor. I don't even have clearance to get into your office."
"Relax," Nelson explained. "My girlfriend's workstation is A16, 24th floor, the one in the third row by the window. I left my access card there, just in case!"