Chapter 5
Baxter's apology was painfully fake.
Anyone reading it could sense the anger and resentment behind every word and how unwillingly he had been forced to do it.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that he gave in.
He lowered himself in front of hundreds of employees.
A moment later, Jeffrey sent another screenshot.
It was the official notice from HR. Tina had been terminated for serious negligence and for damaging the company's interests. The decision was effective immediately.
I could picture her face when she saw it. That alone was worth something.
I smiled and saved both screenshots.
If Baxter thought this was over, he was being naive. This was only the beginning.
I set my phone down. The waiter came over with the bill.
I reached for my card, but before I could swipe it, my phone rang again.
It was another domestic number, one I didn't recognize.
I picked up.
"Hello, is this Ms. Valda Andrus?" a calm male voice asked.
"This is she," I said.
"Hello, I'm Colin Norris, head of Skyline Capital."
I had heard of Skyline Capital. They were rising fast in the industry, known for sharp instincts and bold decisions.
They were also one of my former company's biggest competitors.
I was curious why he was calling me.
"Mr. Norris, how can I help you?" I asked.
"I know this is sudden," he said, his tone steady and confident. "But I have an offer I believe you will find interesting.
"Skyline Capital would like you to join us as General Manager of the Project Department. The annual salary is 1.5 million dollars.
"In addition, we will grant you five percent of the company's original shares."
It was an extremely generous offer.
The salary alone was five times what Baxter had paid me. And that five percent of equity mattered even more.
If Skyline Capital went public, that stake would turn into a fortune.
They clearly had a strong information network. They already knew about my conflict with Baxter. They also knew exactly what I was worth.
"Mr. Norris, that is very generous," I said evenly.
He laughed softly. "You deserve it. We value talent. Someone with your ability should not be wasted under a short-sighted manager like Baxter."
He paused, then added, "We reviewed the Glory Star project you led. From early planning to final execution, it was flawless.
"We believe your talent will truly shine at Skyline Capital."
Colin chose his words carefully. He praised me, put Baxter down, and promoted his company all at once. The speech was smooth and calculated.
"I appreciate the offer," I said. "But I'm on vacation right now. I would rather not discuss work for the time being."
"I understand," Colin replied immediately. "The offer stands. You can reach me anytime.
"This is my private number, and I keep it on twenty-four hours a day for you."
He knew when to stop. Pushing harder would only ruin his chances. Instead, he left the door open.
"Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Norris." I ended the call, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.
Back in my hotel room, I had just pushed the door open when my phone started ringing again.
It was Baxter. This time, he was calling from the office landline.
He must have thought I would not recognize the number if he switched phones. It was childish.
I walked out onto the balcony, leaned against the railing, and answered the phone. "Hello."
"Valda! You bitch!" His voice burst through the line, full of rage.
The apology and Tina's firing had clearly pushed him to the edge.
Now that he thought he had done everything I asked, his real attitude was back.
"I did what you wanted," he shouted. "I posted the apology. I fired Tina. I transferred the money. Now give me the Glory Star files. Right now!"
I said nothing. I let him keep yelling.
"Did you hear me?" Baxter barked. "My patience is gone. Don't think you are untouchable. I can make sure you never work in this industry again."
I cleaned my ear with my finger, almost amused. "Mr. Wade, did you forget something?"
"What?" Baxter demanded.
"Those three conditions were only your ticket to sit down and talk to me," I said.
"What?" His voice shot up, disbelief clear. "What do you mean?"
"It is simple." I looked out at the ocean, a faint, cold smile on my lips. "The game has just begun.
"Now, let's talk about my second condition. I want fifty percent of your company. You will sell it to me for one dollar."
The line went completely silent.
I could hear his breathing, heavy and uneven, like an animal pushed to the edge.
After a long thirty seconds, he forced the words out through clenched teeth. "In your dreams."
"You will find out soon enough," I said and hung up.
Then I opened my laptop.
I logged into an encrypted email account and sent a file.
The recipient was Colin at Skyline Capital.
The subject line read: [Plan to Acquire Baxter's Company and Analysis of Core Assets.]
After I sent it, my private phone rang.
I recognized this number. I had spent three months studying this man's schedule and habits just to get this number.
The owner of the number was Webster Benson, the founder of Glory Star, a man powerful enough to shake the entire industry with a single move.
I took a slow breath before I answered.
"Is this Ms. Andrus?" The voice on the other end was even steadier than Colin's. It carried the calm weight of someone used to being in control.
"This is she, Mr. Benson," I said.
"I think it's better if we have a talk," Webster said.