Chapter 4
Jen pulled me aside at my desk, hungry for gossip. “Did you see that diamond necklace Chloe was wearing? Ryan gave it to her yesterday–apparently it’s worth thousands!”
“And the way he just passed you over for promotion! After five years of you killing yourself for this company, he gives your position to his girlfriend? That’s beyond unprofessional.”
I nodded absently. I’d already decided to leave, but seeing Chloe’s “surprise” appointment only confirmed how little
I’d ever meant to Ryan.
I gathered my files and resignation letter and knocked on Ryan’s office door.
“Enter,” he said coldly.
I placed everything on his desk, including transition documents for my projects.
Ryan flipped through them, his expression darkening with each page. Finally, he looked up with a contemptuous smile.
“So this is your real face, Evelyn? I thought you’d grown out of these childish tantrums, but here we are.”
He hurled the documents at me. I dodged them, then silently began picking them up from the floor.
“You’re throwing a fit because Chloe got the promotion you wanted? She has the right credentials–we studied the same field. I know her capabilities. What right do you have to be upset?”
I stacked the papers neatly and placed them back on his desk. “I’m not upset. I’m just resigning.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. I’d majored in jewelry design but pursued a second degree in tech just to follow Ryan’s path. I’d worked countless late nights to keep up, and now he was telling me my efforts meant nothing.
Ryan looked down at me. “You know your limitations better than anyone. I’ve reassigned you to Chloe’s team. You should be grateful for the opportunity to learn from her.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “My time is valuable. I’m done learning things I don’t care about.”
“Fine! Leave then! Good luck finding another company willing to hire you!” He stood up, his expression venomous.
I turned and walked out.
I definitely won’t orbit around him anymore–and certainly not around Chloe as well.
The six years I’d spent with Ryan? I’d rather to flush it down the toilet!
