Chapter 10
After pulling a grueling 24–hour shift to close two millions of dollars deals, I finally allowed myself a short break, just over ten minutes in the restroom. I dozed off without even realizing it.”
That afternoon, a notice popped up on my phone. I had been fined 140 dollars without any explanation. I brushed it off at first.
But the next day, when I tried to clock in, the system rejected me. I had been terminated over an unpaid, unexplained 140 dollars fine.
Furious, I stormed into my CEO fiancé’s office to demand an explanation. His assistant, smug and condescending, did not even blink. “Taking a bathroom break during work hours is slacking off,” she said. “What’s wrong with docking your pay for that? Everyone else manages to finish in under ten minutes. Why can’t you?“”
Then my fiancé–Stefan Hawthorne–joined in, his voice cold and indifferent. “As a senior executive, you should lead by example. You broke the rules, so you face the consequences. That’s how we maintain standards.“}
I turned to leave, but something made me glance back. Through the blinds, I caught a glimpse of the two of them. Their figures overlapped, standing far too close.”
Without hesitation, I picked up my phone and called the CEO of a rival company. “I’ll bring you contracts worth millions. I want to work for you.“”
“The conditions? Well, does your company have a time limit on bathroom breaks?”
A hearty laugh echoed through the phone. “Caitlyn, are you kidding me? Who came up with something that ridiculous?” Then, I submitted my resume. “I’m dead serious. Find me a position.”
Within seconds, Hayden sent me a link to a Vice President job posting. “Vice President, sound good? Or maybe I’ll hand over my spot as President?”
“You’ve been with Stefan Hawthorne since the beginning,” he went on. “I’ve tried poaching you more times than I can count, but you never budged. What changed? Finally had a falling out?”
“That’s none of your business,” I snapped. “What you should be thinking about is whether these contracts are enough to push your company past Stefan’s.”
Hayden’s voice turned calm, but the ambition underneath was unmistakable. “Forget about the contract. Without Hawthorne Group is nothing.“”
you, the
I filled out my employment information, attached the contract documents and hit send. “Then let’s have a happy partnership.“} Seeing that I was not joking anymore, Hayden finally asked, more serious this time, “Caitlyn, if you’re truly sincere about joining us, I’d be happy to welcome you with open arms. But if this is just a way for you to vent your frustrations over Stefan, you’d better think twice before making a decision. I’m ready to offer you the second–highest position–just don’t stab me in
the back.”
A way to vent frustrations??
My heart clenched./
Who wouldn’t feel humiliated after being fired for taking a bathroom break that lasted ten minutes too long?”
And the one who made that decision was my fiancé. The man I had loved for three years. The man I was about to marry. The man I co–founded a company with and helped build into the most powerful empire in the industry.”
It shattered me–but deep down, I was not that surprised.
Stefan had been giving Alicia Remington special treatment for a while now. Some part of me had already seen this coming.” “I don’t joke about work,” I said calmly. “Clean off my desk. I start tomorrow.”
After 1 hung up, Hayden’s messages kept pouring in as if he still could not believe it. However, I did not have time to respond and I just started packing.”
That was when the surveillance camera above the office crackled to life and a shrill voice blared from the speaker, “Caitlyn, your phone must remain on silent during work hours. Violations will result in a $thirty dollars fine.”
It was Alicia’s voice.
Everyone in the office turned to look at me.
I did not even glance at her. I just kept packing my stuff.”
A moment later, she stormed out of her office and snapped, “Caitlyn, didn’t you hear me? Mr. Hawthorne already paid your fine and gave you a break. Why can’t you just follow the company rules?”
I let out a small, cold smile. The corners of my mouth barely moved.”
“What rules?” I said quietly. “I’ve already been fired.”
