I Made Them Rich, Then They Fired Me 9

Posted by admind, ? Views, Released on August 4, 2025

Chapter 90

Stefan had personally evaluated the feasibility and profitability of the deal. Deep down, though, something did not sit right.”

Still, Hayden’s company had been making bold, aggressive moves lately and Stefan did not have time to second–guess himself. With his finalized proposal in hand, he flew directly to the collaborating province.”

The flight took seven hours–not a short trip by any means–but the negotiations went surprisingly smoothly. Almost too smoothly.”

When he returned, he half–joked to Alicia, “It’s so easy to close deals on business trips. Salespeople are overpaid. Let’s cut their salaries proportionally.“}

Shortly after the pay cuts, several employees, frustrated and disillusioned, handed in their resignations.”

Some even aired their grievances on job recruitment platforms, complaining about the company’s bizarre policies–limited bathroom breaks, reimbursements only for hard–seat train tickets on business trips and a meager 35 bucks budget for client dinners.

A few accused the company of disabling the water dispensers just to keep employees from going to the restroom too often. Still, some stayed–not out of loyalty, but because landing a new job was harder than ever.”

When the delivery deadline approached for the interprovincial cooperation, Stefan personally transported a truckload of medical reagents, determined to close the transaction. He was counting on receiving the final payment upon delivery. The other party had agreed to pay three times the cost. Originally, Stefan thought this seven–million–dollar deal would help him catch up to Hayden Aldrich.

But now, it looked like he might surpass him. If the deal went through, he would earn 21 million dollars.

He waited anxiously for the delivery confirmation.”

Instead, the call he received left him cold, even in the sweltering 40°C heat.”

“Over 50 trucks arrived, but two–thirds of the medical reagents failed due to temperature control issues.“}

When I heard about it, I could not help but think Stefan was reckless. All he saw was profit. Sure, the client was a massive company with an enormous demand for medical supplies, but the weather had been consistently scorching. Even with refrigeration, a 20–hour trip was too much. One exhausted driver, running nonstop in extreme heat, could not possibly maintain the right temperature for such sensitive materials.

Not only did his company have to shoulder the full loss, but they were also hit with steep liquidated damages.

The 7 million advance had already been spent on production, shipping and day–to–day operations.

And now, with compensation doubled, they owed 42 million dollars.

Instead of making money, Stefan lost everything.

The company went bankrupt. It could not even pay its employees. And the collapse did not stop there–every other asset crumbled alongside it.

Stefan turned on Alicia, blaming her. It had been her idea.

Alicia, flustered and desperate, tried to explain. “Don’t blame me. I found that plan in Caitlyn’s trash can. She set us up–she framed us!”

But by then, Stefan had lost all faith in her. He no longer saw her as a partner–just a fool.”

Blinded by rage, he sent her away–to a place she would never return from.

In just a few short months, Stefan had plummeted from the heights of ambition to the depths of ruin. He became a hollow shell of the man he once was.

He remembered what Hayden had said when he accepted that award.

And so, every day, Stefan knelt outside the door of our old apartment–the one we once shared–begging for forgiveness.”

I ignored him. I had already moved to a new place.”

Then he came to the company, blocking my path once again.

Seeing how unhinged he looked, Hayden asked gently, “Do you want me to hire bodyguards?“}

I shook my head. I did not think Stefan would go that far.”

But that day, in front of everyone, he called out my name–his voice hoarse, eyes bloodshot. I did not want to disturb the office, so I stepped outside to meet him.”