Chapter 5

Vivian's calls never came again.

Instead, the server for Nebula Solutions' internal forum crashed.

Reportedly, that day, the offices of the Disciplinary Committee and HR were packed with curious onlookers.

Arthur Thompson and Vivian were immediately suspended.

Nebula Solutions' stock price plummeted in response.

Three months later.

I was sitting in the office of Summit Innovations, Nebula Solutions' arch-rival.

My position: Marketing Director.

Mr. Davies, the CEO, personally interviewed me, asking only one question.

"Ms. Hayes, how well do you understand Nebula Solutions' business model?"

I smiled.

"I could draw Mr. Thompson's business plan for the next six months with my eyes closed."

With my accurate foresight into Arthur Thompson's strategies, my team at Summit Innovations achieved outstanding results, snatching three major clients from Nebula Solutions consecutively.

Arthur Thompson couldn't sit still.

Mr. Peterson, a client we had worked with for years, suddenly made an outrageous demand the night before signing the contract.

"Director Hayes, the contract isn't the problem, but shouldn't the kickback percentage be increased?"

A greasy smile was plastered on his face as he suggestively rubbed his fingers.

"Director Thompson's side is much more generous than yours."

This was a trap set by Arthur Thompson for me.

If I agreed, he could immediately use the recording to put me on the industry blacklist.

I didn't speak, I just pulled up a video on my phone and pushed it towards him.

In the video, Mr. Peterson was at another dinner party, boasting about how he manipulated accounts and took kickbacks, playing both sides.

Mr. Peterson's face instantly went white.

"You..."

I took back my phone, a cold smile playing on my lips.

"Mr. Peterson, what do you think would happen if this video were sent to the industry blacklist reporting email?"

"No, no, no! Director Hayes! Let's talk this out!"

He was sweating profusely and immediately signed the contract I had already drafted, which offered no room for hidden perks.

Arthur Thompson failed to get his way and instead lost a major client.

He became even more frantic.

At the industry summit at the end of the year, he publicly targeted me in front of hundreds of peers.

During the Q&A session, he took the microphone.

"I'd like to ask Director Hayes, Summit Innovations' recent performance is indeed impressive, but there are rumors in the industry that Director Hayes's emotions seem a bit unstable."

He paused, displaying a hypocritical smile.

"How can someone who can't even control their own emotions ensure professional and stable decision-making?"

All eyes in the room instantly focused on me.

He wanted to use his old trick, using the "crazy" label to ruin my career.

I met his gaze, stood up calmly, and walked to the front of the stage.

"Thank you, Director Thompson, for your concern."

"But before we discuss emotions, perhaps we should first discuss professional ethics."

I looked at the director for the big screen.

"Could the director please display the content from my USB drive?"

The next second, Arthur Thompson's explicit chat logs with another woman were clearly projected onto the huge screen.

"Baby, I've already sent you the bid details for Evergreen Group. This project is definitely ours."

"Don't worry, that idiot Olivia is still gloating at Summit Innovations."

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

The representative from Evergreen Group instantly turned ashen.

Arthur Thompson froze in place, blood draining from his face, inch by inch.

I looked at him, enunciating each word.

"How much professionalism can a director possess when he leaks core bidding data to his mistress as sweet talk?"

That day, Arthur Thompson became the laughingstock of the entire industry.

Nebula Solutions also completely lost Evergreen Group, its most important client.

And the final straw that broke him came from his core team.

A week later, his most capable deputy, along with his entire project team, collectively jumped ship to join me.

Arthur Thompson was completely ruined.

The day he was forced out by the board of directors, I received a message from Vivian.

"Olivia, let's meet."