Chapter 156

• I could feel the rage rising in me as I sat there, reading the email from the board of directors. It hit me like a slap in the face. A hundred thousand dollars as a bonus? Yes, it was a significant amount but that wasn’t the point. The operation we had led wasn’t about compensation. It was about power, reputation, and cementing our place in the unforgiving world of high-stakes business.
• What truly set me off was Adrian’s situation. He had been this close to securing a major promotion something he had poured years into. But instead of being rewarded, he was demoted for taking the fall for his wife, Vivian. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Vivian had made a critical mistake during negotiations one that nearly collapsed the entire expansion strategy and yet she walked away unscathed. Meanwhile, Adrian paid the price. His so-called reward? A pitiful sum that didn’t reflect his contributions in the slightest.
• With a trembling hand, I slammed my fist onto the mahogany desk, my vision blurring with fury. Years of compounded stress and unspoken battles took their toll. My already fragile health gave way, and I collapsed right there in my office.