Quit After Two Years of Insults Now Theyre Begging Me to StayChapter 1
Blake Rowe had just finished selling us another pipe dream. Once the company went public next year and secured financing, everyone in this room would be considered a founding shareholder.
The very next second, his wife's voice sliced through the air.
"Rose, my son is out of school. Go pick him up."
I tore my gaze from the document on my screen and tilted my head, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Joanna, this content pitch is urgent. Mr. Rowe needs it by end of day."
Her brows knitted together. "If it's due today, then come back and work overtime! During work hours, isn't it normal for a leader to assign additional tasks?"
Pressure tightened around my ribs. I had joined this company before I even graduated. In two years, my salary had crawled from 3,500 to 4,500 dollars. I was the copywriter, editor, operations manager, and client liaison all rolled into one. Yet it felt less like I was a marketing professional and more like a high-end nanny who happened to bring her own laptop.
I grabbed my coat. Before I could reach the door, Joanna barked another order.
"Pick up some meat for dinner, too."
"Okay." I nodded. "But Joanna, I'm reminding you one last time—my job title is Operations."
——
Her forehead creased, her tone sharpening into a blade of reprimand. "Isn't operations just working for someone? The kindergarten is right downstairs. You could have been there in the time you spent arguing!"
I saw the impatience in her eyes.
Swallowed my retort.
Outside, the temperature had plummeted ten degrees. The wind cut straight to the bone.
The elevator descended. First floor: the studio. Eleventh floor: the boss's private residence. Two years ago, they lived in an 80-square-meter two-bedroom apartment. Now they occupied a sprawling 200-square-meter luxury flat.
Blake loved to encourage me. He swore that once the company went public, he'd give me stock options. He promised that if I followed him and worked hard, I'd be driving a Benz and living in a villa sooner or later.
But in reality?
My salary had barely budged.
Rent was 1,000. Daily expenses were 1,000. I sent another 1,000 to my family. In a year, I couldn't even save 20,000. I had to agonize over buying a simple 100-dollar down jacket.
When I tried to resign last time, Blake had earnestly persuaded me to stay.