Leaving Was the Best Promotion I GotChapter 1
Eliza's POV
After failing to get promoted to management for the fifth time, my mom called again, urging me to come home for another blind date. Normally, I would’ve refused without hesitation. But this time, I answered calmly.
Maybe it was because I’d lost yet another promotion to my long-time rival, so frustrated and unwilling to accept it, I decided to confront my boyfriend, who also happened to be my boss, and ask why.
But before I could knock on his door, I overheard him talking to someone inside.
“Eliza practically grew up under your guidance. Why do you keep voting for someone else every time there’s a promotion?” the other person asked.
Sean Thompson let out a short, amused laugh. “I give her the affection she wants and give Mr. Bellamy’s daughter the position she wants to keep both of them around. Everyone gains something. Isn’t maximizing benefits the smartest move?”
The other person sounded shocked. “You’re ruthless. You string her along with the lowest-cost version of ‘love.’ Aren’t you afraid she’ll get disappointed and walk away?”
But his tone was casual, confident as he replied, “We’re just sleeping together. It’s mutual. If she leaves, it’s no real loss.”
Then he added, almost lazily, “But she stopped using protection last month. I doubt she’s actually willing to go.”
In that moment, he tore apart the last shred of dignity I had, and with it was the five years of love I had so carefully convinced myself to be real.
I ripped up the appeal form in my hand and bought the earliest ticket home. Maybe it was time to let go of the job I couldn’t earn in seven years and the love I couldn’t keep.
——
Before I could toss the shredded pieces away, Yvette Bellamy snatched them from me.
“An appeal form? You’re really planning to file again?” She let out a mocking laugh. “Eliza, people should know their limits. Failing once or twice can be chalked up to bad luck. But five times? You still think it’s bad luck?”
She flicked the shreds of paper into my face. “If your character doesn’t match the position, no amount of appeals will help.”
I suddenly remembered the four neatly stacked rejection slips tucked in the bottom of my drawer—each one stamped with “insufficient capability,” each one written by Sean. For the first time, I found it all strangely funny.