To my surprise, someone took the microphone and announced, “Actually, Director Duncan contributed significantly to the development of this new product. While he may not have had a deep understanding of the technical details, he provided invaluable support throughout. Let’s invite Director Duncan to the stage to say a few words!”
Nigel suddenly called me out, catching everyone off guard. The reporters, momentarily stunned, exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure who I was.
I rarely appeared in public, and with Nigel’s subtle hints guiding their narrative, the crowd quickly painted me as an outsider—a clueless figure trying to steal credit for the project.
The questions came sharp and pointed:
“Is Director Duncan the head of the product development department? What exactly was your contribution to this project?”
“If Director Duncan doesn’t understand the product, how did he assist? Did Mr. Mayer put in a good word for you?”
One reporter even cut straight to the point: “You’ve never appeared in public before. Why now? Are you worried about being overshadowed by new talent?”
Before I could respond, Lindsay took the microphone, cutting me off.
“Alright, Director Duncan isn’t used to such high-pressure situations. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to me instead,” she said with a casual tone.
Her words landed like a sharp blade, solidifying the narrative that I was nothing more than a bumbling fool riding on someone else’s coattails. The disdain was palpable, and every gaze that fell on me was filled with contempt and ridicule.
If this had happened before, I might have confronted Lindsay right then and there, demanding to know what she meant, possibly escalating into a full-blown argument. But now, I see no point.
Her heart had already shifted, and any further discussion was meaningless.
Without a word, I turned and walked away.
As I shoved my hands into my pockets, my fingers brushed against something hard. I pulled it out—a pink diamond ring worth millions, the one thing Lindsay had always wanted but never received.
Just because she said she liked it, I spent countless hours and energy tracking it down, eventually purchasing it from a foreign collector.