"I heard you have a cancer patient at home who needs a lot of money for treatment. If you don't accept, you're welcome to go through labor arbitration. Our company has plenty of money and can help you with this. The question is, can you afford to wait?"
I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.
Indeed, Arthur knew my situation.
My dad's cancer medication cost a fortune every month, and I worked so hard just to earn more money.
He was hiding behind the scenes, giving Billy advice, and using this to threaten me. I did not doubt that if this really went to labor arbitration, he would show no mercy and smear my name in the industry, making it impossible for me to find another job.
He knew I couldn't take that risk.
So, when he was drafting the layoff list, he was sure I wouldn't make a fuss, right?
I had to admit, this move of his was truly ruthless.
It hit me where it hurt.
After much deliberation, I ultimately accepted these humiliating terms.
Annie then presented the severance agreement for me to sign.
I read it through carefully and signed it.
The person Billy sent to take over my work was Anderson Barker, who had recently joined the company through connections.
The person who pulled those strings was, of course, the mistress Selina.
Apparently, Anderson was a college graduate from some prestigious university, and he was Selina's classmate.
Out of all the new hires in that batch, he was the worst. He was lazy, cunning, and a smooth talker.
When the internship ended, he was the first one I eliminated, but the higher-ups intervened and kept him on. He held a grudge against me ever since.
He often spread rumors in the company, saying that as a woman, the only way I could get so many orders was through dirty tricks.
He almost outright accused me of selling myself to secure deals.
I exported my client list and handed it to him, ready to give him a thorough handover.
Even though I was leaving the company, I still had a responsibility to my previous clients.
It was my professional ethics.
But Anderson was incredibly arrogant.
"Ashley, you don't need to teach me any of this. I graduated from a top university, you know."
I gave him a long and hard look.
Arthur really had a knack for picking out weirdos.
"Are you sure you don't need me to teach you?"
He scoffed, puffing himself up like a rooster about to fight.