I laughed. "What are you saying? You're blaming me?"

She lifted her chin, looking down at me with contempt.

"Who else? The data vanished on your watch. If not you, then who?"

Before I could respond, she dropped her gaze and started shuffling documents.

"Here's what you'll do: restore what you can. As for the client proposal—you've handled enough projects, you'll figure it out. Get through today, then we'll discuss your resignation."

I wasn't stupid. I'd learned the pattern years ago.

Whenever her work had problems, I cleaned up the mess. If it couldn't be fixed, I became the scapegoat. Every failure was mine. Every project I landed—big or small—became her achievement.

She called it "grooming me for promotion."

In reality, I was just her trained monkey. Year after year, she strung me along.

And once Nolan arrived? My life got even worse.

Since that was how it was, I might as well rip off the bandage.

"I'm no longer an employee here. There's no reason I should help you recover anything."

Something in my tone made Kate freeze for two seconds.

Then her voice dropped, dangerous. "Ian Fox, is that how you speak to a superior?"

"If you want to leave, fine, but first clean up your own mess."

"And the projects in your hands—hand them over to Nolan."

I guessed it would be like this.

Nolan Jennings coveting my projects wasn't something that started yesterday.

Right now, I have a project worth over a hundred million.

It's also the biggest project the company has taken on since it was founded.

This is them planning to burn the bridge after crossing it, squeezing every last bit of value out of me before they do.

I openly questioned Kate, "Whose mess is it, exactly?"

"How many times have I wiped your ass? Don't you know in your own heart?"

She paused, staring at me in disbelief.

"What did you just say?!"

I shrugged. "The literal meaning. Is it that hard to understand?"

"Anyone leaving the company needs to complete a work handoff."

Kate still kept a cold face as she gave the order. Her thinking was simple: make me transfer all the projects to Nolan.

That way she could curry favor with Director Jennings on the board.

"Fine, I can hand them to Nolan, but whether he can succeed is another matter."

As soon as I finished speaking, I heard her lift her head and snicker.

"Ian, you really take the platform for ability?"

"You really think you got to the assistant supervisor position because of yourself?"