"The agreement has a clause stating that even after leaving, you're still obligated to return and resolve matters within your scope."

"You didn't just sign it without reading, did you?"

I really hadn't looked carefully. And I'd guessed she wouldn't let this go.

So I told her to wait—I had no idea when I'd arrive.

For once, Kate didn't blow up. She just told me to hurry.

By the time I got to the company, it was almost end of day.

The moment I entered the conference room, I realized Kate and Nolan weren't the only ones waiting. There was also a middle-aged man I'd never seen before.

Kate glanced at her watch and demanded to know why I was so late. Then she turned to the stranger. "Mr. Hansen, this is Ian Fox, the one you wanted to see."

"He's always been lax—late arrivals, early departures. No sense of time whatsoever."

Nolan chimed in from the side. "Lax? When he was here, he was practically lawless!"

They did it on purpose. That's why Kate hadn't blown up earlier—she'd wanted me to keep the boss waiting. Tank his impression of me before I even walked in.

"You're Ian Fox from the sales department?"

"You think you can waltz out of here after leaving the company in shambles? One resignation letter doesn't cut it."

His tone was no different from Kate's.

Sure enough, the rot starts at the top.

"Why I resigned—Ms. Matthews knows that best."

Kate stared at me with ice in her eyes.

"Every single employee in sales gave you negative reviews. Are you saying they're all wrong?"

When she wanted something done, she'd use any means necessary.

Rhys signaled for us to set aside personal grudges for now.

"Ian, the Dragon Rise project—that was yours before, wasn't it?"

"There are issues now. Handle it."

I glanced at Nolan, smug as ever nearby, then at Kate.

"Sorry, I have no obligation to do anything for your company anymore. Find someone more capable."

Rhys's expression darkened. Kate and Nolan looked equally stunned.

Neither had expected me to refuse Rhys directly.

But for them, this was a gift. Rhys had ordered them to contact me and resolve the contract issues. They'd agreed to his face—then done nothing.

"Ian Fox, do you think this is a negotiation? This is an order!"

"The resignation agreement clearly states you have an obligation to—"

I cut Kate off. "What obligation? I handed over all my work."

"You're the ones who can't handle it, and now you want me to bail you out. Why should I?"