I was the favor he refused to see Chapter 02
I threw the coffee-stained proposal into the trash and got ready to print it again.
But my flash drive was gone.
By the time I rushed to the conference room, I found out Lily’s proposal had already passed the client review.
Before I could say a word, Ethan went on the attack.
“You’re here just in time. Tell me, why was the company’s internal cost sheet sent from your email?”
I froze, completely lost.
IT immediately pulled up the records.
On the big screen, my email account had indeed sent a message to a sales rep at Horizon Industries,
our biggest competitor.
I looked at Ethan. “Do you really think I would make a rookie mistake like that?”
His strictly professional expression showed no favoritism, but it also showed no trust.
“The email account is yours, and the IP address came from your workstation. Do you think I’m going to let this slide just because you say you wouldn’t do it?”
I stopped expecting fairness from him.
I turned to Lily. “Where did your proposal come from?”
Lily froze for a second. “Ivy, I worked overtime all night on that proposal…”
“You went to all that trouble to steal it from my flash drive this morning. You were at my workstation, and you used my computer to send that email.”
Lily’s expression shifted slightly. “Ivy… how could I possibly do something like that?”
“Enough.” Ethan cut me off. “Ivy, don’t flatter yourself. Do you think this company can’t function without you? Do you think any proposal the client approves must have come from you?”
“I’ll have someone investigate the email. Until then, no one says another word.”
After the meeting, I asked to check the security footage.
What I got back was a convenient “equipment malfunction.”
All at once, I felt completely drained.
A company this big could still come up with an excuse that ridiculous.
The truth was, they didn’t need to force me out.
I would leave on my own.
Before the end of the workday, I placed my resignation form on Ethan’s desk.
“Mr. Langford, since this can’t be cleared up, I’ll take the blame.”
“I’ll resign and take responsibility.”
Ethan didn’t even look up. “Take it to HR. Finish whatever handoff needs to be done.”
Something in my chest went hollow.
In the past, he would do everything he could to keep even a mediocre longtime employee
But when it came to me, this was all I gut.
Only Cole Bennett, the cofounder standing beside him, grew anxious. “Ethan! What are you doing?
Ivy is…”
“This is her decision.” Ethan interrupted him.
Then he looked up at me. “Before you leave, you’re responsible for making up the losses you caused.”
I paused for a moment and said nothing.
That night, I stayed late to work on a damage-control plan.
Lily walked over and said softly, “Ivy, Mr. Langford said he originally wanted you to mentor me a little longer. If you leave now, he’ll have to train me himself.”
“Could you apologize to him properly and try to stay? I still really want to learn from you…”
I looked at that innocent act she put on after getting exactly what she wanted.
I scoffed under my breath.
From the moment Lily joined the company, Ethan had rolled out the red carpet for her.
He never trained interns himself, but she became his exception.
She had come to gloat, not to ask me to stay.
“Are you proud of yourself for stealing my proposal?”
“Ivy, I know you’re worried the new girl is going to outshine you, but please don’t accuse me like this, okay?”
Lily’s tears came faster than I expected.
I ignored her.