My Fiancé Fired Me and His Girl Took My Code Chapter 07

My Fiancé Fired Me and His Girl Took My Code Chapter 07

I cleared my dishes and headed to my room.

I opened my laptop and found a few emails-replies to the test template I’d sent out.

Some were just low-ball offers, others wanted me to sign on as a “trophy hire”.

The one that caught my eye was from an industry giant: Luminary Technologies.

[Dear Ms. Valerie Thomas, we have received your email. We are very interested. Our VP of Tech would like to

meet with you in person.]

Below that, they’d attached his name and phone number.

I added the number on Slack.

His profile picture was a starry sky. Beautiful, expansive.

His screen name was his real name, Julian Stein.

He accepted my request immediately and sent a message.

[Ms. Thomas, hello. This is Julian Stein, VP of Tech at Luminary. Nice to meet you.]

He sent a handshake emoji.

Very official.

I assumed this VP must be some guy in his forties.

[Hello, nice to meet you too.]

[We are very interested in your marketing automation. Let me know when you’re free to meet.]

[I’m free whenever.]

[Great. How about tomorrow, 10:00 AM?]

I replied with an OK.

Preston didn’t stay the night. I figured he went home to scramble for the cash.

At 9:50 AM the next day, I arrived at the cafe.

The server led me to the table. A man was already sitting there.

From the back, he had broad shoulders and long legs.

His outfit didn’t look like something a middle-aged uncle would wear.

A crisp white button-down, black trousers. Clean and sharp.

I walked over and greeted him.

“Excuse me, are you Mr. Stein?”

He turned his head. A young, handsome face-nothing like the middle-aged man I’d imagined.

He stood up. He was at least 6’1″, a full head taller than me.

“Ms. Thomas, nice to meet you. I’m Julian.”

After we sat down, he skipped the small talk, which eased my nerves.

“Ms. Thomas, I’ll be direct. I’ve looked into your background. You were a Tech Director at a mid-sized firm

and just resigned. Would you be interested in joining our company?”

I looked at him. “Aren’t you curious why I resigned?”

He smiled. “Doesn’t matter. We value the project and your talent.”

I smiled back. “Tell me your offer.”

There was a sharp, calculating glint in his eyes. “Equity stake in the project. 10% shares. Tech Director title.

Annual salary of $1.5 million, bonuses separate.”

I almost gasped. Luminary Technologies was worth over $10 billion. 10% was a $1 billion valuation.

I’d hit the jackpot.

But I did my best to stay composed.

“Aren’t you afraid of losing your investment?”

“If I were afraid, I wouldn’t be here. I trust my judgment, and I trust your skills.”

“OK, Deal.”

“Pleasure doing business.”

I went back to the office with him, finished the onboarding paperwork, and set my start date for a week later.

I had one week to cut ties with Preston for good.

As soon as I got home, the doorbell rang.

I looked through the peephole. It was Gavin Mason.

I thought about it, then opened the door.

He looked haggard. Two days without seeing him, and his cheeks were already sunken.

“Can I come in?”

I stepped aside.

“Come on in.”

He changed his shoes, scanned the living room, and stood there, motionless.

“Valerie, the company is in real trouble. After the police came, they froze the accounts. All my cards are blocked.”

I looked at him. “What do you want?”

His face twisted, he looked like he was about to cry.

“The clients are suing me. I’m out on bail. I promised them I’d fix this in two days. Valerie, I’m begging you. I’m out of options.”

“My house, my cars, all my assets have been seized by the court. I can’t even buy a plane ticket. Just come back and help me for two days, please?”

“In what capacity?”

He paused. “Tech Director. I’ll give you a 10% raise. And for what it’s worth, I fired Chloe. She won’t be in your

way anymore.”

I laughed softly. “Thanks, but no thanks. I just joined Luminary Technologies today. Tech Director. Salary of $1.5 million.”