I Approved My Husband’s Wedding Leave to Marry His Assistant Chapter 09

I Approved My Husband’s Wedding Leave to Marry His Assistant Chapter 09

I returned to the company and used my authority as HR manager to pull every project file Michael had handled.

I went through every account and every contract.

I spent an entire week digging until I finally found what I needed.

While Michael was in charge of a project in Miami, he had inflated expenses and pocketed nearly six figures in kickbacks.

That was not just a policy violation.

It was embezzlement.

It was a crime.

I did not hand the evidence directly to Mr. Warren.

Instead, I made a copy and mailed it anonymously to Mr. Lewis, the company’s senior vice president.

Mr. Lewis had always been Mr. Warren’s rival, and he had been desperate for something he could use against him.

As it happened, Mr. Warren had been the one who ignored everyone’s objections and insisted on giving that project to Michael.

Now that such a major problem had surfaced, Mr. Warren, Michael’s direct superior, would not be able to escape responsibility.

I waited for the show to begin.

Sure enough, two days later, an announcement appeared on the company intranet.

Mr. Warren was demoted by the board for poor judgment in personnel decisions that had caused the company significant losses.

Mr. Lewis, who had “identified the issue in time and recovered losses,” was promoted to executive vice president and named acting CEO.

A major purge began inside the company.

Everyone Mr. Warren had promoted was either investigated, demoted, or fired.

And I, the HR manager Mr. Warren had just promoted, was the first person to fall under scrutiny.

On Mr. Lewis’s first day in power, he called me into his office.

He was in his fifties, balding, with a beer belly and a warm smile.

But I knew better.

He had a shark’s smile.

“Lena, have a seat.”

He gestured toward the sofa across from him.

“The company has been going through a lot lately. You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s my job.” I sat upright.

He poured me a cup of expensive single-origin coffee.

“I looked over your résumé. Very impressive.”

“In less than a month, you went from HR specialist to HR manager.”

“That’s never happened before at this company.”

There was a probing edge in his voice.

“Mr. Warren gave me the opportunity,” I said, deflecting the question back to him.

“Mr. Warren?” He smiled without warmth. “He can barely save himself. Do you think he can still protect you?”

“Mr. Lewis, please just say what you mean.”

“Good. I like talking to smart people.”

He set down his mug and leaned forward.

“I know you were the one who brought down Michael.”

“And Mr. Warren too.”

“You sent that whistleblower packet, didn’t you?”

My heart dropped, but I kept my face calm.

“Mr. Lewis, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you still pretending?” His smile widened. “Lena, you don’t have to be afraid.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“You’re smart, capable, and you know how to make a move. I admire that.”

“Work for me from now on, and I’ll make sure you have a bright future here.”

He was trying to recruit me.

He was also warning me.

Either I listened to him, or I was out.

I looked at that oily face and felt sick.

It was like jumping out of one fire and straight into another.

I stood and gave him a polite nod.

“Thank you for the offer, Mr. Lewis.”

“But I’m tired.”

“This is my resignation letter.”

I took an envelope from my purse and placed it on his desk.

The smile on Mr. Lewis’s face froze.

“What is this supposed to mean?”

“It means I quit.”

“Michael is ruined. Mr. Warren has fallen too. I’ve gotten my revenge.”

“I don’t care how the rest of you fight.”

I turned and strode out.

When I walked out of the company building, sunlight fell over me.

I took a long breath.

It felt good.

I was free.

I sold the house, took the money, and moved to a small town in the South.

The weather was beautiful there, and flowers bloomed all year.

I rented a little house with a yard, adopted a cat, and filled the yard with flowers.

I cut ties with everyone from my past.

Six months later, my college roommate suddenly sent me a text.

It was a news link.