The CEO's Counterattack

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I slammed a thick stack of documents down in front of Lucy Lynn, my fingertips still feeling the rough texture of the papers. Lucy, take a look at thisAlex Clark embezzled three million from the Company!

Lucy didn't take her eyes off the computer screen, her tone flat, I know.

I froze in place, pressing further, "Don't you think we should deal with him?"

She finally looked up, frowning slightly, with a hint of annoyance, "Deal with him? Daniel Green, aren't you being a bit too sensitive?"

"This isn't sensitivityit's solid proof!" I pointed at the key data in the documents.

"Enough!" Lucy slammed the file shut, her voice sharply rising. "Personnel changes at the Company are my decision. As of today, you are removed from your deputy general manager position."

My mind went blank. "What did you say?"

"You no longer need to come to work at the Company." Lucy adjusted her blazer. "Alex Clark is outstanding and will succeed as deputy general manager."

The office door opened, and Alex Clark walked in, his face full of "surprise." "Ms. Lynn, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Daniel has made significant contributions to the Company."

Lucy walked over to him and patted his shoulder. "Ability is what matters most. You don't need to worry about Daniel."

That intimate gesture stabbed painfully at my eyes, my voice trembling: "Lucy Lynn, what exactly is going on?"

"Why?" Lucy Lynn sneered, her eyes cold and unfamiliar. "You're always suspicious. Can't you see how much pressure Alex Clark is taking off my shoulders?"

"What I see is him lining his own pockets!"

"Where's the evidence?" Suddenly, Alex Clark spoke up, his tone aggrieved. "Daniel, you can't just slander me out of thin air."

"The documents are right there!" I shouted, pointing at the desk.

Lucy Lynn quickly grabbed the documents. "These could be forged by you."

I took a step back, looked at the two in front of me, and laughed bitterly, full of despair: "I'm fabricating evidence? Lucy, be honest with yourselfwhen has Daniel Green ever done anything like that?"

"I don't have time to argue with you." Lucy glanced at her watch. "Pack your things and leave as soon as possible."

Alex handed her a glass of water. "Ms. Lynn, please don't be angry. Daniel just needs some time to clear his head."

Lucy took the cup, her fingertips inadvertently brushing his hand. I shivered all over: "I was too foolishmistaking you for friends."

"Daniel Green, don't push your words too far!" Lucy Lynn snapped angrily.

I waved my hand and walked toward the door: "The Company's yours; appoint whoever you want as deputy general manager. I'm leaving so I won't be in the way."

As I stepped out of the chairman's office, all the employees kept their heads down.

Back in my office, I stared at the photo on my desk with Lucy Lynn. She smiled brightly in the picture.

My phone rang. It was Ben, the old housekeeper: "Mr. Green, the matriarch has been asking about you for days. When will you be coming back?"

Hearing the word 'matriarch' made my eyes well up.

To be with Lucy Lynn, I hid my family background and started from the bottom, trying to prove I'm not just a privileged playboy. But now, this is how things have turned out.

"Ben, I'm heading back tonight."

After hanging up, I packed my things into a single briefcase.

Passing by Alex Clark's desk, I caught a glimpse of his flirtatious chat with Lucy Lynn on his computer screen. I said nothing and walked straight out of the office building.

The sunlight was blinding, but I felt ice cold all over: "Lucy Lynn, Alex Clark, just wait. I'll make you pay for this."

Early the next morning, HR called me to attend the department meeting.

I knew itLucy just wanted to discredit me in front of everyone.

I pushed open the conference room door; Lucy was sitting in the main seat, and Alex was in what should have been my deputy seat.

All eyes were on mesome sympathetic, some curious, others contemptuous.

"Daniel Green, what are you still doing here?" Lucy's tone was icy.

"HR asked me to attend the meeting." I pulled a chair and sat in the corner. "What, Ms. Lynn, are you even going to strip me of the right to attend meetings now?"

Alex stood up, looking remorseful: "Daniel, yesterday's incident was all my fault. Don't blame Ms. Lynn."

"Your fault?" I raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Clark, tell me: was your mistake embezzling company funds, or was it stealing my fiancee away?"

The conference room instantly fell silent, everyone drawing a sharp breath.

"Daniel Green! What nonsense are you spouting?" Lucy Lynn slammed the table fiercely, her face flushed red.

"Am I making this up?" I took out a photocopy from my briefcase, "This is the receipt you submitted with a fake invoice, amounting to 58,000. Should I spell out the name on the receiving account?"

Alex Clark went pale, grabbing Ms. Lynn's sleeve with a trembling voice, "Ms. Lynn, I didn't do it, Daniel is holding a grudge and framing me!"

Lucy Lynn frowned, looking at me with accusation: "Daniel Green, I never expected you to fabricate evidence just to get back at me."

"Fabricate?" I snapped back angrily with a bitter laugh, "This document has the financial audit stamp and your own signature on it!"

"So what?" Lucy stood up, looming over me, "Maybe Alex Clark was negligent, maybe it was a financial oversight, but I trust him."

"And what about my integrity?" I locked eyes with her, "Three years of collaborationdo you really think I'm someone who would stoop to anything unscrupulous?"

Lucy looked away: "Feelings are feelings, work is work; you can't mix the two."

"That's quite a difference you're making." I slammed the photocopy on the table. "We're all longtime employees here. I've been with the Company for five years. Whether I've ever done anything against my conscience, you all know it well."

No one spoke; everyone kept their heads down.

Seeing this, Alex Clark grew bolder. "Daniel, stop lying. Ms. Lynn has already made her decision. Acting like this only makes people look down on you more."

"Compared to you, who climbed the ladder by selling out your dignity, at least I'm straightforward and honest." I retorted.

"How dare you!" Lucy Lynn snapped harshly. "Apologize to Alex Clark immediately!"

"Apologize?" I laughed so hard I almost cried, "I didn't even let him apologize to methat's already going easy on him! Lucy, are you out of your mind?"

"You're the one being paranoid!" Lucy snapped, emotions running high. "Alex is a good employeeI can't let him be wronged!"

The last shred of hope in my heart shattered: "If that's the case, staying at this company is pointless for me."

I pulled out my work ID and threw it on the table. "I'm officially resigning."

"Daniel Green!" Lucy Lynn suddenly called out to me, her voice trembling.

I stopped walking but didn't turn around. "Or should I stay and watch you two lovebirds?"

After speaking, he walked straight out of the conference room.

Back in the office, I was packing up the rest of my things. As I pushed the door open, I saw Alex Clark rummaging through my desk.

"What are you doing?" I snapped angrily.

Alex Clark was startled, and the object in his hand fell to the floorit was the protective jade my grandma had left me, now broken in two.

"My jade!" I rushed over, picking up the shattered pieces, my heart feeling like it was being cut with a knife. "This was my grandma's last wish!"

"I didn't mean toI just wanted to look at your stuff." Alex Clark's eyes darted away.

"Have you been waiting all along for me to leave, hoping to destroy everything I have?" I clenched my fists.

"I haven't!" Alex Clark raised his voice.

At that moment, Lucy walked in. Seeing the scene, she frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

"Ms. Lynn, Daniel is wrongly accusing me of deliberately breaking his jade!" Alex Clark preemptively blamed him.

I was expecting her fair judgment, but she said coldly, "It's just a piece of jade. If it's broken, it's broken. Alex didn't do it on purpose. Don't make things hard on him."

I was completely stunned, staring at her indifferent face, unable to speak a word.

"Lucy Lynn, you really disappoint me." I carefully put away the shattered jade, "This office, this companyI will never set foot in it again."

This time, I didn't stay; I left immediately.

After leaving the Company, I sat in the cafe for a long time, clutching the shattered jade, my fingertips cold.

The phone rang; it was Lucy Lynn calling.

"Daniel Green, where are you? I need to talk to you about what happened today." Her voice sounded somewhat weary.

"There's nothing to discuss." My tone was cold.

"I know I was a bit impulsive, but Alex Clark really isn't what you think he is."

"If you're going to defend him, then don't bother calling." I lost my patience.

"No, that money was transferred by Alex Clark for me. I had an urgent need and didn't get a chance to explain."

I laughed through tears: "An urgent need that requires fake invoices? And you had to hide it from me?"

"I... can you come back and explain it in person?"

"No need." I stood up, "There's nothing left to discuss between us."

I hung up and took a taxi back to the Company not to make peace, but to reclaim what's mine and bring this to an end.

Back at the Company again, the looks the employees gave me were even more complicated.

I walked straight to Alex Clark's office, which used to be mine.

The door was ajar; Alex was sitting in my chair, toying with the crystal ornament Lucy Lynn gave me for my birthday.

"Give me back my things." My voice was cold.

After a brief panic, Alex regained his composure. "Daniel? Ms. Lynn said these items are temporarily in my custody. You've already left the Company, so keeping them serves no purpose."

"Whether it's useful or not is not for you to decide." I reached out to take the crystal ornament.

Alex Clark grabbed my hand: "Show a little restraint, so we can meet again later. Don't be so pushy."

"Pushy?" I pulled my hand away. "You're the ones who wronged me first! Embezzling company funds, poaching my staff, and even taking my belongings. Don't you have any shame?"

"I don't!" Alex Clark snapped back, "You're involved with another woman outside. Doesn't Ms. Lynn know about it?"

"When did that happen?" I slammed my fist on the table.

Alex Clark pulled a photo out of the drawer and threw it in front of me: "This was outside the bar last monthhugging that woman!"

I picked up the photo; the person in it only looks like me. "That's not meyou forged the photo to frame me!"

"Ms. Lynn already believes it. She dismissed you because of this!" Alex Clark said stiffly.

Lucy Lynn walked in, frowned at the argument: "What are you two arguing about now?"

"Ms. Lynn, Daniel is framing me and even laying hands on me!" Alex immediately complained.

"Look at the forged photo he made!" I handed the photo to Lucy Lynn.

Lucy Lynn glanced at it, her expression uneasy: "Whether it's true or not, it's wrong for you to be that close to another woman."

"I didn't do it!" I shouted, "Three years of relationship, is it really that fragile?"

"It's you who has disappointed me the most." Lucy Lynn looked away, "Let's take a break for now."

"You've wanted to break up for a long time, haven't you? Is Alex Clark your new flame?" I questioned.

"Don't talk nonsense! We're just colleagues!" Lucy said with a choked voice.

"Just colleagues?" I took out my phone and played a recording. "Then listen to this I recorded it outside your office door yesterday."

On the phone came the voices of Lucy Lynn and Alex Clark: "Alex, do you think Daniel Green will be angry if he finds out?" "So what if he's angry? I've already taken him down. From now on, the Company is ours. Once we control the Company, we'll get married." "Fine..."

The recording finished playing, and silence fell over the room.

Lucy Lynn's face turned deathly pale, and she swayed unsteadily.

Alex Clark's face was filled with terror.

"Did you hear that? Is this what you call colleague relations?" I said firmly, "Lucy, let's break up. It's completely over."

"No! I know I was wrong. Please give me one more chance!" Lucy lunged forward, gripping my arm tightly.

I shook him off forcefully: "I've given you so many chances, but you didn't cherish any of them. There's no future for us."

"Don't go too far! Lucy already knows she was wrong!" Alex stepped in front of Lucy.

"I'm the one being too much?" My eyes were cold as ice. "You're the one embezzling and framing others, stealing someone else's fianceethat's what's truly unforgivable! Just wait, I'll make you pay!"

After saying that, I turned and walked away. No matter how Lucy cried out, I didn't look back.

Walking out the Company's front door, the sunlight poured over me, and the heavy stone in my heart finally settled.