After I was Laid Off, the Company Went Bankrupt

At the end of the year, I was on the list of layoffs as one of the company's founders.

My boyfriend, as the biggest boss behind the scenes, looked at me with a smile and protected my cousin firmly behind him.

He sneered, “Katherine, you can't even compare to one finger of your sister, why should I keep you?"

Then, after I got home, my parents scolded, “Can't you learn from your sister? You are an adult now, so please stop being annoying, or no one will like you."

Well, the new year had not even started yet, but there were already cuckolding, layoffs and family turmoil happening one after another.

I suddenly realized, why should I be around them? I had my own life too.

But when I figured it out, they came to ask me to go back.

I cheerfully gave him a middle finger and said, “Sorry, I don't have time. I won't accompany you."

***

Because I was negotiating a cooperation, I did not attend the company's annual meeting.

The cooperation had just been discussed, so I was full of hope to tell them the good news as early as last year. But then I learned that I had been laid off.

Funny, right? I was one of the company’s founders, not just an ordinary employee, but in the end, I was the one who was laid off by the CEO.

I quickly sent a message to my boyfriend, Mike Vance, who was another founder of our company and also the powerful chairman.

[Katherine: Why did HR inform me that I was laid off? So suddenly?]

However, I got no reply to my WhatsApp messages nor answer to my phone calls.

After a long time, a message came.

[Mike: Let's break up.]

Break up? I was even more shocked. We had already discussed marriage a week ago, why did he suddenly break up with me?

I thought about it and continued in the original direction to the hotel where the company was holding its annual meeting.

As soon as I arrived, people around me casted different looks at me. On the other hand, Mike didn’t care about me since he was on the stage imagining the company's bright future. So, I walked up to the stage expressionlessly, asking him to give me an explanation.

He glared at me with a sullen face, yelling, “You can’t come here. Where is the security?"

“Why was I laid off? I need you to give me an explanation."

When I finished speaking, some employees in the audience burst into laughter and a few people whispered to each other.

“She really thinks she's the Boss. How dare she talk like that?"

“That's right, she's just a girl who relies on her boyfriend to get ahead. She really thinks she's so impressive when she puts on a dress."

My face turned even darker. But I had always maintained a gentle attitude in the company, so I didn't want to let that kind of person got over me that day.

Mike obviously heard my question, so he answered provocatively, “Yes, you were laid off, so you were not allowed to attend the year-end meeting. You are fired, Miss Avery."

Then, he continued, “Everyone, our company is about to go public. Only when the people who should leave the company leave can we get through this period smoothly. After all, everyone wants to get a raise and promotion, right?"

After Mike said those statements out loud, the security guards came. 

I knew that no matter how hard I struggled, my power couldn't beat them. So, I chose to walk out on my own feet.

But before I left, someone kicked my ankle and said in disgust, “Why are you pretending? Fortunately, our CEO is not a love-brained person. He is wise and brave. Also, without her, he will definitely help us make more money."

***

It was winter and snow was falling outside. I held the document in my arms, feeling cold, but my heart was even colder.

Once we graduated, Mike and I started Ritchie Group.

Over the past few years, I had devoted my heart and soul to the company.

In the end, because I had no shares and only empty power, I became a thorn in his side. So, when the company laid off employees, I was the first person he thought of.

Of course, I couldn't just walk away without knowing why.