My boss, Kyle Brown, had just processed payroll when Sam Jefferson, the trainee I had been mentoring, tossed me his phone. He said, "Can you hold this for me while I use the bathroom?"

I took it without thinking, then froze when I saw the screen. That was because a notification had just popped up: [This month's salary has been deposited. Total: $4,692.00.]

I had been with this company for eight years, and I only made one thousand dollars a month.

When I was hired, Kyle had told me that we were a startup. As long as I worked hard, I would make big money eventually. But over the years, Kyle had traded in one Mercedes after another while my salary kept shrinking.

At present, my savings were less than four thousand dollars. I was close to not being able to afford the medical bills for my younger sister, Eva Rivers, who was very sick and bedridden.

Meanwhile, the trainee I was mentoring made close to four thousand seven hundred dollars a month.

I stayed quiet for a moment, then turned and asked the employee beside me how much he made.

He stammered for a long time and would not answer.

I understood it then.

I picked up my phone and opened the recruitment message a competitor had sent me a few days earlier.

When Bob Brown heard me ask about his salary, he put on a shameless expression and said, "Stop asking, alright? You know how Mr. Brown doesn't let us talk about that. You've survived all these years, so just keep taking it! Don't drag us into this."

My heart went cold when I heard that.

Whenever they made mistakes at work over the years, I was the one who stepped in to help them more than once. But now, they would not even tell me a word of truth because they were afraid I would get them into trouble.

"I've treated you well for the past eight years. I just want to know how much you make. Even a rough number is fine," I said, forcing the words out.

"Do I have to answer just because you asked? Besides, I never begged you to help. You were the one who butted in. Why should I owe you anything? Stop acting like you're everyone's senior all the time," Bob rolled his eyes with a sour expression, as if I was the one who owed him.

"Have I really never done anything for you?" I gave him a mocking smile.

Five days ago, he had almost fallen to his knees on the floor in a panic, begging me to handle a difficult customer for him. That customer had kicked me hard right in the chest, and I had passed out on the spot. The losses caused by that customer had also been added to my record.

Bob had not shown a shred of gratitude whatsoever. Instead, he was even blaming me for meddling now.

Bob gave me an awkward smile. "You've been here for years, Dean. Don't be so petty. Our team handling the hotel side of things is like a family. You can't ruin that over something so small."

"This team's peace is only possible because I'm the one putting up with everything? Is that what you're saying? And the second I raise a question, I'm the one being problematic?" I laughed in anger and pressed him even more.

"So, all of you worked with Kyle to exploit me. You wanted to keep me trapped here, is that right?" I snapped at Bob, but he only smiled.

"If saying that makes you feel better, go ahead and curse me. But insulting a coworker for no reason means you'll get docked a hundred dollars. Think about your sister lying in that hospital bed," Bob said, and his words stopped me cold.

Looking at his face, I could only grit my teeth and force down the urge to hit him.

Just as I was about to leave, he called after me again, "Stop always thinking about what you've done for everyone. I'm going to karaoke tomorrow, so remember to cover my shift. Don't forget, the pay still goes to me, same as always."

I stopped walking immediately.

Four years ago, I had covered their shifts and worked nonstop until I passed out from exhaustion. But when I woke up, Kyle had informed me that all my salary was wiped out because I had skipped work for three days.

After that incident, not one of them covered for me. They even blamed me for being so useless, saying I had ruined their fun by passing out after only a few days of work.

Thinking about it now, I really had been a fool.

"In your dreams!" I said as I looked back at him one last time before walking away.

I had been a fool for so many years, and it was finally time to wake up.

Despite leaving without hesitation, Bob's words kept echoing in my head. Eva, my sister… Her medical bills for the month weighed on me like a mountain to the point that I could barely breathe.

After thinking it over, I decided to collect this month's pay first. At the very least, I was not going to let the company keep what it owed me.

Once I made up my mind, I headed straight for my workstation.

When I passed by Kyle's office, I heard shouting and yelling from inside.

"What did you say? Dean actually asked how much all of you are making? Is he trying to start a rebellion?!"

Kyle slammed the desk so hard it shook.

Then came Bob's sneaky voice. "Yes. The second I heard him say that, I came to report it to you. I was afraid he might resign."

Kyle laughed, his voice full of mockery. "Him? If he really had the nerve to resign, I would at least respect him for being a real man. He talks all day about treating his sister, but he can barely afford her medicine now. Every dollar he has made has been turned into my luxury cars and mansions instead."

My heart sank even lower now.

Back then, I had chosen to follow Kyle and struggle with him from the days of being a start-up because he had promised to help me treat my sister.

I had stayed with the company until it became public until now. And yet, Kyle was spending money left and right. Meanwhile, me? Other than being plagued by work-related sickness, I had gained nothing. My salary had even kept dropping.

Bob was still buttering him up. "That just proves how brilliant you are, Mr. Brown. With the salary secrecy rule in place, no matter how suspicious Dean gets, he has no way to find out what everyone really makes. He can only stay here as cheap labor."

Kyle patted Bob on the shoulder. "Exactly. But you also did well by reacting quickly this time. Keep working hard for me, and I'll give you a raise next month."

Bob thumped his chest loudly. "Of course. If Dean is slacking off, I'll tell you right away."

I almost lost control, and I could only lean against the wall. I had been desperate to earn enough money for Eva's treatment, but that had simply become a weakness they used to control me.

Of course, they would throw all the dirty work at me, while promotions and raises had nothing to do with me.

All this illness that plagued me was what I deserved.

Suddenly, I heard soft footsteps approaching me. I turned and saw my intern, Sam. I had always thought he was kind and had real potential. Now… I was no longer sure.

Even he had lied to me.

It was my own fault for being blind and mistaking all the malevolent people for decent people. Without what happened today, I never would have seen their true colors.

In the past, Bob would occasionally lend me a hand when I worked. That tiny gesture had moved me more than I wanted to admit. But the work I was working on had been his to begin with, and Bob had only been putting on an act.

I looked at Sam warily, but he simply grabbed my sleeve and pulled me into a hidden corner. His eyes lit up as he looked at me. "You've finally seen those people's true colors, right?"

Only then did I realize he had tossed me his phone on purpose.

If they kept on deceiving me, Sam would have been one of the people benefiting from it. Yet, he had chosen to warn me.

I asked in surprise, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

What he said next caught me completely off guard.

Sam began by saying, "You saw that recruitment post from two days ago, didn't you? I sent that."

I looked Sam up and down. No matter how I looked at him, he was still the same kid.

Seeing my confusion, Sam explained the truth. He was actually the boss of a competing company. However, his family was the one that had placed him there. He was worried he could not handle the shrewd senior employees inside the company, so he wanted to find a few allies ahead of time.

I had naturally caught his attention, since I had led my team in taking several projects from his company.

That was why he had hidden his identity and come here undercover. He wanted to see what I could do and poach me at the same time.

I was almost speechless. Then, I said, "For a CEO, you're really hands-on. You even have to poach your own people in person."

Sam scratched his head in embarrassment. "I mean, my family practically kicked me out for not achieving anything, but don't worry. I still have plenty of resources. You won't get the short end of the stick."

That almost made me laugh. I would never doubt a nepobaby born with a silver spoon in his mouth when it came to the sheer amount of resources they had access to.

Still, I had just woken up from years of being lied to. I no longer dared to trust anyone so easily. So, I tested him with a sneer, "From what you're saying, your situation doesn't look good. In that case, I'm going to ask for something outrageous."

Sam's tone turned serious. "What do you want? I'll do my best to get it for you."

His solemn expression startled me, so I tested him again. "I want five percent of the shares that you own. The team I lead must also have full autonomy. Executives can't interfere with my work."

I thought he would reject me immediately. But to my surprise, he let out a sigh of relief instead, and a sly smile appeared on his face. "That's all? Dean, your ability is worth those terms. Besides, I was ready to offer you fifteen percent of the shares I control."

My chest tightened.

So… There really were people who could see what I was capable of and tell me with certainty that I was worth it.

I thought back to when I first joined this company. The team had not even gotten off the ground, and I was the one running around alone, bringing in projects and solving problems.

Meanwhile, Kyle would simply sit back and relax with tea in his hand. "Keep it up, Dean! This is all part of your job, so don't slack off! Also, I'm out of my premium tea. Remember to buy me a few more packs."

I had long since gotten used to Kyle saying things like that.

The team's afternoon snacks, his premium tea, and every other extra expense had to be paid by me first. If I refused, I had no team spirit. But once I paid, I never got the money back.

I had gone to finance more than once, but they and Kyle kept passing me back and forth.

"Those were Mr. Brown's personal requests. They aren't company expenses, so they can't be reimbursed. If you want your money back, please ask Mr. Brown."

"Those were company expenses, so of course they go through finance. Go ask them for it."

I had been played for years. In the end, it was the boss of the competing company who was now telling me that I was worth it.

Looking at the light in Sam's eyes, I laughed softly. It was aimed at myself, but it was also one of relief.

"Alright. I accept," I said.

I also wanted to see how this company could keep running without me.

Before I could finish packing my things and hand in my resignation letter, Kyle called me into his office.

He started, "Dean, I heard you've had some complaints about the company lately?"

"I don't just have some complaints about the company. I have a lot of..." But before I could finish, Kyle held my shoulder.