They Cut My Bonus to 20,000

When Lucien handed me the year-end bonus plan earlier, this department payout sheet had been accidentally tucked behind it.

I originally thought everyone's year-end bonus had been reduced.

It turned out mine was the only one that had been cut.

Lucien gave me a half-smile. "That's because you did the least work and contributed the least effort. So, you naturally get the smallest year-end bonus."

Right.

In their eyes, I did nothing every day except order the sales team around, schmooze clients over dinner, and build relationships until deals magically appeared on their own.

Lucien added, "Also, the company has decided to transfer you to another position because of your limited capabilities. Brennan will take over as sales manager."

I nearly laughed out loud.

80% of the company's orders had come through me.

Yet, they were now claiming I was a poor performer and were replacing me with a useless bootlicker who only knew how to flatter the higher-ups?

I forced down my temper and questioned, "What about the previous orders I brought in? And what about the 50-million-dollar order I just secured?"

Lucien leaned back in his office chair, folded his hands together, and glanced at me lazily. "Hold on, Cassian. Stop right there. Those orders aren't yours. They belong to the company."

He continued, "Besides, an order worth 50 million naturally needs to be handled by the sales manager. From now on, you'll follow Brennan's arrangements and focus on your own duties."

I thought, 'Heh. I just closed a major deal, and they were already transferring me and slashing my year-end bonus. So this is what they want, huh? They're throwing me away after squeezing me dry.'

I had personally camped out for the client just to get my hands on those orders.

I had picked up his kids, dropped them off, run errands like a personal assistant, and even handled all the messy favors no one else wanted to touch.

Yet, they were now transferring me after that the order was finally secured and the contract was about to be signed.

It was obvious just what they were doing.

They wanted to swallow my year-end bonus and commission whole.

Two million was not a small amount.

I forced myself to calm down. "Fine. I'll accept the transfer, but my year-end bonus and commission must be paid to me in full. Not one cent less."

A sharp gleam flashed through Lucien's eyes. "Cassian, according to the year-end standard for an ordinary sales employee, you can only get 20,000. As for commission, whoever signs the contract gets the commission.

"The contract hasn't been signed yet, so you can't really say that the commission belongs to you, can you?"

I was stunned by how shameless he was. 'So, I charge into battle at the front, and they sit back to collect the rewards? Even the greediest person would have to applaud them.'

I couldn't resist cussing Lucien and his entire bloodline out in my head.

However, my brain brought to mind my mother's medical bills.

In the end, I could only grit my teeth and swallow my anger.

"Fine. I won't fight you for the commission on this order. But you had better pay every cent of my previous commissions. Otherwise, I could also ensure that the company would be celebrating for nothing.

"After all, I was able to bring in that 50-million-dollar order, so ruining it is as easy as pie."

Lucien slammed his palm on the desk and snapped, "You wouldn't dare."

I stared straight at him. "Try me."

Lucien glared at me, his jaw clenched so hard it looked painful.

Yet, he could not do anything to me.

…

After I walked out of his office, I saw Brennan directing people to move things.

"Mr. Veyne. Oh, wait. Sorry. Cassian."

Brennan smiled smugly.

"I'll be taking this manager's office. You don't mind, do you?"

He added, "Also, since you're a poor performer and you can't handle sales work anymore, you'll be working as back-office support in the sales department from now on."

My face stayed blank. "Do whatever you want. Use it if you like. Where are my things?"

He lifted a hand and pointed. "Over there."

My personal belongings had been dumped at his old workstation.

Some of my things had even been tossed onto the floor like trash.

I looked up.

The coworkers nearby quickly averted their eyes. Some feigned taking phone calls, while others pretended to be typing.

Not one person spoke up in my defense.

Brennan chose that moment to announce, "I booked a private room at The Alder House tonight. I hope everyone can join me for dinner. Consider it a celebration of my promotion."

The same people who had been pretending to be busy immediately stood up, clapping and cheering.

"Mr. Sloane, you're so generous."

"Mr. Sloane, just give the order and we'll do it."

"Mr. Sloane, we can only live well as long as we're under your leadership. Why didn't you come sooner?"

"Mr. Sloane, you are now my lead."

I Clocked Out Right on Time

Brennan smiled as he responded to everyone's flattery.

Finally, his gaze landed on me.

"Cassian, stay late tonight and fill out everyone's phone bill and transportation reimbursement forms."

Then, he announced, "Everyone, give your receipts to him."

The whole department started shoving receipts onto my desk. They were acting as if being one second late would ruin their image in front of the new boss.

I looked at the messy workstation in front of me and lowered my head with a small laugh. "Sorry. I'm clocking out."

Then, I dug my briefcase out from the pile.

The receipts stacked on my desk scattered everywhere, fluttering down to the floor.

I languidly stepped over the thick layer of receipts under everyone's stunned gaze, picked up my bag, clocked out, and left right on time.

It would be disrespectful to my slashed year-end bonus if I was even one second late to leave the office.

Since I was no longer allowed to do sales or earn commission, I decided to coast at this company.

...

The next morning, I clocked in exactly on time.

As soon as I walked in, I saw two people rummaging through my workstation.

Brennan stood off to the side with his arms crossed.

When he saw me, he shot me a sideways glance. "Cassian, give me the files for the major clients. I'm going to follow up with them."

I shrugged and pointed at the messy desk. "The files are all on the computer. Sadly, the computer hasn't been set up yet."

Brennan curled his lip. "Then, hurry up and set it up."

I shook my head. "Sorry. I need to go take a dump first."

Then, I hummed a little tune and swaggered right past him.

I only strolled back into the office after dragging things out for two hours.

…

In those two hours, my workstation had magically become spotless and organized.

I had just brewed myself a cup of coffee when Lucien walked over with Brennan.

Lucien looked at me with open contempt. "Cassian, send the major client files to Brennan immediately. If you delay those orders, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

He warned, "And don't even think about hiding anything."

I pulled a stack of documents from a folder and tossed them onto the desk. "Here. The major client files you wanted."

Brennan looked overjoyed. He grabbed the files and quickly left.

That afternoon, Brennan came back fuming.

Then, he rushed straight into Lucien's office.

A few minutes later, Lucien marched to my workstation with Brennan behind him. "Cassian, what is wrong with you? Why aren't the clients' personal contact numbers in these files? And why didn't you include the follow-up notes?"

I smiled.

Those were major clients I had worked hard to bring in.

Their private contact information came from personal relationships I had shamelessly built, favor by favor.

Why would I hand that over so easily?

Besides, those clients only gave me their private numbers because they trusted me.

Since Brennan wanted to visit them so badly, he could follow the official process and rely on his own ability.

Why stand here barking at me?

I lowered my head and continued sorting receipts.

I organized one stack before slowly pasting them onto the forms.

Only after I finished every receipt in front of me did I stretch lazily and speak at an unhurried pace.

"Mr. Blackwell, I'm just back-office support now. My job is to paste receipts and organize spreadsheets. How would I know anything about what you're asking?"

Lucien snapped, "Weren't those clients all brought in by you?"

I smiled. "Hold on, Mr. Blackwell. Stop right there. They weren't brought in by me. They belong to the company."

I returned Lucien's own words to him, exactly as he had given them to me.

Lucien could no longer hold back his anger. He snatched the receipts from my hand and started tearing them apart. As he ripped them, he growled, "Are you going to drag this out with that snarky attitude of yours?"

I clapped and cheered him on. "Mr. Blackwell, you're absolutely right. I've been saying these salespeople keep exaggerating their transportation claims. It was time someone cleaned this up."

Only then did Lucien realize what he had torn apart.

Those were the reimbursement receipts for the entire sales department.

He threw the ruined receipts onto the desk, furious beyond control. "Cassian, do you even want this job anymore? If you don't, get out right now!"