Corporate Math: Negative Commission

I did not put up a fight.

I calmly packed up my belongings and moved my workstation over to the new spot. I accepted every form of petty nitpicking and sabotage without any reaction.

Richard finally lost his patience and decided to confront me. He summoned me to his office and cut straight to the point.

"Eva, let's speak frankly."

He leaned back on his swivelling chair and said to me condescendingly, "Everyone has seen your recent behavior. You're passive, lazy, and disengaged. You're seriously harming the company's atmosphere and the team's morale."

I asked, perplexed, "Mr. Gray, when have I been passive and lazy?"

He snickered and replied, "You still won't admit to it? You clock out right on time every day. You won't accept new projects or maintain your old clients. You're either playing games or browsing the internet. Are you not slacking off?"

"Mr. Gray, you've misunderstood," I said earnestly.

"I don't easily pick up calls from our clients because I'm worried I might speak out of turn. I won't do complicated projects because I might miscalculate. I won't work late because I'm worried I might waste the company's resources and cause more loss."

I added, "I'm just following your instructions to the letter. I'm minimizing risk and doing everything I can to not create new losses for the company."

He pointed at me. "Y-You…"

Richard could not form a single coherent sentence.

All he clearly wanted was for me to resign on my own because he did not want to pay me severance.

I asked directly, "Mr. Gray, all in all, you’re just trying to avoid the cost of firing me, aren’t you??"

He raised his voice to cover up his guilty conscience. "Nonsense! This company operates strictly by the rules. It's your attitude that’s the problem! You're simply not keeping up with the company’s growth!"

Looking at his outburst, nothing but bravado covering a hollow core, I found it all comical.

Solving big problems with the smallest possible cost had always been his guiding principle.

I did not want to continue arguing with him about severance. It was beneath me.

The only reason I held on was because I was waiting to see what was about to unfold.

I calmly replied, "I will resign in two days."

Two days were more than enough.

It was enough for that stolen, outdated analysis report to detonate every hidden flaw once the project reached its critical testing phase.

Richard looked triumphant. He must have thought that I could no longer take the pressure, so I decided not to fight with him.

He snorted arrogantly. "Hmmph. At least you know your place."

He waved his hand dismissively as if shooing a bothersome fly away. "Get the resignation process done. Don't drag it out and disrupt everyone."

"Okay."

I turned around and left his office.

The project arrived at its critical testing phase as scheduled.

On the morning of the test, the file description and its actual data did not match at all, causing lethal mistakes. The entire project team was in chaos.

Albert and his team were about to arrive to check on the project. If they could not show him the test, not only was the deal called off, but the company would face a huge fine for the breach of contract.

Richard barked, "Jessica, what the hell is going on?! Weren't you in charge of the report and the proposals?"

Jessica was so frightened that she shuddered, and tears instantly fell. "She was the one who did the foundation reports and core modules! I-I merely followed up based on what she did!"

Richard yelled out of the meeting room, "Where the hell is Eva?! Get her in right now!"

I entered with a folder in my hand and replied, "There's no need to shout, Mr. Gray."

Richard said anxiously, "Eva, have a look and see what's going on. Solve this quickly!"

I waved my hands and said innocently, "Mr. Gray, I'm afraid I can't. I just finished the resignation process. I'm no longer an employee of the company."