The Boss Who Wanted a Free Feast Got a Million-Dollar Lesson

A hard little edge curled at the corner of my mouth.

"Live stream the whole thing."

I hung up and went straight to HR to hand in my resignation.

Daphne Vance, the HR director, glanced at the form, then waved me into a chair.

She gave me that look, the one that said she'd been around and was only telling me this for my own good.

"Cecily, sweetie, this is nothing. Resigning over it? Word gets out that you fell out with a director over one dinner, and you'll never work anywhere again."

"An opportunity like this doesn't come to just anyone. You should be grateful. Do tonight's celebration banquet right. Don't embarrass your department, and don't drag your family's restaurant's name through the mud either."

My breath caught, and a dull ache pressed against my chest.

I looked at her, and the warmth drained out of my face.

"Ms. Vance, resigning is my right. If you insist on blocking it, I won't hesitate to file with the labor arbitration board."

Daphne's expression darkened, and she switched into strictly-by-the-book mode.

"Resignations require one month's advance notice, and you can't leave until your handover is complete and cleared."

"And during that time, you'll be subject to a financial audit and an attendance review. If anything turns up, it'll be handled strictly per company policy, and all of it goes into your background check. So think it through carefully!"

I slid my employment contract across to her.

"The contract doesn't say anything about one month's notice."

Her face went stiff for a second.

"You still have to go through the audit and review."

"How long?"

"A week, at the fastest."

"Fine." I nodded. "I'll wait."

I turned and walked out. As I reached the office door, I heard Aileen saying, "He's invited the HR and finance directors tonight. From now on nobody's tracking our attendance, and expense approvals will go faster too."

"Mr. Whitney really knows how to set things up. Stick with him and you eat well. Get a few more suckers like Cecily Joyner and think how much he saves on meals in a year."

I stood at the door and gave a cold laugh.

No wonder Daphne went to bat for Oliver like that. She'd been bought off.

Good. Then I could net them all in one sweep.

Back at my desk, I tidied my files as if nothing were wrong.

Aileen sat with a little compact, touching up her makeup while sniping at me in that snide tone.

"Honestly, some people just won't take the easy way and have to learn the hard way. So? Scared now, aren't you? One dinner buys you peace of mind. Cecily Joyner, you're not losing anything."

"Right. Mr. Whitney went to all that trouble to promote her family's place, and this is how she repays him. Real ingrate."

"A little money and she thinks she's somebody, doesn't even respect a director. People like that don't last anywhere. When the background-check people come asking, send them to me, and I'll show them exactly what she's worth!"

I pretended not to hear and kept my head down, working.

Oliver posted a menu in the group chat, everything the colleagues had just ordered.

Then he tagged me.

【@Cecily Joyner, I've put together everyone's order. Send it to your mom so she can prep ahead. Also, set up the venue. Ten flower baskets will do, and have them make a seven-tier cake. It's a celebration banquet, after all, so it should look lively.】

I didn't reply.

The colleagues piled on with their likes.

【Mr. Whitney's got real style】

【Brilliant as always, Mr. Whitney】

Every one of them was beaming, like they couldn't wait for six o'clock.

I watched them, cold-eyed.

Laugh all you want. I just hope you can still laugh tonight.

At six that evening, Oliver led over a hundred people in a grand procession to the door of the Skyline Revolving Restaurant.

A server politely blocked the entrance.

"I'm sorry, sir. The restaurant is booked privately tonight and closed to the public."

Oliver shot the server an arrogant look.

"You don't know who I am? And you still dare to stop me?"

"I'm the one who booked the place. Now get out of the way!"

The server didn't move.

"I'm sorry, sir. Tonight's private booking is for a proposal, and it isn't yours. Please cooperate and leave."