The Rejected Man's Rise

CHAPTER 05

“Go easy on us after you become the head of the department, Brother Mike.”

“We will throw a celebratory party for you tonight, Sir Mike.”

Everybody began to suck up to Mike, all the tens of employees, except for Caleb who sat rooted in his seat.

With hands in pockets, Mike looked at Caleb with smug satisfaction.

Caleb ignored him and just focused on his work.

Mike smirked and calmly asked the HR manager, “If the deal of Phantom Dream Investments goes through, the core team will be expanded a little, but the regular teams will get cropped, too, won’t they?”

“Not by much since there’s demand,” the HR manager’s words relieved all the employees, “but of course…” he particularly looked toward Caleb’s desk and sneered, “if Phantom Dream Investments discovers that the company employs a useless person like him, they definitely won’t invest.”

“I was thinking the same. Useless employees like Caleb will be the first to go,” Mike laughed, and many other employees started laughing with him.

Caleb was beginning to find it very difficult to sit in his seat, let alone focus on the work at hand.

Was he really going to lose his job?

Should he go and inform the investors about his stake in their company?

He grabbed the water bottle, but there was no water in it.

He got up and went to the water dispenser that was near the guest room.

He didn’t mean to overhear, but he could hear the people inside negotiating about the investment.

Edward the chairman was actively persuading while also preserving his dignity.

The investment company members also responded with respect because Edward’s reputation was as such.

“It seems like the negotiations are going fine,” Caleb filled the bottle with water, but he did not take a single sip.

He returned to his desk and sat there, contemplating on what he should do.

The HR manager went to the guest room once and then came out two minutes later.

“It’s almost a done deal,” he told Mike, and everyone began to clap softly.

Sherry and Mike were already hugging and celebrating.

Mike signaled the HR manager, who nodded and went over to Caleb’s desk. “All the work you’ve done for the company is appreciated, but you are fired.”

“What?” Caleb was shocked even though he saw it coming. He frowned seriously. “Are you sure you want to do this? Even if you come begging later, there won’t be any use.”

“Pfft, hahaha,” the HR manager laughed, and so did some of the employees. He put his hand on Caleb’s desk and grinned, “Don’t worry. You’re very easy to replace.”

“Alright,” With folds playing on his forehead, Caleb started packing his belongings.

“Are you already giving up?” Mike snickered. “You’re such a coward. No wonder Sherry rejected you. Why would she date a spineless guy like you? You’re way below her level. She deserves someone like me who can rise through the ranks and live like a king.”

Some others in the office called him a loser.

Caleb acted like he had no ears.

As he was walking past them with his bag on his back and a box in his hands, Sherry said, “Let’s give him a chance, Mike. If he brings me breakfast and lunch every day, then we’ll let him be.”

She didn’t want to lose her free meal ticket and her emotional dumpster.

“Mm…” Mike thought about it and said, “if that’s what you want, then I’ll not object.”

“You heard him, Caleb,” Sherry quickly said. “Go back to your desk.”

Caleb, however, did not stop.

“For a loser, he’s so arrogant!” some other employees ran their mouths without any care, even though I had helped with their work many times.

One thing became crystal clear at this moment for Caleb.

He didn’t have a single friend in the office.

He only thought he did.

He thought Sherry was his genuine friend, but now he realized that she was just using him. After Mike joined the company, she slowly made her move without even him realizing it.

He believed that Mike and Sherry were just using each other, so they were made for each other.

Caleb walked out of the company building and went to the parking lot where his old car, a 30 year old sky blue toyota corolla, was parked. It was his father’s car.

He put his bag and the box in the boot.

Just then, something banged into his car from the front.

The sound of glass breaking penetrated Caleb’s ears and his heart.

“Who the fuck—” Caleb stormed to the front, but his tongue got stuck in his throat after seeing a dark blue Mercedes AMG roadster that had suffered a dent in its bumper.

“Ah, crap,” a tall young brunette in a black suit stepped out, flipping her voluminous hair without touching it.

Her long hair flowed with the wind. The smell of perfume mixed with shampoo washed Caleb’s face. But her wonderful visage surpassed the sweet scent she gave off. She was exceedingly beautiful even with minimal makeup.

After seeing Caleb, she stopped chewing gum and removed the sunglasses.

They both stared at each other without exchanging a word.