Chapter 9: Vindication

I took the non-compete agreement I’d signed to consult a lawyer. After reading it all, he told me confidently:

“The rights and obligations are completely unbalanced, and the terms are vague. It’s basically an invalid contract. Even if your former company sues you, I’m ninety percent sure I can help you win.”

Hearing that, I felt much more at ease.

On my way back from the law firm, I got a call from Aubrey, Vice President of Westview Group. For years, she’d led Westview’s marketing operations department, always competing with me but always losing.

On the phone, she sounded gleeful. “Haha, heard you got fired by Grant Chandler?”

I replied irritably, “More or less. Even worse than being fired. What, are you here to kick me while I’m down?”

She laughed. “No, no—I’m here to see if you’re interested in joining Westview. This time you have no excuse to refuse, right?”

I was silent. In recent years, Westview had sent headhunters to poach me several times, but I always refused. Later, Aubrey contacted me directly, saying I could name my terms if I joined. At the time, I was deeply attached to Chandler Group and thought of Grant Chandler as my mentor—I never considered leaving.

“Are you in or not? Give me a straight answer!” Aubrey pressed.

I politely declined. “I’m only middle management, and I signed a non-compete. I probably can’t work in the same industry for two years.”

Actually, I had my own plans. Since Grant Chandler burned the bridge, I had a hundred ways to make him regret it.

Aubrey said boldly, “If you want to come, we’ll help you with the lawsuit. If we lose, Westview will pay your buyout.”

I was speechless for a moment. To be honest, I was a little tempted. But even more, I felt bitter.

The company I’d poured my heart into had kicked me out, but Westview, the competitor I’d suppressed for seven years, was reaching out to help.

I replied, “Then I’ll seriously consider it. Whatever I decide, thank you.”

Aubrey laughed. “Hey, don’t mention it. Maybe we’ll be colleagues fighting side by side soon.”

I hung up and just stood on the street, phone in hand, watching city buses roll by and thinking about all the ways life twists the knife.