His Mistress Stole My Bankrupt Deal

My heart stopped when I realized a misplaced decimal point had turned a $560 million contract into a $56 million disaster.

But before I could even process the cold dread pooling in my stomach, my boyfriend stood up in front of the entire company and announced he was appointing his assistant as the new VP of Sales.

My voice cracked as I stood up. "Why, Derrick?"

Derrick looked at me, his eyes entirely devoid of the warmth they used to hold. "Amber just landed a massive, multi-million-dollar account for this firm. Its an achievement you couldn't match in a lifetime, Emma. It's time to step down and let someone more capable take the lead."

I spent six months chasing that lead. I lived out of suitcases, drank terrible hotel lobby coffee, and poured my soul into securing that client.

How could he look at melook at everyoneand lie so effortlessly?

Amber, standing beside him in her perfectly tailored blazer, offered a saccharine, victorious smirk. "Emma, please. Don't do this to yourself. Ask anyone in this room. We all know I was the one who spent the last six months breaking my back for this deal. You had absolutely nothing to do with it."

I scanned the room. The sales team, people I had hired and mentored, stared at their desks, refusing to meet my eyes. I couldn't fathom how a twenty-something assistant had managed to buy their silence so completely.

But the expected wave of fury didn't hit me. Instead, a strange, hysterical bubble of laughter rose in my chest.

If she was this desperate to take the fall for a catastrophic mistake, who was I to stop her?

Watching the room fall into step behind Ambers lie, a cold, dark amusement washed over me.

Five hundred and sixty million dollars. Reduced to fifty-six million.

A five-hundred-million-dollar deficit.

And the contract was already signed, sealed, and legally binding.

A mistake of that caliber wouldn't just end a career; it would bury a company.

If everyone wanted to protect me from the fallout so badly, if Amber was practically begging to strap herself to the metaphorical bomb, why should I stop her?

Of course, I had to play my part. The performance had to be convincing.

I forced my face to contort into an expression of sheer, trembling rage.

I cast a quick, calculated glance at the security camera in the corner of the ceiling.

Then, turning my tear-filled eyes back to Derrick, I let my voice shake.

"So... you're saying Amber brought in this contract? All by herself?"

Derrick didn't blink. "Who else?"

With those two words, the very last ember of affection I held for him went cold.

We had met in high school. Back then, we were just two kids studying under the flickering lights of the library, keeping each other grounded, sharing dreams wrapped in cheap takeout. We went to the same college, fell in love, and started this company from a cramped studio apartment right after graduation.

We built it brick by brick.

There was a time when Derrick would have burned the world down to keep me safe.

But everything changed the day Amber walked through the door.

At first, his indiscretions were whispered, hidden behind late-night "client dinners" and locked office doors. But now, he didn't even bother to spare my feelings.

Looking at his icy, indifferent expression, I lowered my head and let a quiet resolve take root.

"Emma, let's be honest about your capabilities," Derrick said, his voice echoing in the silent office. "Did you really think you were capable of landing a whale like this?"

The sales reps kept their heads down. They knew exactly who had signed that client. But Derrick was the CEO, and in this economy, survival trumped truth.

Even the associate director of sales, a man I had personally promoted, decided to kick me while I was down. He spoke up, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Emma, just drop it. It's embarrassing to watch. Amber practically killed herself working on this account for the last six months. How can you stand there and try to steal her credit? Someone as selfish as you doesn't deserve to run this department anyway. Honestly, you should just leave."

It was a coordinated execution.

Amber stepped forward, her eyes bright with triumph. She adopted her signature fragile, victim-like tone. "Emma, I've always let you have your way when you picked on me in the office. But this deal... I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into it. I won't let you take it from me."

I looked at her.

Let her fly high today. The fall tomorrow would be spectacular.

But a practical thought gave me pause. Even if they lied, my signature was on the original paperworkor so I thought. If the bomb went off, I could still be caught in the blast radius.

I hesitated, keeping my voice cautious. "You claim you negotiated the deal. But I was the one who signed the contract... and I"

"Emma, you really are losing your touch," Amber interrupted, her smile widening. "The contract has my signature on it. Clear as day."

I stared at her, genuinely bewildered. "That's impossible. I distinctly remember signing those papers."

Amber nodded to a junior assistant, who promptly brought over our copy of the executed agreement.

I scanned the signature page.

My name was nowhere near it. It was Ambers handwriting, neat and looping, right above the client's signature.

But how? I knew I had signed it. Did she swap the documents?

Even if she forged our copy, the clienta massive enterprisewould have their own executed version. She couldn't possibly have altered both.

"Emma," Amber purred, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I know it must be hard watching someone younger and more driven surpass you. But the ink is dry. You can't lie your way out of black-and-white proof."

I let my shoulders slump, playing the defeated woman perfectly. "I'm done."

Amber blinked, caught off guard by my sudden surrender. "What?"

"If this company has no place for me," I said, raising my voice so everyone could hear, "I resign."

A flash of pure ecstasy crossed Ambers face, though she quickly masked it with a piteous frown. "Oh, Emma... now everyone will think I forced you out. If you really want credit for the deal... I... I guess I could share it with you."

If this were yesterday, I would have fought tooth and nail. Today, I was practically running for the exit.

Before I could speak, Derrick snapped, "Amber, stop. What's yours is yours. You don't owe her charity. As for you, EmmaI've tolerated your dramatic tantrums for years. But this is the final straw. If you want to resign, fine. I accept."

His response was swift, cold, and entirely devoid of hesitation.

I let out a dry, hollow laugh.

Of course. Why would he hesitate when he had a shiny new toy to play with?

I looked him dead in the eye. "Fine, Derrick. But don't forgetwe built this company together. I own exactly fifty percent of the shares."

Derrick reached into his breast pocket and tossed a sleek black debit card onto the desk.

"I knew you'd turn this into a cash grab," he said, his lips curling in disgust. "Theres five million dollars on that account. Sign over your shares, take the money, and get out of my sight."

Looking at the card, the puzzle pieces fell into place.

It was a setup.

Securing a client of this scale would put our company on the map, skyrocketing our valuation. The firm was easily worth over five hundred million now.

He wanted to push me out, offering a measly five million for half of a thriving empire. A masterclass in greed.

I stared at the card, making no move to pick it up.

Derrick scoffed. "What? Not enough for you?"

"Do you take me for an idiot?" I asked quietly.

Derricks brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"We just secured a massive enterprise contract. The companys valuation is about to be recalculated by every venture capital firm in the city. And you think you can buy me out with a pocket-change five million? Are you stupid, Derrick, or do you just think I am?"

A muscle twitched in Derricks jaw. "I knew you were greedy, Emma, but this is low."

Greedy? He was trying to rob me of my life's work, and he had the audacity to call me greedy.

Looking at him now, the handsome face I had loved for a decade looked incredibly ugly.

I shook my head. "With our current production scale and the projected revenue from this contract, our valuation is easily five hundred million. If we go public, that number doubles. Do you really think I'm going to walk away for five million?"

Derrick's expression darkened into something menacing. "How much do you want?"

"Fifty million."

I didn't hesitate.

Why fifty million and not more?

Because I knew him. He was a selfish pragmatist; he would never agree to an astronomical number. More importantly, with the massive liability hiding in that contract, the company was practically already bankrupt. I needed to cash out fast before the bomb went off.

Fifty million was the absolute ceiling of what Derrick could liquidate or borrow on short notice.

"Fifty million?!" Derrick roared. "You've lost your mind!"

"Have I?" I asked, completely unfazed. "Do you think the company isn't worth that?"

Derricks eyes narrowed. "I don't care about hypothetical valuations. We started this company with five million each. Just because we got a lucky break doesn't mean I'm going to let you extort me."

I expected nothing less.

I nodded slowly, taking a step back. "If you can't meet my price, then we have nothing more to talk about."

I turned to walk away.

"Emma!" Derrick yelled, his voice tight. "You can't sell those shares to anyone else without my approval!"

I looked back over my shoulder. "Oh, really? I think I'll take my chances in the private equity market. Let's see what they have to say."

Derrick clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

He knew the true value of my fifty percent share. That was why he had orchestrated this elaborate coup in the first place.

If the firm's operations were as healthy as he believed, any venture capitalist would jump at the chance to buy my fifty percent for fifty millionheck, even a hundred million would be a steal.

More importantly, Derrick wanted absolute control. If I sold my shares to an aggressive institutional investor, they would squeeze him out of his own board within a year.

He couldn't risk that.

Just as my hand touched the door handle, Derrick cracked.

"Fine!" he barked. "I'll do it. But I need a month to put the funds together."

A month? Absolutely not.

By then, the client would have realized the mistake, the lawsuit would be filed, and the companys stock would be worth less than toilet paper.

I shook my head. "I don't have a month. This time tomorrow, either the money is in my account, or Im calling Mr. Henderson at Henderson Holdings. You know how eager he's been to get his hands on our logistics network. With this new contract, fifty million is a bargain. Hell wire the money before the ink on our deal is dry."

Derrick looked like he wanted to strangle me. "Emma, you know Henderson is a shark! The second he gets a foothold in this company, hell fight me for the CEO seat. I will not let you sell to him!"

"Then youd better pay up," I said calmly. "Who runs this place after I leave is no longer my concern."

Seeing my resolve, Derrick finally slumped, defeated. "Fine. Tomorrow."

I didn't waste another second. I walked out of the building.

That evening, my phone buzzed. It was Sophie, one of the senior account managers and a close colleague.

"Emma, are you really selling your shares?" she asked, her voice hushed.

"Since I can't stay there anymore, why shouldn't I?" I replied.

Sophie sighed. "But fifty million is a massive underestimation. I actually reached out to a friend of mine in venture capital today. He said that with a major enterprise contract under our belt, our valuation is through the roof. He thinks even in a rush sale, your half is worth at least three hundred million. Fifty million is practically giving it away."

I smiled softly into the receiver. "It's fine, Sophie. Consider it the price of peace."

There was a brief silence on the line before Sophie spoke again, her voice even lower. "By the way, right after you left, Derrick called an all-hands meeting. Hes trying to raise thirty million dollars by selling ten percent of the company to the employees."

"Really?" I sat up, intrigued.

"Yeah. Everyone is scrambling to buy in. They think they're getting a golden ticket. Amber bought the largest shareshe actually mortgaged her parents' house and took out a massive bank loan to finance it."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The higher they climb, the harder they fall.

Hearing my laughter, Sophie sounded confused. "What's so funny?"

I didn't answer her directly. Instead, I asked, "Did you buy any?"

"I wanted to," Sophie admitted. "I was actually thinking of borrowing some money from family to get in on it. What do you think?"

I took a deep breath. "I wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Just trust me on this," I said. "Don't buy a single share."

I hung up. I had done what I could for her. The rest was up to her.

The next day.

Derrick summoned me to the office.

I signed the share transfer agreement, and the fifty million dollars was wired to my account.

As I turned to leave, Derrick called out, his voice tinged with a strange mix of guilt and arrogance. "Emma, don't hate me for this. Business is business. In the real world, it's eat or be eaten. Theres no room for sentimentality."

Hearing him finally drop the mask of righteousness, I turned back and looked at him with pity.

"I hope you can keep that same energy in a few weeks," I said quietly.

Derricks eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

I didn't answer. I just walked out.

In the hallway, I ran straight into Amber.

She was practically glowing, a smug grin plastered across her face. "Congratulations on your retirement, Emma."

I didn't say a word. I just walked right past her.

Enjoy your victory, sweetie. Its going to be short-lived.

With fifty million dollars sitting in my bank account, my chest felt incredibly light. I took my parents out for a lavish dinner that evening to celebrate. Mid-course, my phone lit up with an incoming call from Adrian Pierce, the executive at the major client enterprise.

"Emma," Adrians deep voice came through the line. "Theres a critical issue with the contract. We need to meet immediately. Are you free?"

I knew this call was coming.

"Adrian," I said, keeping my tone perfectly calm. "Are you calling about the decimal point?"

A brief pause on the other end. "You already know?"

I nodded and said, "Of course I do. But the company forced me out right after the deal was closed. Legally, that mistake is no longer my problem. I suggest you handle it directly with the person who signed it."

Adrian let out a low, appreciative chuckle. "Your company really is a viper's nest, isn't it? Fine, I know what to do. Thanks for the heads-up on the free five hundred million."

When I hung up, a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me.

Adrian had been trying to get close to me for months, often hinting at wanting something more than a professional relationship. If I were still at the firm, he would have used this massive leverage to pressure me. But now that I was out of the equation, he had no reason to play nice.

Capitalism is inherently greedy. No corporate executive is going to hand back half a billion dollars out of the goodness of their heart.

Late that night, unable to sleep, I scrolled through social media.

I saw Ambers latest post.

It featured two photos: one of her newly signed employee stock purchase agreement, and another of her and Derrick clinking champagne glasses.

The caption read:

Special thanks to a certain someone who didn't have what it took. If she hadn't quit, I wouldn't be the new VP of Sales with a five percent stake in the company! #Blessed #Success #NextChapter

I tapped the "like" button and locked my phone.

Word on the street was that to secure that five percent, Amber had not only mortgaged her parents home but had also taken out high-interest personal loans.

Watching her march so enthusiastically toward her own ruin was a beautiful thing.

Over the next month, I traveled, letting the stress of the last ten years melt away while keeping an eye out for new investment opportunities.

Exactly thirty days later, the bomb finally exploded.

My phone rang. It was Derrick.

"Emma, you crazy bitch!" he screamed, his voice raw with panic. "What did you do to the contract? Did you set me up?!"

I held the phone a few inches from my ear, a cold, sharp smile spreading across my face.

"Derrick, what on earth are you talking about?" I mocked, using his own condescending tone. "Everyone knows that deal was negotiated and signed by your brilliant new VP. What does it have to do with me?"