He Paid Half My Mother’s Surgery, Now I Own Half His Company Chapter 08
My first month in Southton City was far from easy.
During my first solo project presentation, my manager cut me off three times mid–presentation.
“What is your conclusion?”
“Why should this client choose you?”
“Jessie, have you thought about your core strengths? What makes you irreplaceable?”
I carried my files back to my workstation. Tears welled up, but I blinked them back. That night I reworked the presentation until one a.m.
Mom was waiting for me in the living room. When
I walked in, she set a bowl of warm soup in front of me. “Jessie, if this job is breaking you, you don’t have to keep going.”
Right after saying it, she shook her head. “Never
mind. I won’t make decisions for you. Keep going if it matters to you. If you really can’t take it
anymore, we will find something else.”
I ate in silence.
Mom spoke softly, “I was wrong before. I used to believe a woman was lost without a husband. But
I see it now–you were never more alone than
when you were still with Antony.”
My throat tightened. “Mom, you don’t blame me
anymore?”
Her eyes glistened. “That day you called yourself worthless? It gutted me. Later I still begged you not to file for divorce. That was fear talking. I was afraid you’d struggle financially, that you’d suffer, that people would look down on you.”
She squeezed my hand. “You haven’t made a fortune these past months. But you stand so much taller than you used to. I finally understand that marriage is not a woman’s whole life; what matters is building a life worth living.”
I lowered my head. Tears fell straight into my
soup.
I reworked the presentation. When I presented it again, my manager nodded. “That works.”
Those two words kept me smiling all day.
Three months later, I passed probation. That same
day, I was assigned my first solo project.
Shortly after my promotion to Senior Project
Manager, our company prepared to open its
Southton regional office.
My manager handed over a recruitment list. “You
know this industry well. Recommend anyone you think is a good fit.”
Linda was the first person who came to mind.
When she picked up, she laughed and
congratulated me right away.
I asked her, “Linda, would you consider relocating
to Southton City? We’re offering a forty percent
raise over your current salary at Aventis, plus
additional project bonuses.”
There was a long pause on the line. “Aren’t you
worried about non–solicitation clauses? Or what
people might say?”
I answered earnestly. “I’m only asking whether you
are worth this offer. And you absolutely are.”
Silence lingered on the other end. When she spoke
again, her voice was thick with emotion. “Jessie,
I’m in.”
Once Linda relocated, she brought Henry and two other core team members with her.
I never leveraged friendship or pity. Salaries, job titles, career paths–everything was clearly outlined in formal contracts.
One month later, Aventis Innovations‘ most critical project team all resigned. They left without taking a single client file. Even so, long–term loyal clients
followed them to us.
Six months later, our firm won a major contract. And Aventis Innovations appeared on the list of
competing vendors.
My manager handed me the tender documents. “Fleming Group is yours to handle.”
I glanced at the familiar corporate logo printed on
the cover and nodded calmly. “Understood.”
This time around, I sat on the opposite side of the
table.