Chapter 15 The Most Shameless Jerk
"We've been discussing successful ventures, but what about the failures?" Philip's voice echoed in the room, prompting nods of agreement and thoughtful expressions from the crowd.
"Wouldn't analyzing more failed attempts increase our efficiency?" Philip continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "In our Group Five, we have a member who has consistently ranked last for fourteen consecutive months. I'm sure you're all familiar with him. The saying goes that even a foolish bird should learn to fly after fourteen months, but he hasn't."
Laughter erupted from the marketing department, and all eyes turned towards me.
'Philip, you bastard!' I cursed inwardly. This was his revenge for the trash I'd dumped on his desk last Friday. I hadn't anticipated such a ruthless response.
He was turning me into a negative example, a laughingstock for the entire department.
Just as I was about to make my exit, Philip stopped me. "John, or should I say, Rogue John, would you care to share your experiences of failure with us all? Let's give him a round of applause!"
Applause echoed around the room, not as a welcome, but as a mockery.
They were all eager to see me humiliate myself.
I clenched my fists, anger simmering within me. If looks could kill, Philip would have been riddled with holes by now.
"Don't be shy, come up and share. Speak about your shortcomings, let everyone offer you advice. It's for your own good and to help our new colleagues avoid making the same mistakes. And you've been last for fourteen months in a row, you must have accumulated a lot of failed cases. You must be quite confused by now!"
At this, several voices chimed in, "John, come up, we're eager to hear about your failures!"
"Haha, that's right, don't be shy. It's all for work. You don't want to be last for the fifteenth month, do you?"
Mocking and disdainful eyes surrounded me. In that moment, I felt like a circus clown.
Mia, Anna, and others looked particularly contemptuous, especially Lily, who frowned and looked displeased.
Then, Jenny, standing to the side, chimed in, "John, are you royalty? Even when so many people are inviting you, you still won't come up. Do you need me to personally invite you?"
"John, are you deaf? Didn't you hear Jenny?" Lily stepped forward, her tone icy.
I couldn't hold back any longer. Damn it, the repeated humiliations. Did they really think I was so mild-mannered?
I tossed the broom to the ground and strode forward. Fine, they wanted to embarrass me? Bring it on!
Seeing me approach, Philip's face lit up with a triumphant smile. Holding a microphone, he called out, "Let's give a round of applause!"
The applause thundered once again, not as a welcome, but as ridicule.
They were all waiting to see me make a fool of myself.
Philip handed me the microphone, stepped aside, and whispered, "Rogue, I'm going to ruin you!"
I took the microphone and coldly smiled. "We'll see about that!"
I glanced around the room. Over two hundred people from the marketing department were staring at me intently.
Mockery, sarcasm, contempt, disdain—this moment made me realize they saw me as a circus monkey.
"I'm John, that's right, I'm the one who has been last for fourteen consecutive months!"
Before I could finish my sentence, the room erupted in laughter. Philip was laughing so hard he was doubled over, and Jenny's eyes were filled with even more contempt.
"But I know my own performance. I joined the company at the beginning of last year. As a newcomer, in my first month, I lost five clients. But do you know why? Because you're all idiots!"
"Why else, you're just a fool!" Mia interjected in a mocking tone.
"Mia, shut up, you bitch!" I retorted, directing my anger at her.
Mia's face turned beet red, and the room fell silent, surprised by my direct confrontation. "What... what did you say, Rogue? Who are you calling a bitch?"
I stared at her coldly. "I'm calling you that. You're the biggest bitch in the company!"
I practically roared out these words. "Do you really think you're some high-class lady? Dressing provocatively every day, do you think no one knows what you're up to? Peter from Group One, Ray from Group Three, Carl from Group Six—how did these three leave? Don't you know?"
"What are you saying? What does their departure have to do with me?"
"Of course it does. While others sleep with clients, you sleep with colleagues. That's quite a shortcut. You put on makeup and crack sunflower seeds all day at the office, don't make a single call, and clients come to you. Do you really think you're a marketing genius? No, you're just the biggest bitch, everyone knows you undercut quotes behind the scenes. Sleeping with a client for three days, damn it!"
"You... you..." Mia's face contorted with anger, her body trembling.
"John, you've crossed a line. How can you defame your colleagues like this?" Philip stepped forward, "You're not just a failure, you're a complete jerk. Mia's hard work is evident to everyone, and you..."
"Shut up!" I spat at his feet, "Did you sleep with her? Did she work hard on you? Did you give her a lot of money?"
"What are you saying?" Philip was furious. If it weren't for the public setting, he would have come over and hit me.
"Have you forgotten that you boasted to colleagues before, saying you had secretly taken photos on your phone? Need me to remind you? The secret album called 007, with all your great deeds inside! Oh, doesn't it just include Mia, but probably many female clients too, right? Philip, you really have a broad business—going to bed with female clients for service!"
"John, you son of a bitch, stop slandering people here!" Philip yelled, "Quick, cut off the microphone signal, don't let him talk nonsense."
"What's the matter, did I hit a nerve? Are you getting angry because I hit the nail on the head?" I looked at him coldly.
A shadow fell across Jenny's face. "John, are you asking to be dismissed?" she asked, her tone icy.
I swiveled to face her, my eyes flashing with defiance. "Jenny, are you attempting to intimidate me? Is termination your only remaining play? Do you derive pleasure from crushing the dignity of others to elevate your own standing?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" she spat.
Jenny's hand flew up as if to strike me, but I deftly sidestepped her blow.
"Don't dodge!" she seethed.
Her fury was palpable, but her failed slap was not followed by another attempt. She was acutely conscious of her image; she had no desire to be perceived as a harpy.
At that moment, Lily interjected, her voice laced with concern. "John, don't you want to succeed here?"
"Lily, it appears you're the one who lacks the desire to succeed," I retorted.
With a swift, forceful motion, I hurled the microphone to the ground. It landed with a resounding crash at her feet. I towered over her, my six-foot-five frame imposing and muscular. "In my first month here, I closed five deals. You were there for each one, signing off on them. But you conveniently omitted any mention of commission, didn't you, Lily?
"In the second month, I closed six deals. Seven in the third, ten in the fourth... Lily, you're such a considerate supervisor. It's truly touching. You've made me feel so appreciated, so grateful!
"Up to this month, I've secured one hundred and thirty clients. You've signed off on each one. Yet, you have the audacity to criticize me. Lily, who gave you such courage?"
My words sent a ripple of shock through the room. They weren't fools; they understood the implications of my accusations. Their eyes widened in disbelief.
Lily was left speechless, likely unprepared for a subordinate she had always belittled to challenge her so publicly and so bluntly. What was he trying to achieve?
"You... what are you implying? I..."
"Enough! Don't treat everyone here like an idiot!" I cut her off.
I glanced at Jenny, my gaze cold. "Jenny, you can fire me."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone stared at me, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and confusion.
Upon hearing my declaration, Philip was the first to break the silence. "Jenny, fire him, get rid of this scum!"
Mia's eyes were rimmed with red, her voice choked with emotion. "Fire him, we don't need him. His presence will only poison the company's atmosphere!"
The chorus grew louder, "Fire John, get rid of this scum!"
Their words were almost laughable. The loudest voices belonged to Mia's allies. Some knew the truth, but what did that matter?
It was always easier to kick someone when they were down than to lend a hand when they were struggling. And the truth didn't affect them. It wasn't their problem!
Jenny's face was a mask of fury as she stepped forward. "John, for slandering colleagues, spreading rumors, damaging the company's atmosphere, destroying company property, and demonstrating a deplorable attitude, I, as the Director of the Marketing Department, hereby terminate your employment and withhold all wages and bonuses!"
As her words hung in the air, Philip was the first to applaud. "Well done!" he cheered.
Mia joined in, and soon the room was filled with applause, as if they had vanquished a common enemy.
And I was the unfortunate scapegoat.
"Leave, now!" Jenny commanded, her voice icy.
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