Before leaving, I threw one last line over my shoulder. "Darlene, if you ever run into any technical issues, go find that hardworking overtime hero Lester. Don't bother coming to me!"
She just smiled, unconcerned. "No problem."
——
As I walked through the office, whispers followed me like shadows.
"Look, he's leaving. His face is darker than a burnt pot."
"Tsk, five million gone—who wouldn't be mad?"
"What’s the point of being mad? If you can’t hold your position, that’s on you. President Schmidt was right—attitude is everything."
"Exactly. Lester works overtime every night while this guy clocks out on the dot and still wants all the credit. What a joke."
A particularly sharp voice chimed in—it was Freddy, who'd always been close to Lester.
"I think he’s just using his seniority to act all high and mighty. Got pushed out? Serves him right!"
"Totally! He thought the project couldn't run without him, but Lester took over and did even better! That so-called 'lead developer' title of his is just a pure fluff."
“I heard he’s been going to the hospital every day last month. Probably some family issue, huh?”
“Hmph, who doesn’t have family problems? What makes him so special?”