Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 86

Stephanie tapped a line on the paper with her finger and read it aloud: “Reason for leaving: Being a screw isn’t the problem. The problem is being screwed into a wall that’s about to collapse.”

Zachary’s face stiffened. “Are you cursing my company to fail?”

“If you choose to interpret it that way, there’s nothing I can do.”

“You’re just quitting on a whim like this. Does your mentor know?”

“I’ve already graduated. My mentor can hardly dictate my career choices.”

“Fine, you can go. But I won’t let you take your research project with you. And you have a non-compete agreement in this industry. For at least three years, you cannot work in the same field. Violating it means facing a lawsuit.”

The project was the culmination of years of Stephanie’s hard work. She had started the research while she was still in university, which was precisely why Sapphire Group had recruited her.

And now he was telling her to leave behind the very research she had started before even joining the company. It was tantamount to claiming her years of effort as his own.

But now that her idealized image of him had shattered, nothing Zachary did surprised her anymore.

He was, at his core, a self-serving businessman. To think she had once looked up to him as a role model.

Besides, the true core of the technology was all in her head. No one could take that away.

Without another word to Zachary, she turned and left.

A project without its soul was nothing more than a pile of scrap metal.

Back at her desk, as Stephanie started packing her things, her close colleague Nydia came over to help.

“You’re just taking a few days of annual leave. Why are you even packing your mug?” she asked, puzzled.

Stephanie smiled. “I’ve resigned.”

Nydia was stunned. “Is it because of what happened with Victoria? You’re not the type to let things get to you, to punish yourself for someone else’s mistake. This doesn’t seem like you.”

Nydia had joined the company around the same time as her. She had also participated in Stephanie's project and had been a great help.

Stephanie shook her head. “Victoria isn’t the main reason. It’s that my values don’t align with Sapphire Group’s. There’s no point in staying here any longer.”

“What about the non-compete agreement? If you leave like this, does it mean you’re quitting the industry?”

Three years was enough time for the entire industry to be turned upside down. By the time Stephanie’s non-compete expired, she’d essentially be starting from scratch.

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