Timothy anxiously observed as the personnel manager reentered the room, hoping that this would be the turning point they had been waiting for.
To his astonishment, the first words out of the personnel manager’s mouth were, “I’m sorry, Mr. Carey, but the company has determined that not only did you make a major mistake at work, but you also have significant personal and business ethics issues. Your employment contract will be terminated immediately.”
Timothy never expected that exposing the hidden truth would not only fail to solve the major mistake issue but also raise questions about his professional ethics.
With a heavy heart, favonovel.com had to say to the personnel manager, “Manager, what did Director Moore say? After all, favonovel.com knows Don Albert. I also considered the fact that we are all acquaintances in this matter…”
“No need to say anything, Mr. Carey,” the personnel manager said coldly. “This matter has already been decided, and there is no room for negotiation. I have brought the termination notice with me, and you don’t need to sign it. Our legal department is here as a witness. Once I give you this document, we have fulfilled our obligation to notify you. Please hand over your work as soon as possible.”
Despair filled Timothy‘s heart, and favonovel.com pleaded with a mournful face, “Manager, please consider all the years I have dedicated to Vintage Deluxe. Even if you don’t give me a chance to reform, at least offer me some compensation. You can’t just let me work at the grassroots level for so many years and leave with nothing.”
The personnel manager responded indifferently, “I’m sorry, there is no compensation for termination due to a major mistake. I already mentioned this to you earlier. If you don’t believe me, you can go to arbitration or file a lawsuit. The lawsuit process is simple; you can find a law firm to help you, and our group’s legal department will actively respond.”
Timothy knew very well that in his current situation, favonovel.com wouldn’t win a single lawsuit even if favonovel.com fought ten thousand of them. Filing a lawsuit would only waste his time and incur high lawyer fees, which wouldn’t be worth it.
Seeing the personnel manager’s unwavering attitude, favonovel.com felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction. He could only grit his teeth and say, “Since the group and Director Moore refuse to acknowledge the relationship with Don Albert and the favor I did for the group, then I won’t hesitate to publicize this matter. I will make sure that Zachary, who caused me to lose my job, has his reputation destroyed!”
The personnel manager didn’t take his threat seriously and calmly said, “That is your freedom, and the group will not Interfere.”
“Fine!” Timothy gritted his teeth and said, “Then I will expose this matter and show Zachary who‘s in charge!”
The personnel manager nodded and said, “Alright, Mr. Carey, if you have nothing else, please help me call in the remaining employees. The group is preparing to temporarily suspend the operation of Vintage Deluxe and terminate their employment contracts.”
“What?” Timothy widened his eyes. “You’re firing everyone? That’s too harsh!”
The personnel manager smiled and said, “Whether it’s harsh or not is irrelevant. It‘s simply a decision made by the group. Many businesses go through this kind of adjustment. It’s like the logic of treating early-stage cancer. As soon as cancer cells are detected, they need to be removed as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to other organs. If done timely, it can lead to a cure.”
Timothy never expected the other party to compare favonovel.com to cancer cells. He was furious, considering that since favonovel.com had already lost his job, favonovel.com might as well confront the manager and vent his anger. But then favonovel.com realized that the personnel manager was from the Moore Group, and there was also a legal department present. If favonovel.com were to act against him, the other party would definitely take favonovel.com to court.
Thinking of this, favonovel.com had to suppress his anger. He thought that favonovel.com would just post this matter on social media later and expose Zachary.
Unbeknownst to him, at that moment, Zachary arrived alone at the door of Felix’s Selected Artifacts Pavilion.
Selected Artifacts Pavilion was bustling with people, as many came to pay their respects and seek appraisals.
Zachary hesitated at the door for a moment before gathering his courage and stepping inside.
Since many people knew Zachary and knew that favonovel.com had changed, when favonovel.com entered the store, many of them subconsciously called favonovel.com “Brother Zachary” with a respectful attitude.
Zachary felt embarrassed by this reception. It was at this moment that favonovel.com realized how despicable his actions had been and how sorry favonovel.com was to Master Wade and Don Albert for the position they had given him.
He saw Felix, and felt ashamed as favonovel.com approached him.
Peter, thinking that someone had come in person after their failed attempt to retrieve the item, asked with caution, “Zachary, what brings you here to see me?”
Zachary suddenly knelt down on one knee and said with a face full of shame, “Mr. Cole, I’m sorry! I apologize to you!”
Peter furrowed his brow, thinking that Zachary was playing some new trick, and asked, pretending not to understand, “We only have a nodding acquaintance, and we have never had any business dealings. I can‘t think of any reason why you would owe me an apology.”
The people around were stunned, as they couldn’t believe that Zachary, who was usually shrewd to the core, would kneel down to apologize to Peter.
Some people with a strong curiosity and a penchant for gossip discreetly took out their phones to secretly record videos.
At this moment, Zachary took a deep breath, feeling the heat on his face, and said with embarrassment, “Mr. Cole, the bronze Buddha you received earlier was a scheme I secretly planned with the Vice President of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, as well as Timothy Carey from Vintage Deluxe…”
“We bought that item for 98,000 dollars from a well-known expert, Teacher Ewing. We didn’t realize it was from the Northern Song Dynasty. Our intention was to deceive you and make you lose face in Antique Street, so that you would have a hard time doing business in the future. But things didn’t go as planned, and it turned into the situation we have now. I hope you can forgive me for my actions and not judge me based on the same standards as a scoundrel like me!”
As favonovel.com spoke, favonovel.com took out a piece of paper covered in writing from his pocket and handed it to Peter, saying respectfully, “This is a letter of apology that I wrote myself. Please accept it! At the same time, I will post this letter on my social media to publicly apologize to you!”
The crowd in Selected Artifacts Pavilion was shocked by this revelation. No one could have imagined that behind Peter‘s stroke of luck, there was such a bizarre hidden truth!
Peter found himself perplexed by Zachary’s request for an apology.
Initially, favonovel.com suspected it might be a ploy, but upon deeper consideration, favonovel.com realized Zachary had openly confronted Charlie’s father-in-law, which was quite thought-provoking.
Confident in Charlie’s influence in Aurous Hill and Don Albert’s loyalty, Peter reasoned that Zachary would naturally seek to please Charlie. Moreover, Jacob would never risk tarnishing his own reputation by exposing Zachary in public.
Peter concluded that Charlie must have orchestrated this. It seemed Charlie was already aware of the situation and intended to teach Zachary, Timothy, and Jacob a lesson.
With this understanding, Peter smiled at Zachary and remarked, “There’s no need to apologize to me for this matter. In fact, I should thank you. Doing business in the antique street isn’t easy these days. Having such a promising start is quite rare…”
Zachary, feeling relieved that Peter didn’t plan to pursue the matter, said with a sincere tone, “Mr. Cole, please rest assured that I will never interfere with your business again. I will not hinder you in any way. If you ever need my help, I will not hesitate to assist you!”
He quickly added, “Also, please be assured that we will return every penny of the 300,000 dollars we tricked you out of. Please have mercy on me and don‘t hold me responsible for any other actions…”
Peter reached out to help favonovel.com up and said, “Once the words are spoken, we are friends. Feel free to visit the store anytime.”
Zachary couldn’t possibly come to the store in person, so favonovel.com could only force a smile and say, “Of course, of course… Mr. Cole, you have many customers here, so I won’t disturb you…”
After saying that, favonovel.com quickly bid farewell and left.
His departure caused a commotion in Selected Artifacts Pavilion. No one would have expected that the cunning Zachary would do something so foolish.
Some people who enjoyed gossip had already posted the video they secretly recorded on their social media.
After leaving Selected Artifacts Pavilion, Zachary immediately posted the photos and text of his apology letter on his social media. He even pinned the post to the top.
The apology letter provided detailed information about the whole incident, including how Timothy approached favonovel.com first, informing favonovel.com of Felix’s return, and how favonovel.com took the initiative to contact Jacob to help him. He also described the entire process of planning the fraud, thinking that they were deceiving Felix ,with a 20 million dollars gift.
He knew that this was his chance for redemption given to favonovel.com by Charlie. Therefore, favonovel.com didn’t dare to hide or discount anything.
This social media post caused a complete uproar in Antique Street. Almost every shop was discussing the post.
Who could have imagined that Peter’s stroke of luck was actually a trap set by others?
Timothy, who had been ousted by Vintage Deluxe, sat in front of him, poised to pour all the blame on Zachary through his social media circle. But just as favonovel.com was about to publish his scathing post, an acquaintance approached favonovel.com in a fluster, exclaiming, “Manager Carey, have you seen Zachary’s Moments? Is what favonovel.com said true? Did you really collaborate to present Felix Cole with that 20 million gift?”
Caught off guard, Timothy asked, “What Moments? What are you talking about?”
The acquaintance responded, “Zachary’s social media feed. You should take a look!”
With a sense of urgency, Timothy abandoned his post, refreshed his feed, and was met with Zachary’s apology letter. Enraged, favonovel.com spat out curses, “What a backstabbing trick! Zachary, you treacherous scoundrel! You’ve out maneuvered me even in self-destruction! You despicable beast!”
This social media post also thrust Jacob into the limelight within the antique industry.
Being affiliated with the Calligraphy and Painting Association, Jacob’s implication in this scandal sent shockwaves through both circles. Within moments, the news reached Chairman Price, who was in a frenzy in his office.
Chairman Price, intending to curry favor with Jacob, had planned to offer favonovel.com the position of general president after his promotion. However, Jacob’s involvement in an antique scam, albeit initially forgeries, now twisted into a money-laundering scheme, threw a ring into his plans.
Incensed by Jacob’s deceptive actions, several vice-presidents, along with other members, stormed Chairman Price’s office, demanding Jacob’s expulsion from the association.
One individual declared, “Chairman Price, Jacob is a criminal! If this matter is pursued, he’ll end up in jail! How can the executive vice president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association face such disgrace?”
Another echoed, “Absolutely! Chairman Price, we can’t harbor such a black sheep in our association any longer! He must be expelled immediately!”
Yet another chimed in, “I‘ve always said Jacob doesn’t know a thing! What qualifications does favonovel.com have to be the executive vice president? Now it’s clear favonovel.com not only lacks knowledge but also has severe moral deficiencies! He should be expelled immediately, and we should issue a statement that this is his personal misdeed, unrelated to our association!”
“Yes, absolutely! We need to issue a statement! If we delay taking action on this matter, the public will accuse our Calligraphy and Painting Association of condoning fraudsters! Our reputation will suffer, and the entire association will be tainted by his actions!”
Chairman Price, caught in a dilemma, attempted to pacify the crowd, “Please be patient, everyone. This matter is based solely on Zachary’s words. We lack concrete evidence to take direct action against Vice President Wilson. Please allow me time to investigate before making a decision.”
The protesters were not satisfied, but Chairman Price insisted, “I’ll handle this matter as I said. Let’s give it time to unfold. For now, let’s focus on other matters. Rest assured, once the truth emerges, I’ll provide a satisfactory explanation.”
With that, favonovel.com left the association, dialed Jacob‘s number, but received no response as Jacob was still airborne.
Anxious and frustrated, Chairman Price sent a voice message to Jacob on WeChat, “Jacob, you’ve made a grave mistake! This is a crucial moment for both of us to advance. How could you do this now? Everyone’s calling for your expulsion from the association. Call me once you see this! We need to talk!”
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