He Fired Me After Getting Funded—Too Bad I Was the Money

Chapter 2

The open office went quiet as a testing hall when I came out of that conference room. Nobody dared look at me.

Only Ruby Brooks from reception hurried after me and pressed my cup back into my hand. "Natalie, are you really leaving?"

"What else would I do?" I gave the cup a little shake. "Stay and put on a gracious little act for them?"

Ruby's eyes reddened. "Mr. Cole has gone way too far. When he got drunk and threw up everywhere, you were the one on your knees cleaning it up. When his mother came to the office and accused you of holding him back, you were the one who calmed her down and got her to leave. Now that the funding is finally within reach, he just..."

I patted her shoulder. "Don't cry. You'll ruin your mascara."

Ruby faltered. "How are you still smiling?"

"Because I don't go down easy."

The moment I stepped out of the building, my phone rang. It was Ethan.

I answered.

"Did you change the password for the test admin panel?" he snapped.

"Yes."

"Natalie!"

"You told me to hand over my access," I reminded him. "Before I did, I had to figure out what was actually mine."

"The admin panel belongs to the company!"

"Who bought the domain name?"

The other end went silent for 2 seconds.

I kept going. "Whose name and billing info is on the cloud account?"

He gritted his teeth. "Stop playing word games."

"Ethan, I'm just the girl who orders lunch. How would someone like me have anything to do with your core systems?"

I could hear him breathing hard. In the background, I heard Vanessa ask, "What's going on?"

Ethan lowered his voice. "Nothing. I'll handle it."

"You don't," I said. "The early user data's in my private repo. It was collected legally, and the agreements were signed under my name. The model you're planning to demo this afternoon calls my API. And that patent number on page 3 of your pitch deck? It traces back to a prior authorization my grandfather's team holds. You try to close this round on those materials, I send Evermont a demand letter."

The line went completely silent.

After a long pause, Ethan finally said, "Natalie, do you really have to go this far?"

I laughed. "Who crossed the line first?"

His tone softened. "I went too far with what I said earlier. Come back. We can sit down and talk this through."

"No."

"Then what do you want? Money? Shares? Name your price."

I looked up at the trees along the street. Their leaves had curled in the heat.

"I want you to admit in front of the entire company that I wrote the first version of the core code. I want my name restored to the founder list. And I want every dollar you owe me from the last 3 years paid back in full."

Ethan was quiet for a moment. Then he laughed.

"Natalie, you're too naive. The business world doesn't run on feelings. I gave you an out, and you refused it. Don't blame me for what happens next."

"What exactly are you planning to do?"

"The round is closing this afternoon. Mr. Reed's team has already arranged backup hosting. As for your so-called evidence, if you send anything out, I'll say you tried to extort the company before leaving. You're one young woman with no one backing you. You really think you can take on people with money and connections? Can you afford that fight?"

Before I could answer, a w******p message popped up on my phone.

Dad: I heard Evermont is investing in your ex-boyfriend's company this afternoon?

Natalie: Yeah.

Dad: Want me to tell your uncle not to go?

Natalie: Not yet.

Dad: You're up to something again, aren't you?

I looked at my phone. Ethan was still on the line, and suddenly the whole thing struck me as absurdly funny.

"Ethan."

"What?"

"I'll be there this afternoon."

He sneered. "Finally came to your senses?"

"I did. I want to see how you plan to close that round."