Dumping My Cheating Ex at Christmas

Being the boss

Chapter 5

Valentina’s pov

When I started in the company, when it had just opened and wasn’t known by anyone, my idea was to work in every department so I got to know it inside out so I could be a better business woman and boss. Through time, it has become much more than that.

It has been valuable in the experience it has given me, not that I didn’t have any experience before as I interned in my dad’s companies since I was 15 in every school holiday. It has also given me an insight into my workers that is invaluable.

You wouldn’t believe how many scum bags there are in corporate America, from the lowest worker to the most powerful ones. My acting Ceo is a great guy, I have known him for years through family, and he has been well vetted before I offered him the job.

He has done such a good job for me he will be getting the ceo job in the modelling agency that my parents are passing off to me when I finally take over at Steel fashion. People talk especially at the lower levels, or at least more freely anyway.

The higher up the more sneaky they can be, if you want to know what is going on, speak to the mail room employees and the secretaries and personal assistants. Although Craig my ceo, his assistant would dare gossip, she knows she will be fired instantly.

Working in all departments, I soon heard which bosses were a bit handsy, which ones had a few drinks through the day and which were cheating on their spouse. I also heard rumours about who was taking credit for others' work and tricking them into believing it is for their own good.

More than a few men have been fired for trying to extort s*x from their staff to get ahead or to avoid being fired themselves. Also, a couple of women have been fired for the same thing. They also get blacklisted by the entire Steel corporation and any business partners.

A couple of lead designers have been fired for stealing others' work as well. They were all friend with the head of the clothes department as well, but so far I have nothing on her, so I am glad that I am now working in that department.

All employees are under an nda, so thankfully, they haven’t told her why they were fired. It was bad enough they had to leave the city to find work. They were not going to risk being prosecuted, and they were reminded of that fact when they were fired.

Mrs Gwendoline Delayney was being much more careful in the recent months, but because I am already new comer I guess she thought that she could take advantage of the fact I would be too worried to accuse her of anything.

I do have the advantage of knowing what style of designs we are looking for each season as I am the one setting the parameters, but if I see a better design than mine I will use it over anything I have produced myself.

Gwen doesn’t have to produce any designs as such, but she gets a very healthy bonus if one of her designs is used, so every now and again, she will send one up to head office. Finally, she fu.cked up.enough to have the proof I needed to get rid of her.

I had spent all of my day finalising my designs, I didn’t even need to be in today, but I would rather finish this off and distract my mind her that sit at home. I knew the designs were perfect and even added a couple of jewellery designs to match. It was exactly what I wanted when I set the design parameters, I was really happy with my work.

I sent it straight up to Craig, and then I sent it to Gwen. I always do both just in case I need to prove that it is actually my work. I spend the next half an hour finishing some paper work, until Craig calls both Gwen and I up to the office.

“The mermaid dress that you sent me, I want you to tell Mr Clark that it was my design and you sent it with your work by mistake. He is not going to take your designs seriously yet, so it will get you noticed when I tell them you helped in the design” Gwen tells me in a rather threatening tone, yeah she knows she fu.cked up and has obviously done this before.

“And why exactly would I do that? How does giving you credit help me? I am not sure what you are trying to do here” I say, acting confused.

“Because if you don’t you will be fired. They will never believe you over me. I have been head of the department since the company started” she says smugly.

“We shall see” I say, ignoring her she doesn’t look happy but is still looking smug enough that she thinks she will get away with it.

It never fails to surprise me how stupid, well-educated, and supposedly intelligent people can be at times. Every employee in the company knows we have cameras everywhere, including this elevator we are currently in.

I can not wait to get rid of this rude, entitled woman, I think, as she shoulder barges past me. I could knock the bi.tch out easily if she tried anything, I am not as easily intimidated as she thinks I will be. She sorts her face into a smile before she knocks and walks into the office.

“It is all a misunderstanding isn’t it Valentine, my work got caught up with her own when I sent it to inspire her” she says acting professional and innocent, even as she says my name wrong.

“Miss Steel, is that correct? Is Mrs Delayney telling the truth?” He asks respectfully.

“No she is not telling the truth, I have had my suspicions for a while, as you know, I hate to think of how many others she has done this to” I answer him.

“What shall we do about this then Miss Steel, as it would be considered theft as the people she has stolen off of has missed out on bonuses while she has reaped the rewards” he says looking like he is pondering the situation.

“You don’t believe her, do you? You know these girls will do anything to get ahead, I heard she was fraternising with the male bosses to get where she is now” she accuses, making us both laugh as she stands, looking confused.

I walk around the desk and sit in the seat that Craig has vacated for me, and she starts to rant again.

“So she is sleeping with you as well then, I can’t believe that you are letting her away with this because she has spread her legs for you” the vile woman shouts at us.

“You know what never fails to surprise me is that all of these supposedly intelligent people do not see my name and put two and two together” I say as I smile at them both.

“I know it is always amusing when they put it together” Craig replies, smiling back at me.

“What are you too blathering on about?” She asks, annoyed.

“This is Steel fashion, is it not?” I ask, knowing I will have to spell it out to her.

“Of course, we all know that, so what has that got to do with anything?” She asks, getting angrier.

“I am Miss Valentina Steel, I started this company, I have worked in every department to learn everything I can about it to run it more successfully. Craig, here is my acting Ceo, until I go public, then he will run my other company” I explain as realisation dawns on her, and she turns pale.

“This is the first time I have done this, I was short on cash after Christmas and didn’t think you would miss one little design” she says in a pleading voice.

“You know that it can be proven, there are cameras in your office like everywhere else in the building, and I can get dates from any staff member who admits what you have done to them. The way you spoke in the elevator suggests that you have experience doing this” I say with a raised eyebrow.

“Look I will resign straight away, and we never have to talk about this again, I swear it was just a one-time error in judgement” she is scrambling now.

“Don’t worry about that because you are fired, effective immediately. You will also not get a job in any Steel corporation companies or any of our business partners. We will be doing a further investigation to see if we need to prosecute you as you have not been forthcoming with the truth. I also want to remind you that you signed an nda, so if any secrets come out, I will use the full force of the law to come down on you” I say firmly.

After that, she immediately gives us all the information of several designs she has stolen over the years. Those employees will be compensated as soon as they are back from the holidays, because of her last minute honesty we won’t take her to the courts for now, but her name will be mud around New York.