Chapter 28 — At the end of the week when I was fired, I made the 3.9 billion contract into waste paper

Ten minutes later. The technical department arrives. Technical staff connects the internal system and opens the project directory access history. In the meeting room no one talked. Lam Ha stood next to me, her fingertips tightening the corner of her shirt. I looked at her. Like me in my first year at Hoa Nhac. At that time, a report was corrected with incorrect data before being sent to the customer. It's not me who fixed it. But the last sender was me. Superior said:

“You are the last person in charge, you have to accept.”

I also once stood in a small meeting room like that, alone facing three superiors, explaining that I did not do anything wrong. But no one listened. At that time, I signed the minutes. Then use three months of overtime and another project to pull together the year-end review. No one apologized to me. Nor did anyone tell me that I was being treated unfairly. The sound of the technician brought me back to the present.

“Found it.”

All eyes immediately looked to the screen. Technician said:

“The file in the project folder was changed at seven forty-two last night.”

Vien Giai immediately asked: The technician looked at the account ID and hesitated. Then answer:

“Team leader Ma's account.”

The entire meeting room immediately fell silent. Ma Thanh's face turned pale.

“No way.”

Technician said:

"The system log says so. After the file was replaced, this morning Lam Ha used the old link to send an email, so the partner received the wrong copy."

Lam Ha raised her head suddenly. Her eyes were red.

“So I didn't send it wrong.”

No one answered. I looked at Ma Thanh.

“Team leader Ma, explain.”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Maybe I did it wrong.”

"After doing the wrong operation, let the subordinates sign the record to take responsibility?"

I picked up the minutes on the table.

“There is also a proposal to terminate the labor contract.”

Ma Thanh opened his mouth. Can't even say a word. Phuong Minh Vien's voice was cold:

"Ma Thanh is temporarily suspended. The compliance department immediately investigates the entire project."

Ma Thanh immediately panicked.

"General Phuong, I've been working at Minh Khai for six years. You can't suspend me just because of a small mistake."

I looked at him.

“Small mistake?”

“Project documents sent incorrectly to partners.”

“Subordinates are forced to accept responsibility.”

“The dismissal minutes have been prepared.”

“Team leader Ma, if this is a small mistake, then in your eyes what is the big mistake?”

Ma Thanh didn't dare look at me anymore. After he was taken out, there were only a few people left in the meeting room. Lam Ha stood there, her shoulders still shaking slightly. I gave her the responsibility record. She was stunned.

“Something that doesn't belong to you, you don't need to sign.”

Lam Ha received the paper. At first, just tear a very small line. Then, as if she had finally found a place to vent, she tore up the entire report. White paper falls into the trash. Her tears also fell.

“Partner Tham.”

Her voice choked.

“Thank you.”

I gave her a tissue.

"No need to thank me. You defend your truth, I'm just helping you check the evidence."

Lam Ha shook his head.

"Not."

She looked at me, tears falling even more.

“You are the first person to believe in me.”

That sentence made me pause. In that moment, I suddenly saw myself seven years ago. Also stood in a room like that. I also said I didn't do anything wrong. I also wanted someone to come in, ask a question:

“Where is the evidence?”

Just that one sentence. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to spend many years learning how to not give up on myself. I looked at Lam Ha. A long time later he said:

“Later, when you stand in a higher position.”

“If I met someone like me today.”

“Remember to ask her a question before judging.”

“Ask what?”

“Ask her if she has proof.”

“And give her a chance to finish.”

Lam Ha nodded vigorously. After she left, Luong Tinh entered the meeting room, his face very serious.

“There are preliminary results.”

Phuong Minh Vien asked:

“Why did Ma Thanh do that?”

Luong Tinh placed a file on the table.

“Before joining Minh Khai, Ma Thanh worked as an outside consultant for a company affiliated with Hoa Nhac.”

I open the document. His eyes stopped on a familiar name. Luong Tinh continued:

“Three days ago, Ma Thanh's personal account received a money transfer from a third party.”

“The amount is not big.”

“But the person who sent the money is connected to Cao Peng's old assistant.”

The meeting room immediately became quiet. Phuong Minh Vien looked at me.

“Hoa Nhac still hasn't stopped.”

I closed the document.

“Then this time.”

“We don't just defend anymore.”

Three days later, my father was discharged from the hospital. The doctor did not agree to let him go home so early. But my father is someone who, if he stays in the hospital any longer, the blood pressure of both doctors and family members will probably increase with him. Finally, under the conditions of having to have a family doctor monitor him every day, not being able to work more than four hours, not being able to attend stressful meetings, and having to rest absolutely when there are any unusual signs, my mother reluctantly agreed to take him home. The day his father returned, the Tham family villa was more bustling than usual. The worker prepares nutritious soup. Mom checked the menu for each dish.