Chapter 7 — The Whole Company Knows

On the way home, the night wind was quite cold. I put my hands in my pockets. The finger touches the edge of the notary paper. Still there. Sturdy. Very reassuring. 【Chapter 7】 The next week passed peacefully. Every day I sleep until I wake up, go to the gym in the afternoon, cook dinner and watch movies in the evening. One hundred and fifty thousand was still transferred to the account on time. I started looking at houses. Wednesday afternoon, I was looking at apartment drawings at the sales office. The phone rang. Strange number. I answered the phone. "Hello Mr. Co, I am Secretary Tran in the office of the Chairman of Tham Thi Group. Chairman Tham would like to make an appointment with you to discuss the next issues of the non-compete agreement." "When?" "President Tham said any time is convenient for you. Is tomorrow afternoon okay?" "Okay. Where?" "Company. Twenty-eighth floor, president's office." "Okay." I hung up. It's the second time. Tham Quoc Luong wanted to see me again. Last time I came to explore the limit. This time I probably want to discuss conditions. Thursday afternoon at two o'clock. Headquarters of Tham Thi Group, twenty-eighth floor. I took the elevator up. Last time I came to this building, I took the employee entrance, which only reached the twelfth floor. The decoration style of the twenty-eighth floor is completely different from the twelfth floor. Ground-level windows, genuine leather sofa, solid wooden tea table. I don't know what the painting on the wall is, but it looks very expensive. Secretary Tran led me into the office. Tham Quoc Luong sits behind the desk. This time I did not bring anyone from the legal department. He was alone. “Sit down.” I sat down. “Tea or coffee?” “Filtered water is fine.” He laughed. "Tieu Co, last time we met, you told me to think about it. I thought about it for a week." "Yes." "I accept the agreement. Three million six hundred thousand, one hundred fifty thousand per month, lasting two years. I will not sue." I was a bit surprised. I thought he still had to struggle a bit. “But…” He continued, “I have one additional condition.” “You just say it.” “After the two-year competition restriction period expired, you returned to Tham Thi.” I looked at him. "Return?" "Yes. I will keep your position. No, I will promote you one level. Project director. Annual salary doubled." I think. "Why?" “Because you are the most serious person I have ever met.” When he said this, Tham Quoc Luong's voice was very calm, "More than thirty documents placed on the table, I didn't look as carefully as you." "A person can complete resignation procedures to the point of having to have them notarized. I don't want to let that person go to another company." To be honest, I was a bit surprised. It's not that I never thought Tham Quoc Luong would set conditions. But I didn't expect his condition to be like that. “I will think.” "Okay. No rush." He stood up and went to the window. “One more thing.” He turned his back to me, "What do you want to do about my daughter's matter?" “What do you mean?” "He did something stupid, causing harm to you. It's normal for you to have resentment." “I don't hold grudges.” He turned to look at me. "Really?" "One hundred and fifty thousand a month. My mood every day is very good now." Tham Quoc Luong looked at me for three seconds. Then burst out laughing. It's a real laugh. Not the kind of fake politeness in the marketplace. "Okay. This kid is interesting." He held out his hand. I stood up and shook his hand. "Go back and think carefully. There's no need to rush." "Okay." Leaving the building, the sunlight was blinding. I took out my phone. Three unread messages. First news from Lam Vien Chu. "Mr. Bac, did you go to Chairman Tham's office? The security told me, the whole company is talking about it!" Second news from Ms. Truong. "Tieu Co, I'm really sorry about last time. At that time, I thought you knew it was fake... If you need documents to prove anything, just find me." Third news from Tham Niem Duong. "Are you going to see my father? What did he tell you?" I answered in turn. Lam Vien Chu: Yes, let's talk a bit. Ms. Truong: It's okay, I don't blame you. As for Tham Niem Duong... I thought. No reply. 【Chapter 8】 This story has spread. Not only within the company but also throughout the industry. I don't know who spread it

wow. It could be Thinh Khai's person, it could be Trieu Nghien Kieu, or it could be a middle-level manager who likes to listen to stories told during drinks. In short, the story of "The supervisor faked layoffs but got his car pulled over and signed a non-compete agreement with a fine of twenty million" has become a joke in the industry. On Monday, I received three calls from headhunters. Tuesday, four times. On Wednesday, Thinh Khai's Vuong Ly sent a text message again. This time it was no longer a probe but an official invitation. "Hello General Director Co, Chairman Tien wants to talk to you personally. Not related to work within the scope of competition restrictions, just a private discussion. Are you free on Friday?" General Director Co. A month ago I was still just a project manager. Now known as General Director Co. It's absurd. I neither agree nor refuse. Just answer one question: “Let me see the calendar.”