Chapter 10 — When I Stop Being Invisible

I looked out the window. The city lights are brightening up piece by piece. Twelve years ago, the first day I came to Hang Vien to work, the sky was also this color. At that time, To Niem was only three years old. I drove an electric motorbike across more than half of the city and was five minutes late when I got to the company. Ha Kien Quoc stood at the door, smiled and said - "It's okay, just pay attention next time." Twelve years. I have every operational detail of this company engraved into my muscle memory. Each process, each node, each person's personality and habits. I understand Hang Vien better than He Kien Quoc.

“If he still chooses Chu Han—”

I lowered my eyes.

“Hang Vien is no longer worth my trouble.”

The phone screen lit up again. A new message. From Chu Han.

"To Van, I heard that you work at Thuy Hoa is not bad, right? I advise you, don't think that leaving Hang Vien can use Hang Vien as a stepping stone. The company can completely claim intellectual property rights for the things you create. Think carefully."

I stared at that message. Intellectual property rights. He intended to hit this point. His meaning was very clear - all the processes, forms, and systems I built while working at Hang Vien belonged to the intellectual product of my work, so me bringing it to Thuy Hoa was a copyright violation. This is a very dangerous move. It's just a pity... he doesn't understand one thing. What I created, the core part — the logic and methodology — has never been on any of Hang Vien's computers. It's in my head. You can claim ownership of an Excel file. But it is impossible to claim ownership of a person's experience and ability to evaluate accumulated over twelve years. I didn't answer him. Open the computer, compose an email. Recipient: Co Vien Chu. Title: Summary of information about unusual points in the procurement supply chain of Hang Vien Group. Attached files include: shareholder relations diagram of Cam Thanh Trading, comparison table of procurement price differences, history of changes to the approval process, report comparing IT equipment contracts with market prices. My finger stopped on the Send button. Just press down… There's no turning back. Not out of fear. But because I know very well — once this email is sent... Hang Vien will shake. As for me, I have been attached to that place for twelve years. The room door opened. To Niem walked out.

“Mom, why aren't you sleeping yet?”

“Mom's face doesn't look too good.”

“I have to make a decision.”

The girl walked closer and glanced at the screen. It didn't read the content, just looked at me.

“Mom, just do what you think is right.”

I looked at the baby. Seventeen year old daughter. Braver than me. I pressed the send button. The second day after sending the email, Co Vien Chu called me.

"Miss To, I have received the documents. I will meet with Ha Kien Quoc this afternoon. Don't worry."

I don't ask more. At four o'clock in the afternoon, Tran Loi texted.

“Miss To, something big happened to the company.”

“I know.”

"Did you know? Unusual board meeting. Boss Co exposed all of Chu Han's procurement problems. Boss Ha's face turned pale at that moment. Chu Han tried to explain, saying the suppliers were selected according to the process. But boss Co immediately projected the shareholder relations diagram of Cam Thanh Trading on the big screen - his wife's cousin's name was on the big screen. Right there, he was speechless.”

“What happens after that?”

"Boss Ha asked, the IT equipment contract is one million two, while the market price is only seventy thousand, how to explain the difference of fifty thousand?"

“What did he say?”

“He said it was the brand value and after-sales fees. Boss Ha asked if he had compared the prices of the three suppliers. He said Phuong Ngan did it. Boss Ha asked to take out the file, Phuong Ngan sat still for thirty seconds without moving."

“Because there is no such file.”

"Correct. There is no comparison between any three units. Since the approval process was reduced from three levels to two, this step has been skipped.”

I gently closed my eyes. That's item number 301 on my list — the compliance risks that arise when shortening the procurement approval process.