April Fool’s Karma, Replaced by the Boss's Nephew, I Ruined His $100 Million Deal

On April Fool’s Day, I closed a $100 million deal.

Suddenly, my boss posted an announcement in our company WhatsApp group. [Richard Miller: Audrey is donating her $300,000 project bonus to upgrade our office workspace.

Let's all thank her for her selflessness and dedication to the company!] Since I was busy preparing the final contract documents, I didn’t see the message right away.

It wasn't until I walked out of my office and saw my colleagues arguing over which luxury leather sofa to buy for the boss's office that I realized what was happening.

I scrolled through the group chat, found the boss's message, took a screenshot, and replied with a single question mark. The oncerowdy group chat instantly fell dead silent.

An hour later, the boss replied, completely unbothered. [Richard Miller: Come on, it was just an April Fool’s joke.

Who knew everyone would take it so seriously?] [Richard Miller: Besides, you're making so much in bonuses. Is it really a big deal to contribute some of it back to the company?

Everyone else does it.

Don't be so stingy.] [Richard Miller: With an attitude like that, how do you expect to be promoted to Sales Director?] Immediately after that, I was removed from the group chat.

I looked at my phone. A call was coming in from our billionaire client, Mr. Harrison. I tapped accept. "Mr.

Harrison, my boss just informed me that our $100 million contract was nothing but an April Fool's joke." The moment I walked back to my desk, my boss and a crowd of colleagues immediately surrounded me. "Oh, come on, Audrey.

It was just an April Fool's prank. Don't tell me you can't take a joke?" Richard Miller, our CEO, looked down at me, unable to hide the smug smirk on his face.

Following his mockery, the entire office erupted into harsh, mocking laughter. "Exactly, Audrey!

Did you honestly think you were going to be promoted to Sales Director?" Chloe, the front desk receptionist, giggled hysterically, covering her mouth. "She didn't even finish college.

Who does she think she is, trying to become Sales Director?" Amidst the jeers, I noticed my personal belongings had been carelessly thrown onto the floor. My body went stiff.

I slowly knelt down, picking up my things piece by piece from the dirty carpet. "She always acted like she owned the place just because she was the top sales rep.

She finally got what she deserved," a colleague whispered behind my back. Richard strolled over to me.

He tapped the bottom of his stainlesssteel mug against my desk. "Audrey, don't be so petty." "You're still young. A little setback is good for you.

I’m only doing this to build your resilience under pressure." He put on the pretentious persona of a wise mentor. "You’ve been with this company for five years, and yes, you work hard." "But to be a Director, hard work isn't enough." "You need a spirit of selfsacrifice for the company.

You need social skills.

You still have a lot to learn!" I looked up at him, my eyes cold. "Richard, last week you told me facetoface that if I landed Harrison's $100 million contract, the Director position would be mine." Richard let out a scoff. "That was just motivational talk.

You seriously couldn't tell?" "Besides, even without you, we would have landed Harrison's account anyway.

Our company's brand speaks for itself." "Don't flatter yourself too much." I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. Five years of my youth.

Countless sleepless nights of hustling. In his eyes, it was all just a cheap joke he could trample on whenever he pleased. A wave of humiliation washed over me.

But I forced myself to swallow the anger. Because this afternoon, I was scheduled to sign that $100 million contract on behalf of the company.

It was the most important milestone of my career. I couldn't afford to make a scene right now. "I understand, Richard," I forced a cold, polite smile.

Richard nodded in satisfaction. "That’s more like it. You're a woman, Audrey.

Stop obsessing over promotions and career ladders all the time." He turned to the rest of the lingering crowd. "What are you all standing around for?

Don't you have work to do?" "Today might be April Fool's Day, but your performance reviews are no joke!" The crowd dispersed, though their eyes still held lingering contempt.

From the adjacent cubicle, Brad leaned over. "Aw, look at our star seller.

Backing down already?" Brad was always at the bottom of the sales board, and I had chewed him out more than once for his terrible performance.

Seeing me humiliated made him ecstatic. "I’ve always said women aren't cut out for sales." "Besides, you're not getting any younger, and your looks are fading.

How do you expect to compete with the young girls coming in?" He picked at his teeth, letting his greasy eyes roam up and down my body. "If I were you, I’d find a man to marry and become a housewife.

It suits you better." I whipped my head around, my glare icy. "Brad, your sales for this month are a flat zero.

Do you really have the time to worry about my marital status?" His face stiffened, and his smirk quickly turned into ugly rage. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to!" "You're not the Sales Director, so stop acting like you can boss me around!" I didn't bother to reply.

For me, the only thing that mattered was doublechecking the contract for this afternoon. I turned around to head to the conference room. The aisle was narrow.

As I walked past, Brad intentionally stuck his leg out. I tripped and crashed hard onto the floor.

My knees hit the hardwood floor, and a sharp, throbbing pain shot up my leg. "Audrey, just because you didn't get the promotion doesn't mean you can stomp on my feet to vent!

Look at you, clumsy as hell!" Instead of apologizing, Brad immediately twisted the truth.

The surrounding colleagues began whispering and pointing at me again. "Audrey, are you blind or something?" Suppressing the pain in my scraped hands and bruised knees, I forced myself up from the floor.

I stared coldly at Brad. "Move your damn leg." Brad slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. "You stepped on me on purpose, and I didn't even get mad, and now you're cursing at me?" "Do you still think you're the untouchable queen of sales?

You're nothing but a joke now!" Just then, Cody Miller, the intern I had been mentoring, walked over with red eyes. He gently helped me to a chair.

As he spoke, his voice cracked with tears. "Audrey, what am I going to do?" I frowned, looking at the paper in his hand. It was a demotion notice.

It stated that because Cody had failed to meet his targets during his probation period, he was being demoted to a frontdesk assistant with his pay cut in half. "What is this?" I asked.

Cody wiped a tear away. "Richard said I'm too stupid. He said I can't do anything right." "Audrey, I really need this job.

I have to pay for my grandmother's medical bills." He sobbed miserably, looking completely helpless. Seeing him like this made my anger soften slightly.

In this cutthroat company, maybe this fresh graduate was the only decent person left.

Remembering how hard we had worked together over the past two months, I patted his shoulder gently. "Sales is a tough industry.

It’s normal not to have clients when you've just started." I thought about it, then pulled a client sheet from my desk. "Tell you what.

I have a few renewal contracts from my loyal clients. The commission isn't huge, but it's enough to get you through probation." "Go close these.

I'll put them under your name so you can get the bonus." Cody’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? Audrey, are you really giving your clients to me?" I nodded. "Times are tough.

We have to look out for each other." Cody clutched the paper, a huge smile breaking through his tears. "Thank you, Audrey!" Watching him run off happily, I sighed.

The scrape on the back of my hand was still bleeding. I limped toward the restroom to clean myself up. If I met Mr. Harrison looking like this, it would be extremely unprofessional.

I limped down the hallway. I kept telling myself that as long as I held the $100 million contract, I still held all the cards.

But I never could have guessed that my kindness was just another piece of their sick joke. "BANG!" Suddenly, the sound of a confetti popper exploded from the main office.

Followed by a loud cheer from the entire team. "Woohoo! Let's congratulate Cody on becoming our new Sales Director!"

I froze. The office, which was supposed to be a quiet workspace, now sounded like a wild party. I stood at the doorway.

Cody, who had just been weeping in front of me, was now casually sitting on top of my desk. He held a glass of freshly popped champagne, laughing hysterically. "Hahaha!

Did you guys see how pathetic Audrey looked just now?" "She actually believed I was getting demoted!

She even gave me her clients out of pity!" "With her pathetic little clients, the bonus wouldn't even cover the cost of my bottled water." Chloe, holding a glass of champagne, sidled up to him with a fawning smile. "Right?

Cody, she really needs to look in the mirror." "Just because she brought in a few big accounts, she thought she could look down on everyone, even the boss." Brad hovered around Cody like a loyal dog. "Cody is Richard’s actual nephew!

He went to an Ivy League school!

He’s a true elite!" "The Sales Director position belonged to you from the very beginning." "That old hag Audrey isn't even worthy of shining Richard's shoes!" Standing in the shadows of the hallway, I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice.

Nephew? I stared at Cody, who was still sitting on my desk. It was all a lie. My promotion was a lie. His demotion was a lie.

The entire company had conspired to play me like a fool.

Richard walked out of his private office, holding a glass of champagne, smiling warmly at Cody. "Cody, how was the April Fool's show your uncle set up for you?" "Did it make you feel better?" Cody hopped off the desk and threw his arm around Richard's shoulders. "It was amazing, Uncle Richard!" "You have no idea.

For the last two months, she made me memorize product catalogs and forced me to do field sales in the blistering heat." "Even my own mother has never bossed me around like that!" "Seeing her pack her things like a stray dog today... man, that felt so good!" Richard laughed out loud. "She's nothing but a workhorse anyway." "Once she signs that $100 million contract with Harrison this afternoon, I'll find some random excuse to fire her." "When that happens, the credit for the deal will be yours!" "Your uncle always looks out for you, doesn't he?" I stood there, watching their ugly, greedy faces, and felt a wave of nausea.

Five years. I had given up all my holidays for this company. I had practically dragged this bankrupt little firm to become a recognized name in the industry.

I thought as long as I worked hard enough, I would get the respect and reward I deserved. But reality had just slapped me in the face.

I pushed the door open and walked in, my face expressionless. The cheering stopped instantly. Everyone stared at me as if I were a ghost.

The smile on Cody's face flickered for a second before his arrogant look returned. "Oh, Audrey's back!" "Hey, about that demotion notice... it was just a misunderstanding." "My uncle said that for April Fool's, all decisions and answers today had to be the exact opposite of reality!" He bragged, "So, I’m actually promoted!" I sneered inwardly. "The exact opposite." That was why my own promotion notice was nothing but a cruel joke.

Just then, Richard walked over with a cold face.

He slammed a thick stack of papers right against my chest. "Audrey, do you have time to idle around?" "Get your ass to the conference room, now!"

Richard pointed his finger at my face and yelled. "Mr. Harrison and his legal team are already waiting!

Go sign the contract!" I looked down at the contract that had fallen to the floor. As soon as I opened the first page, my eyebrows furrowed.

The contract was filled with glaring errors.

Not only were the profit margins completely wrong, but even the liability clauses for breach of contract were reversed. "Richard, this contract is invalid.

It’s a disaster." "Shut up!" Richard cut me off brutally. "This is the draft Cody personally revised. He’s a USeducated elite.

He knows modern management concepts way better than you ever will!" Cody chimed in smugly. "Exactly.

Your outdated negotiation tactics are ancient history." I looked at this ridiculous duo of uncle and nephew, unable to believe my ears.

Signing this flawed contract would destroy my reputation in the industry and ruin my credibility with clients.

When the dust settled, Richard and Cody would easily shift the blame onto me, and I would be blacklisted from the industry forever.

Richard glared at me menacingly. "Audrey, stop trying to scare me!" "I am ordering you to go in there and sign it right now.

Otherwise, you will personally pay for all the damages and get the hell out of my company!" He shoved me hard, pushing me right through the conference room doors.

Inside, the atmosphere was incredibly tense. Mr. Harrison and his elite legal team sat on the opposite side of the long table, their faces grim.

I looked at the bruises on my knees from Brad’s trip, then thought of the disgusting faces of Richard and Cody. Then, I looked at Mr. Harrison’s dark expression.

Five years of humiliation, resentment, and mistreatment reached boiling point. Mr. Harrison slid the contract toward me. I took a deep breath and picked it up.

Then, looking straight at Mr. Harrison, I spoke clearly. "My boss told me that this $100 million contract is nothing but a joke.

He ordered me to reject this partnership on behalf of the company." The moment the words left my mouth, I ripped the multimillion dollar contract in half.

Paper shreds fluttered through the air like snow. The smug grin on Richard's face froze instantly. "Audrey, have you lost your mind?!"