Chapter 600

As long as there was competition, there would be pressure, and with pressure came progress.

With that thought, Joseph felt like a genius. If he could push these people to improve, wouldn’t that only make them more loyal to him in the long run?

He cleared his throat. “Alright, everyone, quiet down for a moment.”

Hearing that, Jack quickly toned down his expression, no longer looking as smug as before. Joseph was pleased by the gesture–at least the guy knew when to rein it in. Jack stood silently, listening attentively. Whether or not he got a promotion now was entirely up to Joseph, and he knew it. There was no surprise there. He understood exactly how the game worked.

Then Joseph dropped the news. “We’re going head-to-head with Walton Corporation on that northern district land bid. The deadline’s approaching fast.”

He shifted to a more serious tone. “If any of you come up with a solid proposal, or know someone who can, bring it to me. Bonuses and promotions won’t be an issue.”

With that, he turned and walked back into his office, leaving Jack standing there, frozen. He was stunned. Weren’t they just getting along a minute ago? Wasn’t Joseph clearly planning to bring him in? But now it was obvious–he’d been kicked to the curb. Joseph hadn’t intended to bring him in at all. And that hit hard. Jack didn’t even know where to vent his frustration.

The moment the office door closed behind Joseph, the rest of the team let loose with sneers and biting remarks aimed straight at Jack.

“Oh, what happened to all that swagger from earlier?”

“Yeah, thought the office nobody landed a big shot and suddenly turned into a star, huh?”

“Honestly, how did we not see sooner how ridiculous he really is?”

Hearing the jabs, Jack felt awful inside, but what could he do? This was the reality of the workplace. There were wins and losses, and most people were just ordinary. Accepting his own ordinariness was part of surviving.

Still, he didn’t respond to the taunts. Joseph had made it clear: everyone had a shot. That meant the opportunity was real, and Jack wasn’t about to let it slip away. Whatever happened, this was his chance. It might be his moment to rise from the sidelines and finally shine. Moments like this didn’t come often.

As he returned to his desk, the others watched, and the mood began to shift. At first, things had felt relaxed, almost friendly. But now, even if no one said it aloud, Jack’s determination made everyone uneasy. His eagerness lit a quiet fire under them. No one wanted to be the one left behind. So little by little, a silent tension spread. People started working harder behind the scenes, pushing themselves quietly. No one wanted to admit it out loud, but Jack’s sudden push had rattled them. He’d gone from a background player to the dark horse, and that struck real fear. So, one by one, they all returned to their desks, wearing a serious expression.