chapter 21 I want to sit down

Jackson was recently engrossed in a mobile game called "Honor of Kings." As he was playing enthusiastically, someone suddenly started tugging at his clothes. "What's up?" Jackson removed his headphones. Nolan quickly gave him a look, and only then did Jackson notice the tense atmosphere in the business department, with everyone staring at him. "What's going on with you guys?" Jackson asked, puzzled. Nolan and Wade were almost dizzy with frustration. Didn't Jackson realize that it was Manager Carlos who was looking for trouble with him? "Jackson! Employees are not allowed to play with their phones during work hours!" Waylon reminded sternly, yet he felt torn inside. On one side, there was an employee with a close relationship with the Chairman. On the other, there was his direct superior, whom he couldn't offend. Waylon felt like he was in an impossible situation. "I'm just playing on my phone, is it such a big deal?" Jackson shrugged. The people in the business department were utterly astounded. It seemed that Jackson still hadn't realized that it wasn't about playing with his phone at all! Manager Carlos had been watching Jackson coldly. Playing with his phone during work hours and showing no concern even after being reminded, Manager Carlos already had a preliminary impression of Jackson. "Young man, stand up," Manager Carlos said coldly. Originally, Jackson was hunched over his phone. Hearing this, he didn't stand up but instead leaned back comfortably in his seat. Not only that, but he also casually took out a cigarette from his drawer. Blowing out a ring of smoke leisurely, Jackson looked at Manager Carlos with interest and smiled, "I have a habit I can't change. When someone tells me to go east, I prefer going west. You tell me to stand up, but I prefer to sit." Hearing Jackson's words, Manager Carlos's face darkened, a sign familiar to those who knew him as a prelude to anger. A few days ago, Manager Carlos was on a business trip out of town. Just back in Jimstantham City, Lily had complained to him for an entire day. Initially, Manager Carlos didn't believe it. How could there be an employee bold enough to dismiss a leader? Moreover, if such an incident really happened, the company would not ignore it. Lily was Manager Carlos's mistress, a secret known by the entire company. Such a relationship was officially forbidden, but due to Manager Carlos's exceptional abilities, even the Chairman turned a blind eye. Manager Carlos knew Lily's character well. She often caused trouble using his support and then turned to him to clean up the mess. So, Manager Carlos decided to personally visit the company to see the situation. What he didn't expect was that this employee named Jackson, just as Lily described, was arrogant and disrespectful. Manager Carlos wouldn't allow such an undisciplined employee to stay in the company. "It's been many years since I've seen a young man as arrogant as you," Manager Carlos said. "This only shows one thing, you have seen too little," Jackson replied, shaking his head. The entire business department's staff had lost interest in work. It was like watching a drama of the year. One was a new performance employee, and the other was the vice president directly responsible for the business department. Two people with vastly different statuses were actually confronting each other! "Mr. Jackson, he is Manager Carlos, the vice president who came specifically to find trouble with you. Be careful," Waylon secretly sent a text to Jackson when Manager Carlos wasn't looking. "Oh, so you are Manager Carlos!" Jackson exclaimed as if realizing for the first time after reading the text. Manager Carlos snorted coldly, about to suppress Jackson with his status, but Jackson's next sentence made him crumble, "Is it because Lily is your mistress that you're here to trouble me?" Jackson said without any hesitation. Pfft! Nolan was drinking tea and sprayed it out when he heard this. The other employees wanted to laugh but dared not. It was true that Lily was Manager Carlos's mistress, and all the company's employees knew this secret. But such matters were not to be disclosed publicly, it was an unspoken understanding. However, Jackson blatantly mentioned it in front of everyone, bringing it out into the open and putting Manager Carlos in a passive position. Sure enough, Manager Carlos's face immediately turned black. "I'm telling you now, in my capacity as vice president, you are fired!" Manager Carlos said furiously. "Firing me? Your word doesn't count," Jackson replied, extinguishing his cigarette, unfazed. Manager Carlos repeated the word "good" three times, clearly very angry. Although a vice president has the power to fire an employee, the Griffith Group had a rule that anyone below the president in the hierarchy, firing an employee, needed a review by the human resources department. This meant that within the entire Griffith Group, only Chairman Apollo and President Violet had the authority to directly fire an employee. Manager Carlos's attempt to fire Jackson would have to go through a review by the human resources department. "I, as a vice president, can't deal with a new employee? What a joke!" Manager Carlos sneered inwardly and immediately took out his phone to call the human resources manager. He wanted to fire Jackson in front of everyone, to let the employees know the consequences of offending him. In the Human Resources Department. In the manager's office, a woman dressed in OL attire was flipping through employee files. As the manager of the HR department, Alaia's main job was to review employee information and performance. Though not a busy role, it required careful observation and comparison, and she couldn't afford to be careless. Ring, ring, ring! At that moment, the phone on the desk rang. "Manager Alaia, there's an employee in the Sales Department named Jackson who isn't suitable for our company!" As soon as the call connected, Carlos stated directly. Carlos, being the company's Vice President, naturally didn't need to be courteous to Alaia, who was just a department manager. In his view, this call was just a formality, and Alaia just needed to follow through. "Fire Jackson? Why?" However, Alaia's response surprised Carlos, as she unexpectedly asked for the reason. Carlos, on the other end of the phone, was momentarily taken aback. He couldn't possibly say that it was because Jackson had driven away his lover, and he wanted revenge by firing him, right? "This employee, a few days ago, incited the security guards to forcefully remove Leader Lily from the Sales Department, creating a very negative impact. An employee who disrespects leaders and disrupts the company structure like this, if kept in the company, will eventually cause problems," Carlos said coldly. "Sorry, Manager Carlos, but I might not be able to make the decision to fire Jackson," Alaia said calmly. "Why?" Carlos's face darkened with anger, feeling secretly annoyed. He thought Alaia was being unreasonable. "Because Jackson just helped the company secure a 7,500,000-dollar deal yesterday," Alaia said. Hearing this, Carlos took a sharp breath. Jackson had brought in a 7,500,000-dollar deal for the company? "As for Jackson driving away Leader Lily, President Violet has already reprimanded him, and Jackson has made amends for his actions. If Manager Carlos insists on firing Jackson, please go and discuss it with President Violet yourself." After saying this, Alaia hung up the phone. On the computer screen, Alaia opened Jackson's employee profile and observed it for a long time. Although she had never interacted with Jackson, she knew that his job transfer was personally arranged by Chairman Apollo. The reason she told Carlos to discuss with President Violet was to avoid trouble. She was reluctant to deal with these issues, especially given Carlos's attitude, which she found quite off-putting. If she guessed correctly, even President Violet couldn't fire Jackson. To have Jackson leave the company, it would require Chairman Apollo's personal approval. But the rumors in the company these past few days, which Alaia had heard, clearly indicated that Jackson was a commissioner appointed by Chairman Apollo at the grassroots level. Carlos, in trying to avenge a lover, had indeed troubled himself by offending Jackson, a commissioner. Shaking her head, Alaia continued with her work. ... Inside the Sales Department. Listening to the dial tone on the phone, Carlos could hardly believe his ears. He never dreamed that Alaia would dare hang up on him. Even more unbelievable was that Jackson had brought in a 7,500,000-dollar deal for the company. Previously, he had been determined to fire Jackson, but now, it seemed like a joke, utterly embarrassing. "Manager Carlos, has the HR approved?" Jackson asked, not missing the chaos, with a smile. Without needing his question, just by looking at Carlos's embarrassed expression, everyone in the Sales Department knew that Carlos had failed to deal with Jackson. It was a failed attempt to show off, and he ended up humiliating himself. Everyone's gaze became strange. Many wanted to laugh but didn't dare, holding back due to Carlos's position. "Jackson, don't think I can't deal with you!" After dropping this harsh statement, Carlos couldn't stay any longer and almost fled in panic. Ha ha ha! Once Carlos left, the people in Sales Team 2 couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter! Even Leader Wade, their team leader, grinned broadly, giving a thumbs-up to Jackson and praising him continuously. Manager Waylon wiped his sweat. He had been terrified just moments ago. Taking a long look at Jackson, Manager Waylon's thoughts became active. Even Carlos couldn't handle Jackson, so he thought it wise to reassess this individual. "So annoying!" "What background does this Jackson come from?" Compared to the roaring laughter of Team 2, the faces of Team 1's staff were somewhat gloomy. Jackson had driven away their team leader, and now even Vice President Carlos couldn't handle him. They were far from happy. ... After leaving the Sales Department, Carlos headed straight to the President's office. Knock, knock, knock. Carlos knocked and entered. President Violet was reading a medical book. Although she was the president, she was also the chief expert of the R&D department. Many of the medicines developed by the Griffith Group were her creations. "Manager Carlos, please sit down." Seeing Carlos come in, President Violet put away the book and placed it aside. "President Violet, there's an employee in the Sales Department named Jackson. I'm sure you must be aware of him," Carlos said directly. "I know." Facing Carlos's questioning, President Violet wasn't surprised. She had expected Carlos to be persistent on this matter. "President Violet," Carlos took a deep breath and said earnestly, "I know Jackson brought in a 7,500,000-dollar deal for the company yesterday, which is a matter of great importance." "But Jackson disregarded the company's system and drove out Leader Lily, who hadn't made any mistakes, from the company. If such an employee isn't punished, what will the other employees think?" Carlos tried to persuade President Violet. "Manager Carlos, what are you suggesting?" President Violet inquired. "Fire Jackson!" Carlos said emphatically. "Such a toxic employee must not remain in the company!" President Violet seemed to agree, apparently somewhat swayed. "You're right, and I also believe that employees like Jackson indeed shouldn't stay in the company." Carlos's heart leaped with joy, but President Violet's next words felt like a cold blow. "I'd also like to fire Jackson, but I don't have the authority to do so."