"Clement?" a middle-aged man with a huge belly stepped out and called out when he spotted Clement.

"Oh, Vernon. Are you having dinner here, too?" Clement forced a smile and kept his tone polite, though he actually could not stand the sight of the man.

Vernon Parker had been one of his company's veterans. After he took over when his father passed, he quickly discovered Vernon's shady dealings behind the scenes. If left unchecked, those schemes would have eventually bankrupted the company. So, Clement had fired him without hesitation.

Life had a twisted sense of humor, though. Vernon's nephew had struck it rich, which meant Vernon was now doing quite well himself. He would use his new power to undermine Clement's company whenever possible.

As Vernon walked over, his smile dripped with contempt. "Drop the act. We both know where we stand."

Clement maintained his composure. "Whatever happened, you were still one of our first employees. It's only right that I show you proper respec