Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 538

It’s a Personal Reason

Why else, then? Are the benefits not good enough? If raising your pay doesn’t work, why don’t I

promote you too?”

Summer was speechless.

“Or do you

have any other requests? Feel free to voice them out.”

Summer pursed her lips. She wasn’t sure if she was hearing things, but even though Erik’s voice

sounded calm and normal, she could sense his anxiety from his gradually increasing words.

Anxiety?

Is it because I’m resigning?

The thought flashed across Summer’s mind before she quickly denied it.

No, the Ludson Corporation didn’t lack talent at all, and she wasn’t the only one who could handle. her

current position either.

Also, she didn’t have many strengths save for her willingness to work hard. Erik could get all the talent

he needed on the market. As soon as she resigned, someone else would quickly take over the

position.

Those thoughts circled her mind before Summer quickly realized that she was overthinking it. How

could Erik be reluctant to let her go?

Even if that were the case, he probably felt that he would have one less person to exploit.

Thinking about this, Summer returned to her senses and said softly, “That’s not it, Mr. Ludson.”

Erik was stunned, and he didn’t say a word.

“The company has been very good to me. I haven’t worked with a company that has offered better

incentives in the past few years.”

It was true that she always called him ‘the devil. After all, work could get too much to handle at times.

He would sometimes tell her to go on a business trip with him or work overtime.

However, in terms of salary, he never once mistreated her. Also, whenever she asked him to reimburse

the fees she had to pay because of work, he would sign it right away. The quarterly and annual

bonuses were lucrative as well, and she also had decent incentives while working there. What was

more, there was always some afternoon tea to grab.

All in all, save for her days off, she experienced much better treatment here compared to other

companies.

However…

“If this is the company with the best incentives so far, why would you resign?”

There was one question Erik didn’t ask. He wanted to ask if she had found a company that offered

even better incentives and if that was why she wanted to leave.

If so, then he could raise her pay. It wouldn’t be a problem.

Summer never thought that her resignation could induce such questions. She pretended that he was

just concerned about her.

“Mr. Ludson, this has nothing to do with how the company treats me. It’s a personal reason.”

After she mentioned that, Erik subconsciously asked, “What reason is that?”

Immediately, Erik seemed to realize that the question wasn’t appropriate. After all, if it was a personal

reason, it would involve her privacy.

If he asked that, it felt like he was prying into her privacy.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. If it’s a personal reason, and if it’s something the company can help with,

perhaps

Summer knew what he meant. She maintained a light tone as she said, “I know, Mr. Ludson. You won’t

pry into other people’s privacy. Still, the company can’t help with that.”

Now that things had come to this point, if Erik continued asking, it would seem rude of him.

The cold and calm man sat in the office, holding his phone with one hand as he stared at the

resignation report in front of him. The applicant’s name was Summer Jones.

There was also a photo attached to the report. It was Summer’s ID photo.

The girl in the photo had a clean face and a refreshing smile that went well with her bright eyes. The

photo looked like it was taken many years ago, for the girl in the photo still had a youthful aura about

her.

He looked at the photo of the girl, then recalled how she looked after all those years toiling for the

company. He pursed his thin lips and asked again, “Are you sure that you want to resign?”

“Yes.”

The girl’s voice sounded firm as it rang out from the other end of the line.

By the looks of it, she was determined to leave this company.

“Alright, I got it. I’ll deal with your resignation as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ludson.”

Erik didn’t hang up. The girl was probably waiting for him to hang up first, so after waiting a while, she

must have realized that he hadn’t ended the call yet, so she asked in a slightly surprised tone, “Mr.

Ludson? I’ll be hanging up now, okay?”

The girl’s voice sounded careful. Erik pursed his thin lips, debating if he should say something.

However, when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t utter a word. As such, he could only hum in

response.

Seeing that he had agreed, the girl seemed to have let out a sigh of relief. “Goodbye, Mr. Ludson.

Remember to sign off my resignation report, alright?”

After expressing her thanks, she ended the call.

As Erik listened to the beeping tone, he put down his phone and picked up a pen he left on the desk.

When Erik took the pen, his expression was a little dazed.

Just then, knocks sounded on the door of the office.

“Come in.”

His assistant walked in and caught sight of the resignation report on Erik’s desk. There was a slightly Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

surprised look on his face.

“Mr. Ludson, I see that you’ve already received the resignation report.”

“Yes.”

The assistant had been handling a few matters outside, and he passed by the HR Department on his

way back. He happened to overhear them talking about Summer’s resignation, and his expression

instantly changed as he hurried upstairs to tell Erik about the news. He didn’t expect that her

resignation report would be sent to Erik already.

Meanwhile, Erik was holding a pen, looking like he was about to sign it.

The assistant only glanced at it before saying, “I’ll talk to her.”

“It’s okay.” Erik halted him in a cold voice.

Erik’s voice caused the assistant to pause in his tracks. When the assistant turned around, he saw Erik

holding the pen and signing his name on the approval line of the resignation report.

When the assistant saw that, he was a little stunned.

“Are you approving it just like that, Mr. Ludson? Aren’t you going to… ask about it at least?”

He was away for just a few hours, so what exactly happened while he was gone? How did things

suddenly turn out like this?

Sadly, Erik didn’t answer his question. Instead, Erik handed the signed resignation report to him.

“Send it to the HR Department.”

The assistant was confused, but he quickly took the resignation report. Then, his gaze fell upon the pen

in Erik’s hand/

The pen was pure black, and its edges were starting to whiten from the friction. It was obvious that the

pen was losing its color after being used for a long time.

The

pen

didn’t match Erik’s net worth at all, for it was just too cheap.

After all, which president of a company would use a worn–out pen?

However, Erik continued using it, and perhaps only the assistant knew the reason behind that.

Summer was the one who had gifted Erik this pen.

Back then, there was a project where Summer worked together with Erik and his assistant. She-

worked so hard that she almost collapsed, and when the project succeeded in the end, she was given

a large bonus.

Summer was elated, so she used the bonus to buy gifts for Erik and his assistant.

After she bought the pen, she found out that Erik had a custom–made pen of his own, and the one she

bought was from a lesser–known brand. She was instantly embarrassed, and when she tried to take

the gift back, Erik accepted it right away.

Thanks for the gift. It’s very nice of you.”