[David M]

Given the company has told you that you are not going to advance within the company without directly saying so, I would start looking elsewhere unless you want to keep a dead end job for the security.

Telling a supervisor or anyone who is looking over your shoulder asking when something will be done and then replying with such a terse remark is pretty unprofessional and inexcusable in my opinion. It's generally good policy for yourself to keep any negative emotions/remarks at work in check.

I would go to the competition and start seing if they are hiring. Nothing pisses off an ex-employer more than to see an employee jump the fence and give away methods of doing work to the competition. Hopefully you did not sign a non-disclosure agreement.

I generally agree with the legalities expressed above. I do want to add that nobody owes you a job in this world and sometimes others make mistakes in not hiring the right person for the job. But because you disagree with their seemingly bad decision does not grant you any legal recourse.

I wish you the best.