“Cynthia, if you ever need anything, just ask me.”
“As expected from the daughter of the Keller family-so extravagant!”
Cynthia listened to the flood of compliments with a proud yet gracious smile. Then, lifting a large gift box, she walked over to Coen and handed it to him with both hands.
“Mr. Fuller, I remember you’re a fan of this coffee brand, so I brought a few boxes for you,” she said smoothly.
Coen’s eyes lit up as he lifted the lid. Beneath the neatly packed coffee beans, two solid gold bars gleamed.
“Cynthia, you’re incredibly thoughtful. Thanks,” Coen said, shutting the box with a satisfied smile.
Throughout this, Linsey remained off to the side, watching Cynthia’s performance with a trace of amusement.
It was just a job, yet Cynthia was already throwing money around before even earning her first paycheck.
What baffled Linsey the most, however, was why Cynthia was here at all, starting on the same day as her.
During yesterday’s interview, the panel had been clear-only one candidate would be selected. Since she was the one who got the job, how did Cynthia manage to get in?
Cynthia caught Linsey’s glance from the edge of her vision and responded with a smug smile.
With an air of forced cordiality, she commented, “Linsey, since we both started on the same day, I didn’t think to bring a gift. Let’s look forward to a productive collaboration.”
Coen suddenly recalled Linsey standing nearby. But with the influential Cynthia right there, why would he bother with Linsey, a designer with no real connections?
Casually, he said, “Oh yes, this is Linsey Riley. Take a moment to mingle, everyone. We’ll gather for a meeting in half an hour.” After his brief introduction, Coen cheerfully strode back to his office, cradling the extravagant gift box in his arms.
Linsey made her way to her desk, with Cynthia shadowing her closely and taking a seat nearby.
In a low voice, Cynthia murmured, “You must be quite surprised to find me here.”
While Linsey busied herself with organizing her workspace, she shot Cynthia a fleeting look but said nothing.
Unbothered by Linsey’s silence, Cynthia pressed on. “Despite your victory yesterday, it’s meaningless. I’ve still landed a spot here at CR. Remember my warning-wait and see.”
Cynthia’s voice dripped with mockery as she locked eyes with Linsey, her gaze brimming with scorn.
When her colleagues heard her pronouncement, an uneasy silence enveloped them; they seemed hesitant to voice their thoughts. Yet, a few whispered among themselves, unable to curb their penchant for rumors.
“Linsey clinched the top spot in yesterday’s interview, and we all know Cynthia’s notorious for her domineering ways. I fear Linsey’s in for a rough ride.”
“Indeed. Linsey, the newcomer, has somehow managed to cross Cynthia. My sympathies are with her.”
“Shh, keep it down. If Cynthia catches wind of our chatter, we’ll be in serious trouble. Remember, we did take her gifts.”
“What of it? She’s swimming in wealth; those gifts mean nothing to her.”
As anticipated, during the meeting that followed thirty minutes later, Coen openly delegated Cynthia’s responsibilities.
“In light of the upcoming season, we will update the designs for a classic brand. Since the rest of the team is already occupied, Cynthia will spearhead this project.”
Cynthia responded with zest, “Thank you, Coen, for entrusting me with this. I’m committed to excelling.”
Linsey shot her a glance before turning expectantly toward Coen, awaiting her own assignment.
However, Coen’s gaze lacked any expectation; he addressed her in a tone of superiority. “Linsey, your experience is rather limited. For now, focus on acquainting yourself with the team dynamics, observe the seasoned designers, and help out with simpler chores, like getting coffee for everyone. Understood?”
Cynthia gave Linsey a smug grin, her eyes brimming with disdain.
She knew it-Linsey wasn’t in her league.
Linsey’s brow furrowed in frustration.
She had believed that once she got in, she could start working and finally chase her dream of becoming a designer.
Yet, the tasks Coen handed her were disappointingly trivial.
Indignant, Linsey rose to her feet and voiced her concerns. “Coen, why does Cynthia, who started the same day as I did, receive a substantial project while I’m stuck with these basic tasks? This doesn’t seem right.”
Coen, clearly irked by Linsey’s forthrightness, snapped back, “What exactly doesn’t seem right? Linsey, you’re still learning the ropes as a rookie designer. You need to develop your skills. Do you really think excelling in the interview makes you special?”
Coen’s expression darkened. He was clearly furious at Linsey’s outburst. After making his stance clear, he turned to Cynthia and said coolly, “Cynthia has competed in numerous design contests and has an impressive portfolio. She’s far more experienced than you. Instead of wasting time arguing with your superior, you’d be better off learning from your colleagues as you should.”
Linsey parted her lips to respond, but before she could get a word out, Coen’s voice turned sharp.
“Linsey, if you insist on challenging my decisions, I’ll have to seriously reconsider whether you’re even fit to pass the three-month probation period.”
The warning struck hard, forcing Linsey into silence.
Her probation depended entirely on Coen’s evaluation-if he decided she wasn’t meeting expectations, she would be out before she even had a chance to prove herself.
She had worked too hard to land this job at CR Corporation. There was no way she would let herself be forced out so easily.
Suppressing her frustration, she forced herself to compromise. “Understood. I’ll learn from my colleagues. And I trust you’ll assign me appropriate tasks soon.”
Coen ignored the latter half of her statement. With a cold scoff, he stormed out of the meeting room.
The remaining employees exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether they should say something to Linsey.
Standing up for her would mean opposing both Coen and Cynthia-a risk no one was willing to take.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was thoroughly enjoying Linsey’s humiliation. Recalling Coen’s words, she sighed dramatically and turned to the group. “Now that I think about it, a coffee run sounds perfect. What do you all think?”
Her colleagues hesitated. “Maybe another time, Cynthia. You’ve already given us gifts.”
Without skipping a beat, Cynthia pulled some cash from her wallet and tossed it onto the desk in front of Linsey.
“Linsey, didn’t you hear? We’d like coffee. Make sure to get everyone’s order right-don’t mess it up. If you can’t even handle something this simple, how can Coen ever trust your abilities?”
With that, she linked arms with a few coworkers and strolled out, laughing.
Linsey sat still for a moment before calmly taking the money. Then, without a word, she returned to her desk, picked up a pen and notebook, and went to each colleague one by one, taking their orders.
Cynthia smirked at Linsey’s passive demeanor, relishing her compliance. “Make sure you tell the barista exactly what I want,” she said, her tone dripping with arrogance. “One-third milk, exactly six ice cubes-not one more, not one less-and absolutely no sugar. Understood? If the taste isn’t perfect, you’ll be going back to get another one.”
Linsey jotted it down without emotion and replied flatly, “Got it.” Then, without another glance at Cynthia, she moved on to the next colleague.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.