The drive back was silent. Each sat with their own thoughts.
Angela resented Trey’s past dependence on Khloe, which had led to this humiliating situation.
Trey, meanwhile, felt disappointed-Angela had not managed to keep her composure.
Before they even reached the office, news of the project rejection had spread throughout the company. As she passed through the department area, Angela heard whispered gossip. She felt the eyes of colleagues tracking her, judging her.
Her steps quickened. Glancing toward Khloe’s empty workstation and the few young female subordinates she had personally mentored who were busy working, Angela strode over and picked up one of their computers.
The team was still editing the project document, unsaved.
“Ms. Thompson…” One of the junior staff jumped up, startled.
“Khloe isn’t here. Do you think that gives you license to slack off and live off the company? Such a simple project document, and you’ve been fiddling with it for so long and still can’t get it right?”
“We’re sorry, Ms. Thompson, we’re speeding up…”
Everyone straightened immediately at her voice, but before they could finish, there was a sharp crack-a computer slammed onto the floor at their feet. The screen instantly went blue.
“Ms. Thompson! What are you doing?!”
They scrambled to save it, but it was too late.
“Sorry, it slipped,” Angela said coolly, not even flinching. “But seriously-this garbage proposal? Is this how Khloe usually trains you? A company’s project failing isn’t one person’s fault-it’s the collective incompetence of your entire team.
“Listen carefully. By nine tomorrow morning, I want updated versions of all ongoing project proposals. One mistake in the data, one wrong punctuation mark, and this entire team packs up and leaves.”
Angela walked past them without another word.
That afternoon, Khloe sat in the CEO’s office on the 37th floor of the Morrison Group, going over various business reports.
Suddenly, her phone’s internal chat group exploded with notifications.
It was a small group she had created within Fox Group-just five members, all top performers she had personally trained. They were all fiercely loyal and capable.
[Khloe, when are you coming back? We can’t survive without you!]
[Yeah, Khloe, I think I’ll resign tomorrow if you’re not back…]
[It doesn’t matter-without you, Khloe, I don’t even want to work. I’ve been pushing myself just because of you.]
Khloe’s brow furrowed. Something was definitely wrong.
She replied quickly. Her team had always handled pressure well; they didn’t complain without cause.
Within seconds, messages flooded back. Trey had taken Angela to meet a client earlier, and the client had already initiated termination procedures. The company’s main group chat had erupted in chaos.
Angela had been in the office only two days, but it seemed she was targeting Khloe’s team-shifting all their projects and docking bonuses under various pretexts.
A chill ran through Khloe’s gaze, and after a pause, she typed a single line: [Don’t worry. Take some time off first. Leave the company matters aside. I’ll handle it.)
Her words steadied everyone. Since day one, Khloe had been both a mentor and a shield for her team. They trusted that as long as she was around, nothing could break them.
After closing the chat, Khloe made a decision and picked up the phone and made a call.
“Take some photos of Angela these past few days-her interactions with Trey-and send them to his mother.”
Khloe knew Stella well. She hated Angela seducing Trey. Now that Angela had openly moved into the Fox residence, Stella discovering it would cause chaos.
Perfect.
Let Stella deal with Angela. It would keep Angela from making further moves, give Khloe’s subordinates some vindication, and put Trey in a tight spot-a triple win.
She set down the phone, and her assistant rushed in.
“Ms. Roswell, I-“
Khloe’s gaze hardened when she saw her assistant’s empty hands. “Where’s what I asked for?”
“They said you haven’t been granted company permissions yet, so… for now, their hands are tied.”
The assistant looked down, his frustration evident from being the one forced to deliver the message.
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.