Kellan’s eyes flashed with understanding. He turned to Allison, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. “Looks like Ms. Clarke has done us a favor once again.”
All eyes darted toward Allison, who remained calm and composed, completely unfazed by the chaos. Behind her, the computer screen displayed line after line of complex code, and the once-broken webpage was rapidly returning to normal.
Melany’s jaw dropped as she muttered, “Allison… how is this even possible?”
Colton stared in disbelief, his mind racing as he watched the screens. He could hardly grasp the fact that Allison, of all people, had the skill to repair such a sophisticated system.
Those who had been quick to mock her now stood in silent shame. Their earlier jibes had come full circle, leaving a sting they couldn’t ignore.
Colton muttered under his breath, “That can’t be true…”
After all, for the last three years, Allison hadn’t touched a computer. Her phone was some obscure brand nobody had heard of. How could she possibly know anything about hacking?
Kellan’s expression remained as icy as ever. “Some people are so wrapped up in their own little bubble that they can’t see beyond it. Stop making a fool of yourself.”
Allison gave a casual shrug and smiled. “Earlier, Mr. Lloyd mentioned that a few people weren’t invited to this exchange and that some uninvited guests had managed to slip into the company. And isn’t it just a little too convenient that, since their arrival, the company has come under a cyber-attack? The timing seems a bit suspicious, don’t you think?”
Colton’s irritation flared as soon as he realized he was being accused. “Quit accusing us! What does this have to do with us?”
Allison, finding it tiresome to engage with people like Colton, lashed out with a sharp retort. “Then why are you wandering around someone else’s company? You slipped in with the crowd and immediately caused trouble. I have every reason to believe you’re intentionally threatening the security of this place!”
“And I never would have guessed, Melany, that you’d stoop so low as to join forces with him. Maybe you’re both trying to steal company secrets. After all, you do have a bit of a history, don’t you?”
Melany felt the ground beneath her feet vanish. “That’s not true at all!” She was about to defend herself when Kellan’s steely gaze pinned her in place.
“Get out, or I’ll have security throw you out.”
In the end, both Melany and Colton were unceremoniously escorted from the building by security. Their faces burned with humiliation as they received a barrage of strange looks on their way out. Once outside Charisma Company, their anger only grew.
“The Lloyd family has gone too far!” Colton was so enraged that even his fingers trembled. He was a CEO, after all. Being treated like that – dragged out as if he were some common troublemaker – was a stain on his dignity.
“And if Allison was really dealing with that cyber-attack, why didn’t she speak up? She made us misunderstand her behavior,” Melany fumed as she clung to his arm. She never missed an opportunity to fuel the fire.
“She did it on purpose!” Colton’s fists tightened as he glared up at the top floor of the building, his face pale with fury. He longed to bring Kellan down from his high perch.
Just because Kellan came from a better family, he thought he could act so superior. Colton couldn’t even pinpoint the source of his anger. Maybe it was a blend of jealousy, frustration at seeing Allison do better than he was, and the sight of her standing beside a man who clearly outshone him in every way.
“Just wait. I’ll seal the deal with the Everett Group.” He swore to himself that he’d make Allison regret ever crossing him.
Meanwhile, the representatives from various companies attending the exchange had been led elsewhere by the staff for a tour. Everyone had sensed that Kellan was tidying up loose ends, and they wisely kept their heads down.
“You should all focus on your tasks instead of wasting time on idle gossip. Or do you not understand what’s most forbidden in a workplace?”
Kellan’s gaze, colder than winter’s frost, swept over the troublemakers.
Marc, the leader of those troublemakers, suddenly slumped in fear. “I apologize, Mr. Lloyd. We didn’t mean to!”
“Your year-end bonuses will be deducted,” Kellan said coldly.
“Yes, Mr. Lloyd.”
Kellan approached Allison and thanked her with a thoughtful expression. “Thank you very much, Ms. Clarke. If the database had been hacked, it would have been a major issue.”
His words carried weight as he peered into her eyes. “Moreover, Ms. Clarke, your abilities are impressive. You’ve even upgraded the firewall. The hackers I hired all agree that you’re the real deal.”
“I just happened to have learned it before,” Allison said, brushing off the compliment with a hint of nonchalance. “Besides, it’s part of the job description. I have no intention of watching the company crumble right after I step through the door,” she quipped, smoothly shifting the topic.
She then turned the tables with a compliment for Kellan. “Mr. Lloyd, your company’s security system is top-notch. Even if I weren’t here, someone would’ve noticed it sooner or later. What I did was just a drop in the bucket.”
Kellan could sense her evasion but decided not to pry. If she wished to keep her thoughts to herself, he wouldn’t force the issue. “I appreciate your efforts, Ms. Clarke. I’m well aware of what our rivals are capable of this time around.”
Kellan’s expression shifted as he pondered something, squinting as he asked, “Ms. Clarke, did you run into any trouble on your first day? Did anyone give you a hard time?”
The tension in the room thickened. Those present, including Marc, held their breaths, glancing nervously at the surveillance camera overhead. Their earlier discussion had been caught on tape, leaving them with no room to deny it.
As they scrambled to formulate an excuse, Allison replied breezily, “Nope. Everyone here knows better than to stir the pot with their boss. They wouldn’t want me making their lives difficult, would they?” Her casual tone contrasted sharply with the icy glint in her eyes.
The group exhaled quietly in relief, their gazes falling to the floor, too apprehensive to meet her stare.
Kellan dismissed them with a wave. “Alright then. I’ve extended multiple invitations for you to join our team. If anyone steps out of line, I won’t let it slide!” He smiled, yet his words rang with a sharp warning for all. “From now on, Ms. Clarke is the head of this lab. She has the final say on any personnel changes without needing my thumbs up!”
Essentially, Allison held the power to hire or fire at her discretion. The others shuddered at the implication. “Understood!” they chorused, their voices barely above a whisper.
Allison reflected that if she couldn’t manage this minor issue without Kellan’s intervention, her authority would be called into question. Fortunately, Kellan understood the unspoken dynamics of the workplace and trusted her skills.
“Ms. Clarke, feel free to use the lab however you see fit.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lloyd.”
After exchanging a few more light-hearted words, Kellan exited. The moment he left, Allison’s expression hardened, and her voice remained cool as she commanded, “Everyone, back to your stations. This is the first time you have abandoned your posts.”
Without permission. If it happens again, I will address it according to the rules, and I won’t go easy on anyone.” Regardless of their intentions, the team hurried back to their tasks, wary of provoking her again. She was now their leader, and her decisions could change their futures.
Soon after, a young woman in a plaid shirt with bangs entered Allison’s office quietly, her head bowed. Allison tilted her head and asked, “What’s on your mind?”
“I just wanted to say sorry,” Aimee Williams murmured, her eyes brimming with regret.
“Sorry for what? You didn’t say a word earlier,” Allison replied, noting that Aimee had remained silent during the earlier confrontation.
Aimee shook her head, her voice dropping even further. “Women have it tough in this field. I stayed quiet, believing their gossip and doubting you. I should have spoken up for you. By not saying anything, I became an unwitting accomplice. I can’t find peace without apologizing.”
Allison remained calm. “What good would it have done? Those folks are seasoned pros at stirring the pot. They will always outshine you with their words. Even if you defended me, they wouldn’t have believed you and might have even started slinging mud your way. Self-preservation is instinctive; you have no reason to feel guilty about it.”
Aimee’s shoulders slumped further in shame at this. After a moment of hesitation, she finally mustered the courage to share something with Allison. “Ms. Clarke, the lab is rife with unrest. There are cliques that bicker over research results or sabotage clients. Their methods are underhanded. You need to tread carefully.”
Aimee had lost a major client to such tactics when she first arrived and felt increasingly disheartened as she spoke. Allison nodded, giving Aimee’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “I appreciate the heads-up. Now, get back to work.”
Aimee quietly exited, clutching her files. Allison peered out the window, noticing dark clouds gathering on the horizon. A storm seemed to be brewing.
When lunchtime rolled around, the office buzzed with chatter as employees gathered, eager to indulge in gossip and catch up on the latest drama.
“What do you think of the new boss? What’s her story? How did she manage to catch Mr. Lloyd’s attention?” one employee wondered. “I heard Mr. Lloyd had to invite her several times before she finally agreed to come on board.”
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.