Everyone grew suspicious at Frederick's words.How could Frederick return unharmed when others had been brutally beaten? How had he managed to escape unscathed?Frederick grew exasperated, but arguing with them seemed futile.Just then, Ivy stepped forward and asked, "Frederick, how did you accomplish this?"She had personally witnessed the brutality of those individuals. How could Frederick have persuaded them with mere words?Marsh quickly interjected, "Ms. Mallin, surely you don't believe his far-fetched tale? Consider who we're dealing with. Why would they simply forgive us?"Ivy, who had overheard the exchange between Marsh and Frederick, let out an exasperated sigh at Marsh. "They called me personally to confirm their forgiveness. It's hardly a fabrication."It turned out that Nicole possessed Ivy's contact information and had called to inform her that they had indeed forgiven the company. Marsh was dumbfounded. Had they truly forgiven them? How was that even possible?
Hearing Marsh's arrogant words, everyone silently thought he was being utterly shameless. The credit clearly belonged to Frederick, yet Marsh was attempting to pass it off as his own hard work.Ivy smiled faintly, then her expression turned frosty. "My guidance? When did I ever teach you to frame your colleagues?"It turned out that Melissa had filled Ivy in on the events that had transpired. Ivy was no fool; she could see right through Marsh's scheme to set Frederick up by putting him in harm's way. Using a company incident to frame a colleague was something Ivy could never condone. The company was already in turmoil.If Frederick had also been seriously injured or killed, the company would have been liable for his medical expenses and compensation, further exacerbating the situation.Marsh's actions were not only driven by personal vendetta but also demonstrated a blatant disregard for the company's welfare. It was utterly infuriating!Sensing the icy change in Ivy's tone, Mar
Marsh's fists tightened as he listened to the jubilant chatter.How dared they to mock him? He would find a way to take down Frederick! Then, he would deal with each of them in turn.Meanwhile, Frederick sat on the couch in Ivy's office and noticed the pink water cup on her desk.Curiosity piqued, he asked, "Ms. Mallin, didn't you throw that cup away? How is it back here?"Suddenly, a look of horror spread across Frederick's face. "Don't tell me you use this cup every day and indirectly kiss me with each sip?"Ivy's jaw tightened. Why would she use something she'd discarded? And the audacity of him suggesting they were indirectly kissing! If it weren't for his stellar performance today, she would have given him a piece of her mind.With a strained smile, she retorted through gritted teeth, "Perhaps I had two of these cups, and now I'm using the one from home."Frederick visibly relaxed and placed a hand on his chest. "Whew, you had me worried there."Ivy stared at him incredulo
Ivy's mind raced. She'd always been meticulous with ingredients, using trusted suppliers and going through thorough inspections.How could something have gone wrong? The weight of Anya's trust and the potential repercussions bore down on her. She had to find the source of the problem.This meant determining who had handled the ingredients. Team Two, led by Priscilla, was responsible for the project. Yet, Priscilla's amiable nature didn't align with someone capable of such treachery.Regardless, Ivy had to investigate discreetly, careful not to arouse suspicion.Noticing Ivy's furrowed brow, Frederick attempted to console her. "Ms. Mallin, please don't worry. The truth will come to light."Ivy's eyes locked onto him, assessing him from head to toe. Frederick squirmed under her intense gaze."Ms. Mallin, I'm flattered by your attention, but I'm a married man. I appreciate your kindness, but I must respectfully decline any advances."Ivy fought back a surge of exasperation. Who sai
Ivy's anger flared. "If you refuse my task, I'll dock your pay."This seemed to be her only leverage over Frederick.However, Frederick simply smiled. "I gave away my bonus to others. Do you think I care about that?"Ivy was momentarily taken aback. Though this tactic was effective with others, it clearly didn't work on Frederick. She needed a different approach, a unique method for someone as unconventional as him.Ivy pondered Frederick's weaknesses, convinced everyone had one. She recalled how Olivia's salary deduction had bothered him and how Melissa had nearly cried while reporting to her. It was clear these two harbored feelings for Frederick.A sly smile spread across Ivy's face. "Very well. Since you won't help, I'll assign Olivia and Melissa to investigate. You should know this is a serious case of occupational embezzlement. If they catch the culprit, that person might retaliate harshly."Frederick's composure wavered. He knew the risks involved. Whoever was responsibl
Meanwhile, Priscilla diligently worked on the payroll process in the second team's office.Unlike Marsh, she didn't believe in docking employees' pay. However, when she saw Mitchell's name, her brow furrowed. Her brother consistently missed work yet still received his full salary. This was a growing concern for the company's finances.Just then, an eager voice interrupted her thoughts. "Pris, is it payday? Do mine first, I gotta take off as soon as I get paid."Priscilla turned to see her brother, Mitchell. Their encounters were rare, even at home, except on paydays.She longed for him to find a stable job and stop his carefree lifestyle."Mitch, why don't you come to work like everyone else? What's so appealing about wandering around? Please listen to me and work here properly," she said. Mitchell brushed off her concerns and casually cleaned his ear. "Pris, think about it. I get paid whether I'm here or not. Why bother coming in? Wouldn't that be silly?"Priscilla frowned a
Olivia struggled to hold back tears as she reassured her mother, "Please don't worry, Mom. I won't get involved with anyone. I can make enough money to support you, my brother, and my sister-in-law."Her mother's voice dripped with disdain. "You, a woman, earning enough? You've barely managed to send us a few thousand dollars a month for years. It's barely enough to feed everyone. The best way to secure our future is to marry you off in exchange for a generous gift. We could get tens of thousands all at once!"The call ended, leaving Olivia heartbroken and confused. She couldn't understand why her own mother seemed to value her more as a financial asset than as a daughter.Wiping away tears, Olivia vowed silently, "I have a good job now, and I'll earn much more soon. When I have enough money to give to Mom, she'll see things differently." With newfound determination, Olivia exited the stall and splashed water on her face. Makeup wasn't a concern; she always saved her money for her
A wave of satisfaction washed over Mitchell as he whistled, envisioning Olivia in his arms tonight.He remembered Olivia's worn school uniform, a constant reminder of her family's struggles.Her mother's materialism had always been a factor, and now, with Mitchell's newfound status among a gang of thugs, he felt invincible. The sight of Olivia rekindled his desires, and he planned to leverage her mother's fear of trouble by threatening their home if Olivia didn't comply.Meanwhile, Olivia returned to her desk, and the office buzzed around Frederick. His colleagues assumed his summons to the director's office meant a promotion and bombarded him with questions. "Frederick, did Ms. Mallin call you in for a promotion?""Are you the next team leader?""Remember us when you get there!"Frederick's significant contributions and Ivy's public reprimand of Marsh led his colleagues to assume he was in line for a promotion. Frederick couldn't reveal that he was tasked with investigatin