The head of the operations and logistics department was Sean Graham, Andrew's son, whom Andrew had personally promoted through nepotism. Sean's monthly salary was 30 thousand dollars. However, he did nothing but exploit the system, while his two vice heads worked tirelessly day and night.Angela had gotten all of this information from the documents Dexter had given her.She had conducted her own investigation, but it wasn't nearly as detailed. Dexter had even uncovered the hidden arrangement for Sean's salary—it was split, with 10 thousand deposited into his account and 20 thousand paid in cash.Sean was absent that day. He had been out drinking the night before and was too hungover to wake up in the morning, so his subordinate attended the meeting in his place.Andrew, aware that his son was absent, asked, "Why are you looking for the head of the operations and logistics department?"Angela spoke in a steady, serious tone, "There are ten elevators in the company building. This
As Logan's name was suddenly called, he immediately turned pale.There was no way Sean had reported his absence. He barely showed up ten days a month.Not only was Logan unable to hold anyone accountable, but he also had to help cover things up. After all, Andrew was the boss."Mr. Chapman, it seems that despite being the head of the HR department, you aren't too familiar with the company's leave policies. If that's the case, perhaps we should find someone more competent for the job?" Angela arched a brow at Logan, her eyes carrying a sharp warning.Logan was immediately shocked and became anxious. With Angela raging at the moment, he certainly couldn't risk being the scapegoat and losing his job."Ms. Graham, as far as I know, Mr. Sean didn't submit a leave request." Logan lowered his head, avoiding Andrew's gaze as he spoke cautiously.Unbelievable. Just this morning, he had been so sure of himself, confident that Angela was no threat, and taken her lightly. Yet, within less th
Andrew was the lifeblood of the company. When he collapsed, everyone was thrown into chaos.In the midst of the turmoil, Angela calmly walked up to the podium, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The meeting will continue!"Her voice wasn't too loud, but the four words were enough to make the atmosphere in the room even more tense. Everyone froze, staring at her in astonishment.Angela's gaze was sharp. "Even if all the senior executives of the company pass out, the company must continue to operate as usual!"Her attitude and presence were far from that of a young person in her 20s. She exuded the air of someone with decades of experience in the business world, and her every movement radiated formidable confidence.The crowd exchanged glances, but ultimately, they returned to their seats in silence, watching Angela on the podium.Angela had never been in such a high position before, with hundreds of eyes on her. No wonder Dexter always had such a stern face.If one had to face
Even Dexter himself couldn't explain why he instinctively wanted to avoid Angela's gaze.Was he afraid she'd find out he was here?Rocky fumbled to roll up the window, only to realize that Angela hadn't even spared them a glance. She got into her car and drove off without hesitation.Rocky couldn't help but feel that Dexter was overthinking things.Angela had left alone and headed to the hospital to check on Andrew.At a time like this, she wouldn't allow herself to be caught in a scandal. Too many people were watching her, waiting for her to slip up so they could seize the opportunity to attack.Andrew had suffered a sudden heart attack. Luckily, the people around him had given him a fast-acting heart medication, so by the time he had reached the hospital, he had already been out of danger.But he refused to leave. Instead, he insisted that the doctors exaggerate his condition in front of the assistants who had accompanied him."She's heartless! Mr. Graham has worked tirelessl
Sean stood in the doorway of the hospital room. His large frame was almost too big to fit through.Before he even stepped inside, he pointed at Angela's nose and started yelling, "You vicious woman! My dad worked tirelessly for your family his entire life, and this is how he ends up? How can you be so heartless?"I've seen people bite the hand that feeds them, but I've never seen someone as stupid as you—striking before you've even secured your place. Aren't you afraid people will curse you behind your back?"He looked like he had the moral high ground with his show of aggression.Angela crossed her arms before smiling. "Mr. Sean, don't get so worked up. When did I ever bite the hand that feeds me? I merely got rid of a parasite—you. At most, Mr. Andrew's reputation being affected is just collateral damage. That's hardly what I'd call biting the hand that feeds me. Wouldn't you agree?"It was true. Andrew was still too valuable to remove him from the company. He held control over
It was Angela's first day at the company. Bill wondered whether those people had done their part. Had they managed to put pressure on her?Bill was now completely under Angela's control. The hospital staff wouldn't allow him to contact the outside world, and his phone had been confiscated.All he could do was read, watch TV, and tend to the garden. He was on the verge of going crazy."Mr. Graham, Mr. Graham!" A familiar voice suddenly called from behind.Bill stiffened, thinking he must have misheard.Turning around, he saw two people dressed as janitors hurrying toward him. At first glance, he didn't recognize them, but the voice he had just heard was unmistakable."Bill, it's me, Andrew." Andrew lifted his messy wig while pretending to sweep beside Bill, but his expression couldn't hide his excitement.Bill's expression changed. He knew it must not have been easy for Andrew to sneak in. He turned back around, continuing to feed the fish, and lowered his voice. "Why are you her
Bright moonlight shone through the window, and occasionally, birds flew by, chirping softly.The soothing warmth of the water enveloped Angela's weary body, easing her tense limbs. She gradually let her guard down and slipped into the water. When Dexter returned, he called out multiple times, but silence was all that greeted him. Noticing Angela's bag on the couch, he confirmed that she was indeed home. A wave of concern washed over him, prompting him to head upstairs to check on her. He found the bedroom door closed and locked from the inside.He knocked on her door once more, yet silence persisted. Overcome by a growing sense of anxiety, Dexter decided to pick the lock and let himself in.Angela was nearly completely submerged. The water reached up to her chin, threatening to engulf her completely. Without hesitation, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her out.In a split second, Angela was jolted awake. The sight of Dexter and the unfolding scene before her caused her expre
Jordan served as the head of the finance department at Graham Group and was one of Bill's loyal subordinates. Much like Logan, he often flattered her brainless father. Though he was in his 40s and nearing the age of 50, he appeared to be in his 30s, a testament to his remarkable self-care."Mr. Cooper, why are you being distant? I need your help since I've just taken over the company, and I'm still getting to know it. As you saw in yesterday's meeting, many people don't seem to like me. What should I do?" Angela was concise and straightforward.Having figured out Angela's intentions, Jordan smirked, feeling secretly pleased."Ms. Graham, you think too highly of me. Just yesterday, you flaunted your authority the moment you arrived at the company. I'm sure nobody dares to challenge you now." His tone was neutral and light in a way that could make people feel uneasy.Angela chuckled and asked, "So what's your stance on this? We're both open-minded, so there's no reason to dance aroun
When Angela woke up, the room was utterly silent. She felt like she was being held in someone's embrace, a weight pressing on her chest, making her uncomfortable. "You're up?" Dexter's deep voice, filled with satisfaction, came from right beside her.Angela froze. She instinctively wanted to turn and sit up, but she was firmly held in his strong arms, unable to move. "I... I'm a little thirsty. I want to get some water." She avoided looking at his face. Her voice carried a hint of unease. "Hmm." Dexter stood up and turned away from her to pour a glass of water.He wore only black boxer briefs, showcasing his impressive physique. It was simply mesmerizing. His broad shoulders, trim waist, defined abs, and long legs were striking. But the most captivating feature was his face with sharp features, a chiseled jawline, and icy eyes that exuded indifference. He was absolutely stunning.Angela couldn't shake off the wild memories of last night and suddenly realized how much she h
"You're just getting back? Have you eaten yet? What's going on?" Fiona looked at Angela, surprised to see her return with such a heavy heart. Angela forced a faint smile and shook her head before heading upstairs. After shutting herself in her room, she didn't do anything. She didn't shower or change her clothes. She simply lay there, motionless, for two hours.A little past eleven, Angela heard a door open in the adjacent room. It must be Dexter coming back. She quickly got out of bed, kicking off her high heels and slipping into quieter slippers before stepping out. From the slightly ajar door, she could already smell the faint scent of alcohol. Dexter had been drinking. Without hesitation, she barged in. Before he could react, she switched off the lights and pushed him onto the bed.Dexter was startled. Instinctively, he tried to push her away. But the moment he realized it was her, he stopped moving. In the darkness, he looked at her intensely, feeling puzzled. He a
Austin was surprised by Angela's directness.After all, in the past, Bill and Judy had kicked her out of her home more than once. Despite being a wealthy socialite, she had ended up being a waitress and washing dishes in a restaurant just to make a living, even becoming the subject of ridicule. At that time, she had never even considered defying her family. She had accepted every word they said without hesitation. Her compliance had been so extreme.But at the very least, she'd still had a tiny spark of ambition. Otherwise, Genevieve wouldn't have chosen her as her last mentee.When they arrived at the top-floor office, Clara was already waiting outside. Seeing Angela approach, she quickly stepped forward and handed her an acquisition contract. Angela introduced Clara to Austin before taking the contract and leading both of them into the office. She asked Clara to take care of Austin while she focused intently on reviewing the document. Austin sat on the couch, quietly watc
Angela told Mia about what had happened earlier, hoping to get her opinion.Mia, who already felt that her life was complicated enough, found herself caught in a dilemma at this moment. "Angela, your situation is really tough. Just when Mr. Bamford is being the best to you, Austin suddenly showed up. It's really tricky," Mia said, holding Leo in her arms and furrowing her brows in thought.Angela collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. If she agreed to break up with Dexter, he would be utterly heartbroken. Their relationship would be irreparably damaged. In fact, it might be even worse. Dexter's pride would prevent them from ever crossing paths again.After all, he was the one being abandoned. To him, it was the greatest humiliation.Yet, if she didn't break up with him, she would miss her last chance to see Genevieve. When it came to life and death, everything else should be secondary. She was conflicted, but it felt like she was gradually leaning to
Angela's eyes turned red, but her face became deathly pale. She stood there for a long time without saying a word. Austin said gently, "Calm down first. This is also the reason I came back this time."She asked emotionally, "Where is Ms. Lawson? I want to see her."She hadn't seen Genevieve for years. Back then, Genevieve and Austin had strongly advised her not to marry Dexter, but she had refused to listen. This led to a rift between them, and the two left in anger, never contacting her again.Austin looked at her intently. "You can see her, but… you have to agree to one condition."Angela was stunned. "What's it? Just say it."She had absolute trust in Austin. He would never force her into something unreasonable, let alone make her do anything against her morals. "Cut all ties with Dexter," he replied firmly.Angela almost nodded instinctively, but her mind suddenly went blank in chaos. She stared blankly at Austin, who was distant and cold. She frowned. "Austin, why?""Y
Angela was taken aback when her thoughts escaped her lips. She froze and gave an awkward chuckle. "Well… um... no matter how handsome they are, they're nothing compared to you. You're way more attractive. You're..."Dexter was visibly upset and glared at her. "Shut up! Stop going to places like that in the future!"Angela pouted but had no choice. She could only agree for now to calm his anger. Afterward, the two of them headed to Azure Club together. They arrived half an hour earlier than scheduled. Yet, to their surprise, Austin was already there, casually sipping his drink in the booth.He wore a black shirt and radiated an understated allure. The gold-rimmed glasses lent a touch of intellect to his sophisticated presence, while his graceful and composed movements further enhanced his charm. Just by sitting there, he attracted countless glances from other patrons. Some bold women even walked up to ask for his number, only to be met with a cold, piercing gaze that sent the
Dexter frowned instinctively.Angela's phone wasn't locked, and a message from someone named "Drifting Cloud" appeared on the screen. "Let's meet tomorrow at 6:00 pm in Azure Club."After seeing the location, Dexter instantly became nervous. Without hesitation, he picked up the phone and tapped into the message. Sure enough, "Drifting Cloud" was none other than Austin. Of all places, why did he have to choose Azure Club? There was no way Dexter would allow Angela to go there.Angela had become quite fond of handsome men. Whenever she saw a good-looking guy on the street, she would keep glancing at him. A couple of times, her colleagues had taken her to Azure Club to see the escorts. Ever since, she'd been obsessed, always looking for an excuse to go back. If it weren't for the fact that Callum owned the place, Dexter would've already bought out that indecent establishment and shut it down.But the one asking her out was Austin, someone she'd been eager to see for a long time
That kind of personality, combined with Austin's good looks and talent, made countless women flock to him. Yet, no one had ever seen him get particularly close to anyone. Even with Angela, he'd always been distant, rarely showing any warmth. Because of this, Angela had always felt a little intimidated around him and had never dared to get too close. But today, he'd taken the initiative to add her.She wondered if she should send him a message. Since he'd already made the first move, she figured she should at least show some sincerity in return.Suddenly, someone knocked on her door. Angela was shocked, then let out a sigh. The only person who'd come at this hour was Dexter. She wondered why he always appeared in the middle of the night instead of just going to bed like a normal person.Feeling helpless, she opened the door, ready to confront him. However, she found Dexter standing there with a thermometer in his mouth, looking sick and pitiful. "I'm having a fever," he said
Dexter took a deep breath and stared straight into Angela's eyes. "Do you think I need your damn money?"A rebellious thought suddenly popped into Angela's mind. "You might not need the money, but plenty of others do, like that tall, muscular male escort at Azure Club.""You have no sincerity at all! I went out of my way to help you with such a big favor," Dexter snapped before yanking the car door open and stepping out, slamming it shut with a loud bang.Angela was puzzled by the way he mistreated his cherished car. She hurried out as well. Hearing her footsteps, Dexter slowed down, adopting an effortlessly cool demeanor. He thought she was chasing after him. However, after a few moments of silence, he sensed something was off. He turned his head and was furious by what he saw. Angela had settled into the driver's seat and was following him at a relaxed pace, giving off the vibe of a commanding CEO. Dexter, already fuming, finally lost it. He strode toward her. "Get out!"