Chapter five

"Be quiet!" Mr. Wesley suddenly exclaimed, causing Maricela to be startled. It was rare for her uncle to become so angry. She glanced at Kathy and expressed, "Did you hear that? He told you to be quiet!"

Kathy raised an eyebrow in surprise. Mr. Wesley then turned and struck Maricela across the face. "I told you to be quiet!" He then faced Kathy and apologized, "Miss Kathy, this inexperienced employee doesn't know any better and has unintentionally offended you. If you can find it in your heart to forgive her, please overlook it."

Maricela stood there in shock, covering her face, unable to comprehend what had just occurred. Her eyes welled up with tears and streamed down her cheeks. This unexpected turn of events left not only Maricela but also their other colleagues in the office astounded. The typically arrogant Mr. Wesley had an unusually humble moment?!

Kathy glanced at Maricela and calmly questioned, "What if I insist on taking offense?"

 

Mr. Wesley held his breath, unwilling to confront Kathy. Considering his age, losing his job at Henderson Corp would make it challenging for him to secure a better employment opportunity. Instead, he turned to Maricela, who remained in a state of shock, and demanded, "Why are you just standing there? Apologize!"

Maricela lifted her head, revealing the prominent mark left by the slap on her face. Despite her limited understanding, she now comprehended the gravity of the situation. The woman capable of making her uncle submit must possess a powerful background. With a sense of humility, she meekly forced a smile and uttered softly, "I'm sorry." Her face burned with pain, and she couldn't help but feel that everyone in the department was mocking her.

 

Kathy cast an indifferent glance at Maricela and instructed, "Get back to work. Copy all of these materials today. And remember, you have to do the copying yourself." She gestured towards the stack of materials she had just handed to Maricela. It was Maricela's first day on the job, and Kathy didn't want to escalate the situation with Mr. Wesley, but that didn't mean she couldn't teach Maricela a lesson.

Mr. Wesley glanced at the substantial pile of materials and furrowed his brow. "Isn't this excessive?"

"If I recall correctly, Miss Maricela specifically asked me to copy these materials. Can't she handle it herself?" Kathy retorted.

"No, no, Maricela, go and complete your task!" His niece had always been coddled, but as long as he kept an eye on her, nothing untoward happened in the company. He didn't anticipate encountering Kathy today.

Maricela clenched her teeth, picked up the materials, and made her way to the copying room.

 

Once Kathy and the others had departed, the colleagues in the office began to whisper and engage in discussions. Numerous new employees who had previously been bullied by Maricela felt a sense of relief.

…

Alexia, adorned with delicate makeup, held a gift box in her hand. She knocked on Xavier's office door, noticing that since her return, Xavier seemed to be treating her even more poorly than before.

Contemplating this, Alexia glanced at the gift box in her hand, and a smile graced her lips. With this gesture, she believed Xavier would experience happiness. She had even gone through the trouble of finding someone to imitate it.

 

In the past, Alexia wouldn't have gone to such lengths to please Xavier. However, Xavier's status had changed. He was no longer the impoverished boy of yesteryears. With his wealth, talent, and attractiveness, he became the object of desire for many women. Not to mention others, even Kathy made Alexia feel threatened.

"Come in," Xavier's voice emanated from inside the room.

Alexia flashed a sweet smile and cautiously poked her head in. "Xavier, it's me."

Xavier was engrossed in company matters and hadn't anticipated seeing Alexia. He hadn't even had a moment to conceal his impatience. "Why are you here?" His tone lacked enthusiasm. With the company currently facing difficulties, he naturally wasn't in the mood for romantic affairs.

 

Now, Xavier found himself regretting why he had slapped Kathy in the hospital that day. Kathy, being a proud woman, was likely enraged because of his actions. In the past, he wouldn't have cared whether she was angry or not, but now it was a significant concern for the company! Contemplating this, his annoyance grew, and even seeing Alexia dampened his mood slightly.

Alexia's smile momentarily froze, but she swiftly recovered and reached out to hold Xavier's arm. 

"Xavier, look at what I have here." She presented the gift box with a smile.

Xavier furrowed his brow. He had little interest in the gift box in Alexia's hand, and he impatiently stated;

"Don't be silly. I still have company matters to attend to. You should go back for now. I'll reach out to you when I have the time."

Alexia felt a twinge of dissatisfaction, but she managed to suppress her temper due to Xavier's current standing. "Xavier, I understand your concerns for the company. I heard you were in search of artwork. Take a look at this. You'll love it."

Xavier glanced at her before opening the gift box and discovering a lifelike oil painting inside. His eyes sparkled as he recognized the signature—it belonged to none other than Mr. Gordon.

"This is Mr. Gordon's artwork. How did you get it?" Xavier examined it multiple times. With this painting, negotiating with Topcom would be much smoother.

During his last visit to Mr. Gordon, Xavier not only failed to obtain the artwork but was promptly kicked out upon entering. The old man was a difficult character! He even munched on some buns and refused to accept the expensive gifts Xavier had brought.

Xavier had worried about how to persuade the old man to create a piece for him, but now it had been delivered to him. He gazed at Alexia with a tender expression.

 

"Alexia, I appreciate your gesture. It seems like you must have made a significant investment for this. I will transfer the funds to your account at a later time."

 Upon hearing the mention of money, Alexia's desire was stirred, but she yearned for more than just the meager sum in front of her. 

"I'm willing to work hard for you," she confessed, her eyes shimmering with anticipation as they locked onto Xavier's gaze. The truth was, obtaining this artwork hadn't required much effort on her part. She had merely stumbled upon a skilled imitator who replicated it for her, albeit at the hefty price of nineteen hundred talents, which left her feeling burdened.

Xavier embraced Alexia with tenderness, drawing her close into his arms.

"Alexia, I will ensure your well-being from this moment onward."

Nestling against Xavier's chest, Alexia responded with unwavering obedience, 

"I trust you."

Filled with eagerness, Xavier swiftly arranged for a meeting with Martin Hubbard, the man responsible for Top Company Brand. 

"Xavier, where are you headed? Can I tag along?" Alexia's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She yearned to interact with influential figures, but lacked personal connections of her own. If Xavier agreed to take her along, her prospects would greatly improve. Additionally, she sensed a slight aloofness from Xavier lately, and worried that other women might exploit the situation.

Initially inclined to decline, Xavier's resolve softened as he beheld Alexia's delicate countenance. Besides the artwork, he harbored a debt of gratitude towards her. 

"Alright, but we will be meeting with the head of Topcom brand. When we meet, please don't embarrass me.”