Chapter 43
Rachel got the message loud and clear–Samantha wasn’t going to help Cecilia.
Samantha had just started this new position, and like every new leader, she needed to make a statement. By using Cecilia as an example, she had shown the whole company that she wasn’t just a figurehead. She wanted people to respect her—and fear her a little, too.
Still, Rachel didn’t get angry. She simply nodded, calm and composed.
“I understand it’s difficult for you, Ms. Judd. But you see, I happened to hear something interesting today about the Trinity Enterprise project. You closed the deal, but it was my proposal you used. If word got out, people in the company might start to question your ability.”
She gave a small smile.
“Wouldn’t it be better to bring Cecilia back? That would make you look generous and confident, not someone who holds grudges.”
Rachel had even handed Samantha the perfect excuse. If she still refused, she would be a fool.
The smugness on Samantha’s face from earlier vanished. Her ears flushed red, and her eyes lowered. She looked like she had been caught off guard.
A moment passed, then she finally gave in.
“Well, since you came to ask me in person, I can’t really turn you down. But I can’t promise anything with William. I’ll try, but that’s all I can say.”
Rachel smiled, satisfied. “Then I’ll thank you on Cecilia’s behalf, Ms. Judd.”
With that, she pulled open the office door and walked out.
Samantha stood behind her desk, jaw clenched. Then, in a flash of frustration, she swept the files off her desk with a loud crash.
Meanwhile, Rachel had already sent the project data to the colleague from earlier. The woman was overwhelmed with gratitude, sending message after message saying thank you.
Rachel left the company and sat in the backseat of the car, heading home. On the way, she called Cecilia to share the good news.
“If nothing goes wrong, you should be able to return to work in a couple of days.”
Cecilia was stunned. “Wait–what? Are you serious? Can I really come back? Mr. Lewis agreed? But didn’t you say earlier it didn’t work when you talked to him?”
Cecilia had worked at the company long enough to understand William’s personality. He wasn’t the kind of man to change his mind once he made a decision.
Rachel didn’t hide the truth, either–after all, Samantha was going to be Cecilia’s direct superior now.
“I talked to Samantha,” Rachel said. “She used my proposal to close the Trinity Enterprise deal.”
“What?! That’s not even plagiarism anymore–that’s just straight-up copying!” Cecilia exclaimed.
She fumed.
“I knew something was off! How could she land that deal? She always needed Mr. Lewis to help with the data. There’s no way she pulled it off on her own. So she just took your proposal and used it? Aren’t you pissed? If it were me, I’d be flipping tables and going straight to Mr. Lewis to blow the whole thing up!”
Rachel let out a cold laugh. “And what if William was the one who told her to use it?”
“No way. You’re not saying… Those two…” Cecilia didn’t finish, but her thoughts were obvious.
“That’s enough,” Rachel said. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just get yourself ready to come back to work in a couple of days. And remember, Samantha’s the director now. You’d better be careful around her.”
That was Rachel’s way of saying she couldn’t protect Cecilia anymore.
But Cecilia didn’t care about that right now. As long as she had a job and could earn money, that was all that mattered.
“Got it.”
Right after Rachel hung up, a WhatsApp message popped up from Tyler.
After she had transferred him twenty grand last time, he had sent her a friend request. That was how they had ended up connected.
He sent her a location pin, and his message was short and direct.
[Come here.]