“Since you’ve trusted me with the role of director, I’ll make sure you see that I’m useful.”

Before leaving, Tessa cast a discreet glance back at the office. She couldn’t help wondering how Grace would explain things to the shareholders. Having once filled in for Aurora, she knew all too well how difficult those old men were. Now that Grace had taken the pressure on herself to appoint her director, she couldn’t afford to let her mother down. One day, when she reached the very top of the company, all of them would be beneath her feet. With her head held high, Tessa strode out of the company.

That afternoon, HR received Grace’s appointment letter for Tessa. It was Jason who was told to deliver it. The moment he realized Tessa would be coming to work, he felt as though the sky had fallen. He had witnessed firsthand how impossible this young lady had been to serve in the past. And now she was returning. Jason couldn’t shake the sense that his career had already reached a dead end. Looking down at the appointment letter, he hesitated.

Noticing his reluctance, Grace asked with some puzzlement, “What is it? You’ve been standing there so long—do you have a problem with something?”

“No, no problem.” Jason forced out a smile that looked more like he was on the verge of tears. Seeing his expression, Grace wasn’t so easily fooled—she could tell he had something weighing on him.

“Jason, you’ve been with me for so many years. If you have something to say, you can be honest with me.” Grace felt a pinch of frustration at his hesitation. After so long, did her own aide still not trust her enough?

“Madam Grace… can I really say it?” Jason asked, still wavering. After all, the person he wanted to speak of was the Chairwoman’s eldest daughter. If he said the wrong thing, he could be dismissed on the spot.

“Of course you can speak,” Grace said, pressing her fingers to her temples, a little exasperated by Jason’s hesitation. “You’ve worked under me for so many years, and you still think you can’t speak your mind in front of me?”

Hearing this, Jason drew in a deep breath and finally voiced his concern. “Madam Grace, are you truly certain about appointing Miss Tessa as director?”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with me giving her the position?” Grace looked at him with a faint, knowing smile. She was genuinely curious—what exactly did people in the company think of Tessa? At least within the company walls, Grace could still shield her daughter. But once Tessa stepped fully into the business world, she would no longer have anyone to cover for her. If she made a serious mistake, even as her mother, Grace wouldn’t be able to fix it.

Jason hesitated, then spoke plainly. “I feel Miss Tessa doesn’t have the same capability as Miss Aurora. And Mr. Daniel is no easy man to deal with. Giving her this project…I worry for her safety.” It was a careful response, water-tight. Even Grace couldn’t find fault in his words. Taken at face value, he was merely showing concern for her daughter’s well-being.

“Is that truly what you think?”