Chapter 225

"Do I need to report my work schedule to you, Ms. Wade?" Thea asked, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a quiet seriousness. Ever since the loss of her child, a somber mood clung to her, yet it didn't diminish her beauty; if anything, it intensified it.

Henrietta, witnessing this, bristled with anger. "Many employees here can barely afford to eat because of your scandal," she accused, her voice sharp. "How dare you flaunt yourself in front of us?"

Henrietta's public rebuke was a blatant humiliation. She showed no remorse, continuing her attack. "If I were you, I would have resigned long ago. A young lady like you should be at home enjoying life."

Joyce, furious, restrained herself, remembering Thea's instructions. Firing Henrietta wasn't impossible, but she was connected to powerful figures within Sparkle Rocks; dismissing her would have far-reaching consequences. Without Thea's direction, Joyce remained silent.

Whispers rippled through the employees. "Even after Ms. Wade's scolding, Mrs. Hendrix isn't crying," one observed. "She's tougher than I expected."

"I think she has a guilty conscience and can't respond," another offered.

A third chimed in, "Before she arrived, our company thrived. She should return control to Ms. Wade so we can get back on track. Why would a rich woman like her care about us?"

Thea smiled faintly. "Ms. Wade, shall we go inside and talk?"

The open conference room door was a final act of grace, though Henrietta clearly didn't appreciate it. "The staff are family," Henrietta declared. "After this, they deserve an explanation."

"Even behind closed doors, you can't silence us, Mrs. Hendrix," someone retorted. "We all know what you've done."

Thea's smile widened. "First, I apologize for disrupting company order with my personal affairs." Joyce was stunned. Has Thea lost her mind? she thought. If she gives in, Henrietta will only become more arrogant. She sees herself as Sparkle Rocks' savior!

Henrietta, predictably, looked smug.

Thea abruptly shifted the conversation. "Separating personal and professional matters is fundamental. Ms. Wade, since you're using my private life to question me, let me ask you something. For three years, Sparkle Rocks and the Langstaff Group collaborated successfully. Why did net profit drop by 10%?" The Langstaff Group was Sparkle Rocks' largest client.

Ten percent of Sparkle Rocks' profits could fund a factory's salaries for half a year. Henrietta's face paled.

"Mrs. Hendrix, I know you dislike me," Henrietta said defensively, "but don't make false accusations. My father and I have worked tirelessly." Her voice rose. "Are you abandoning us after all we've done? Are you disappointing everyone?"

Henrietta was a master manipulator. With a few carefully chosen words, she shifted the blame onto Thea.

"Mrs. Hendrix, isn't it shameful to use such a tactic to divert attention?" an employee asked.

Another added, "Everyone knows how diligently Ms. Wade runs the business. She wouldn't take kickbacks!"

"We believe in Ms. Wade!" another declared.

Henrietta's influence within Sparkle Rocks far surpassed Thea's, the actual CEO. Thea, noting Henrietta's smug expression, waited to see how these loyalists would react.

Thea's bag held copies of Henrietta's bank records, enough for every employee.

"Loyal?" Thea scoffed. "Then Ms. Wade, explain the large sums of money transferred into your private account after each Langstaff Group contract."

"You've clearly never run a business," Henrietta retorted, her face pale but defiant. "It's a standard thank-you payment."

Thea, a veteran of Avon Ventures, was far from naive. "Are the Langstaff Group that generous? Shall I call their CEO?" Teri, if informed of Henrietta's actions, would likely dismantle Sparkle Rocks.

Thea mimicked retrieving her phone. Sweat poured down Henrietta's face. She lunged for the phone, but Thea evaded her.

"Mrs. Hendrix, I understand there's a gray area in our business," Henrietta said, her voice laced with a threat. "Let's talk inside. This isn't appropriate for the staff."

Now you want to go inside? Too late, Thea thought.

Thea's smile hardened. "Ms. Wade, you demanded honesty. There is a gray area. Secret dealings happen, but Sparkle Rocks is my grandfather's legacy. I won't let anyone sabotage it!"

Henrietta was drenched in sweat, unsure of Thea's knowledge. Thea seemed poised to destroy her.

"I've spoken with many partners needing raw materials," Thea said, each word a heavy blow. "Why are they unwilling to work with Sparkle Rocks, despite our superior quality and reasonable prices? It turns out Ms. Wade demanded a fee from every partner. This high cost scared them away. I've been puzzled by Sparkle Rocks' declining profits. It's because you secretly dealt with the Langstaff Group, making us overly reliant on them. Our profits have shrunk, yet your family bought a new house three years ago, Ms. Wade. You've destroyed Sparkle Rocks' credibility…"