Chapter 75
“Indeed. Yvette always manages to win awards at the school competitions.”
“Bet it’s Yvette! Yvette, if you get picked and meet a celebrity, could you possibly get an autograph for me? You’re amazing! I envy you!”
Everyone surrounded Yvette, as if her victory were already guaranteed. Yvette humbly responded, “You all flatter me.”
Isabel, usually distant and struggling to make friends, found Amara whispering encouragingly, “Isabel, I support you! I believe you can outshine Tretie.”
Tubel turned to look at the typically shy girl. “How can you be so sure?”
“Well, it’s just a feeling. I like your designs, even though I have no talent in that area; I really think you can do it.”
“Thank you,” Isabel replied, surprised by Amara’s unexpected support and charm. She hadn’t expected such quiet encouragement.
“Isabel, if you get chosen, would you take me with you? I’m willing to help with anything—I’ve never been part of a production team before, and I’d love to see what celebrities look like.”
Isabel agreed. Amara was thrilled, silently hoping Isabel would catch the attention of Joy Entertainment. Isabel found Amara quite endearing.
After class, Isabel arrived home to find it was already evening. With her busy schedule, this was the most hectic day of her week. Samuel had already returned from work, looking downcast. “Dad, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Isabel. It’s getting late; you should get some rest,” Samuel replied, heading to bed.
Feeling uneasy, Isabel went to Roy’s room. “Roy, are you still awake?”
“Not yet. I’m working on design drafts. The company has asked us to create new products lately. Is there something you need?”
“Roy, what happened at the company today with Dad? Why did he come back looking so troubled?”
Roy sighed. “You wouldn’t believe it—the management meeting he called was poorly attended. Very few people showed up! They clearly don’t respect Dad. Managing this company is becoming quite a challenge. I thought being general manager would earn him respect, but evidently not…”
“I’ll check tomorrow,” Isabel decided, determined to discover who dared disrespect her father. She was adept at handling discontent. Back when she was abroad, she had been a strict instructor, making even the most unruly comply. They eventually scurried away, like mice escaping a cat.
The next day, Isabel accompanied Samuel to Star Electronics, a large company specializing in new energy batteries, but one facing significant challenges.
“Isabel, this group was previously managed by William. Now that the leadership has changed, they naturally hesitate to follow me—it will take time,” Samuel explained.
“Dad, let me help you. I’ll see who dares to oppose.”
Upon arriving at the office, Isabel demanded the financial records of Star Electronics for the past few years. Samuel was unsure about Isabel’s methods.
“I had asked for that yesterday, but I still haven’t received it,” Samuel said.
“Where are the staff members of the Finance Department?” Isabel inquired.
Samuel’s assistant, Helen, replied, “David, the Finance Department manager, is absent today. It seems we won’t be able to get the financial records.”
“How ridiculous! Just because he’s absent, does that mean our operations stop? Has David submitted a leave request?” Isabel questioned sharply. Helen looked down, too scared to speak.
“Where’s the Human Resources Department manager? Bring him to me!”
Soon, the Human Resources Department manager arrived. Isabel asked, “Eamon, did David submit a leave request today?”
Eamon replied, “I haven’t received anything.”
“According to company policy, employees below the managerial level must submit a leave request, while managers are not required to do this but still must get Samuel’s consent.”
“So, David has neither submitted a leave request nor informed Samuel, which means he’s unauthorized absent.”
“Eamon, as the Human Resources manager, what’s the penalty for unauthorized absence?” Isabel asked pointedly.
Eamon quickly responded, “It should be termination.”
“Dad, what do you think?” Isabel turned to her father.
“Isabel, David is William’s guy. Won’t this create problems if we fire him?” Samuel expressed concern.
“Dad, you’re in charge now; you can’t be afraid of anyone. How can you manage effectively otherwise?”
Samuel understood and realized he had been too soft. “Alright, I hereby declare David is officially terminated!”
Gasps filled the room. No one expected the untouchable David to be dismissed. Everyone knew he was William’s trusted ally. “Mr. Galvez, who will run the Finance Department now? We need someone,” Eamon asked.
“I will temporarily take charge!” Isabel declared.
Finance was the most critical aspect of the company, and it was crucial to clarify these accounts. From her perspective, these people were completely ineffective, leaving the finances in chaos.
“Very well, my daughter Isabel will temporarily oversee finance. For any financial matters, you may consult Isabel from now on!” Samuel felt a boost of confidence with his daughter by his side. He realized that despite his age, her energy surpassed his own.
News of the finance manager’s dismissal spread quickly, and many began to avoid any sign of negligence.
“Isabel, your tactic really worked! Now, all the information I needed is being collected,” Samuel said, feeling delighted.
“Dad, don’t celebrate too soon. Even though the company is under Sophia’s name, it has been managed entirely by William’s family for years. David was just a minor leader; to realign the company correctly, we must fire more people.”
“Ah, if I’m right, David will likely show up soon. Dad, you need to show your authority and stand up to him. If you don’t establish dominance now, you’ll struggle against him later!” Isabel assessed.
“Alright, I see. Isabel, you are truly a great ally,” Samuel replied with gratitude. Looking at the reports, he lamented, “During William’s time, Star Electronics has consistently lost money year after year, and this year is no exception.”
“It seems that Star Electronics is indeed a mess.”
“Would you expect Grandma to give this to you out of kindness?” Isabel retorted.