Chapter 138:

"Will that bitch tell the truth?" Thea whispered, glancing nervously at Marc after they'd walked away from Allison and Aimee. Her voice trembled.

Thea knew that if this mess became public, it would create a scandal far beyond her ability to manage. Anxiety gnawed at her, tightening her chest.

Although Thea and Marc were usually adept at stirring trouble and exploiting the vulnerable, the thought of Allison discovering their actions sent a chill down Thea's spine.

A sharp laugh broke the tension.

"Relax," Marc said. "What's the worst that could happen? We've got dirt on Aimee, right, Marc?"

Marc's body ached. He gritted his teeth.

"Of course. And let's not forget—Allison is just another woman. Arrogant, yes. Thinks she can lord it over us, but trust me, she'll be gone soon enough."

Thea had been uneasy, particularly after Allison had spilled coffee on her earlier. But Marc's scornful tone helped bolster her confidence. Straightening her posture, she nodded, seemingly convincing herself more than anyone else.

"Exactly! We've been with Charisma for years. Allison doesn't scare me. If she thinks she can replace us, she'll only make enemies. Imagine the chaos if she tried!"

They were veterans at Charisma Company; they'd always looked out for each other. It was the only way they'd survived this long. But beneath the surface, both were incompetent and unscrupulous. Whenever a competent employee rose through the ranks, they'd sabotage them—an unspoken rule.

And if Allison knew the truth? It wouldn't matter. Aimee would never dare expose them.

"The company's doing better than ever," Marc said. "We can't afford to let Allison ruin that. The pay's good, the benefits even better."

"Even if someone new shows up, we know how to handle them," another colleague chimed in, their voice dripping with loyalty. "Marc, we've got your back. You just have to give the word."

Marc took a breath, his words deliberate. "Allison's seen too much. We need to act first. If we don't, that woman will come after us." His eyes darkened with bitterness, simmering hatred for Allison rising within him.

Thea remained silent. She knew Marc better than anyone—he was ruthless, always finding someone else to take the fall. He'd proven that time and again. Others, drawn into the conspiracy, needed little convincing.

"We're with you, Marc. Let's make sure she's out of the company for good."

On the rooftop, Allison shrugged off her jacket, draping it over Aimee's shoulders as she helped her change out of her oil-stained clothes.

"Why are you so afraid of them?" Allison asked softly, but her tone was probing.

Aimee's eyes dropped, clouded with shame. She fidgeted under Allison's gaze, reluctant to reveal how defeated she felt.

"Thank you, Ms. Clarke, but… you don't have to worry about me."

"Of course, I do," Allison replied, her voice calm and strong. "I can handle them, but I need you to stand with me. They're arrogant, and they show me no respect. As the new leader, it's only a matter of time before I deal with them. Don't you want to help?"

Aimee bit her lip, her hesitation evident. She always backed down from her own problems, but she was the type who would go out of her way to help others. Allison knew this and decided to appeal to that gentler side.

"I'm going to need you, Aimee. You know they'll try to set me up. Wouldn't you rather be prepared for that?"

Aimee's gaze wavered, flickering with uncertainty. After a long silence, she sighed.

"When I first started, I landed a big client… but they stole it from me."

Allison frowned, sensing there was more to the story.

"And then?"

...