Chapter 35
Suddenly, the room fell silent, as if a chill had settled over everything. Vivienne’s gaze sharpened as she turned to Warren. “Wasn’t Miss Holt’s message clear? I can repeat it if you wish.”
“You!” Warren’s face stiffened as he gripped the chair. He snapped, “Keep our personal conflicts out of this. If it weren’t for your meddling, Miss Holt wouldn’t even know. Do you really think she’d withdraw her investment over a personal dispute?”
Vivienne reclined slightly, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips as she absorbed Warren’s outburst. Her meddling? Was that his view of her? Displeasure was evident on the faces of those around her.
“Miss Hayes, you must put the company’s interests above your personal issues. Your dispute with Warren is a private affair. As someone who understands responsibility, it’s essential to prioritize our business goals. How could this issue have been exposed to our investors? This is utter nonsense!”
“From the start, I was against hiring her—she has no relevant background or experience, and now one woman seems to have manipulated you all. I’m curious to see how you plan to fix this mess.”
“Should she manage to sway Miss Holt to leave using mere words, one can only wonder what tactics she might deploy to dissuade our other investors.”
Hearing these accusations, Vivienne felt disappointment wash over her. This wasn’t just a betrayal by Warren; it was the painful truth that all her hard work had been in vain, leaving her completely alone.
Warren, frustration evident, demanded, “Vivienne, speak up!”
Smirking, Vivienne addressed Warren across the table. “Why should I take the blame for your mistakes? As the company’s leader, your personal reputation is tied to the company’s image. If you can’t see that, how do you justify being in charge?”
Her bold, authoritative words echoed through the room, leaving a hushed silence. The board members hadn’t expected such boldness from Vivienne, known for her grace and composure, as she openly questioned Warren’s abilities and decisions. She had effectively embarrassed him in front of everyone.
Warren’s typically charming features contorted in anger, his brows knitting together as his gaze fixed on Vivienne. “Vivienne Hayes!” His voice seethed, barely containing his anger. “You’re merely a manager here. Your job is to fulfill your responsibilities, not accuse me!”
“My responsibilities?” Vivienne’s tone was laced with sarcasm as she arched an eyebrow. “Are you referring to the strategic planning I did for Mitchell Group, or the endless nights I worked overtime? If you see those as mere responsibilities, then you’ve misunderstood my position entirely. I engage in tasks because I choose to, not because they are obligations.”
Warren opened his mouth to retort, but Vivienne interrupted him, abruptly tossing her resignation letter in his direction. “Consider this my resignation! The Mitchell Group is too restrictive for my ambitions. It’s time you looked for a replacement!”
The room’s earlier tension quickly shifted as everyone stood, attempting to persuade her to change her mind. Warren stared at the resignation letter, a surge of panic washing over him. He had treated Vivienne so carelessly, counting on her presumed feelings for him. He had believed Vivienne would never leave, no matter the circumstances. Yet here she was, quitting without hesitation, leaving him utterly blindsided. Gripping the letter tightly, Warren felt the weight of the situation.