Chapter 34
Elliot swallowed hard, already envisioning his tragic fate.
That day, the entire office of the Hart Group had heard a heart-wrenching and desperate wail coming from the director’s office.
When Myra returned to the Chase Group, the atmosphere was undeniably tense. She could feel eyes on her, though when she turned toward them, everyone quickly resumed their tasks, pretending to be absorbed in their work. The strange energy was even more apparent in the Design Department.
Tilly approached Myra and gave her a thumbs-up. “Miss Stark, you’re amazing!”
Myra suspected Tilly was referring to her success with the Sunny Bay Project, but she shook her head modestly. “I was just fortunate that the Hart Group handled the matter fairly. Otherwise, I might not have gotten the project back, no matter how much I tried to explain.”
Tilly leaned in and lowered her voice. “Miss Stark, you didn’t just get the Sunny Bay Project. Do you know that Mr. Logan from the Hart Group called earlier? He was direct and pretty blunt, saying the Chase Group had sent a ‘blockhead’ to work with them. After the deal fell through, that blockhead had the audacity to blame others. Mr. Logan said the Hart Group was willing to give Chase Group another chance—but only if the designer of the draft takes charge of the project!”
Myra was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Tony’s reaction to be so forceful. She hadn’t intended to damage anyone’s reputation when she explained things to him, but Tony had been unexpectedly rigorous. The rumors about him being ruthless were true.
“Tilly, the Hart Group called Elsie a ‘blockhead’?” Myra asked, incredulous.
Tilly grinned. “You should have seen her face! Mr. Logan didn’t hold back at all. Oh, and guess what? Elsie went into the Design Director’s office earlier and got reamed. I heard she was scolded, and the higher-ups have already said that the Director will be held accountable for this situation. It looks like Elsie won’t be around much longer as the leader of Team B.”
The mention of the Design Director prompted his assistant to appear, announcing that the Director needed to speak with Myra. Tilly quickly urged her forward. “Go ahead, Miss Stark! This is your chance—make sure to state your terms loud and clear!”
Though Myra hadn’t planned on exploiting the situation, she realized she could no longer stay silent.
As Myra entered the Design Director’s office, Elsie, who was already there, turned around abruptly, her eyes full of resentment. It was clear she was fuming.
Myra calmly walked to the front of the desk. “Design Director, you wanted to see me?”
Her composed demeanor only seemed to irritate Elsie further. “Myra, do you really think we don’t know how you got the project back? I can’t even imagine how many men you had to sleep with to master your ‘skills.’ You took one afternoon to change Mr. Logan’s mind by sleeping with him! You even had the gall to use me as a scapegoat!”
Elsie lunged toward Myra, but the Design Director quickly intervened. “Elsie! Control yourself! This is a company, not a place for slander!”
Elsie scoffed and snapped, “You think I’m spouting nonsense? She was flirting with Mr. Logan the whole time she was at the Hart Group! I heard from people at the Hay Group that Mr. Logan indulged her needs. Now, she’s blaming me for everything!”
The Design Director was caught in a difficult position. The company was already aware of Elsie’s affair with Director Chase, and he knew he had to act cautiously. But with the Hart Group so clear on their position, he couldn’t afford to offend Myra. After a moment of hesitation, he turned to Myra.
“Myra, the company acknowledges its mistakes. We’re restoring your position and giving you full charge of the Sunny Bay Project. However,” he smiled as he spoke, “Elsie has contributed a lot to this project too. It doesn’t seem fair to take it away from her entirely. So, let me suggest this—why don’t we have Elsie work under you as your assistant?”
Myra remained composed. “I don’t mind whether or not I’m in charge of the project,” she said.
The Design Director sighed in relief. If she didn’t mind, this would make things easier.
“But,” Myra continued, “I don’t want to see Miss Foster on my project team.”
Her voice was calm but firm, and the Design Director was rendered speechless.
Elsie’s face twisted in anger. “What right do you have to kick me off the project?! Who do you think you are?! You only succeeded with dirty tricks! You really think the Chase Group couldn’t have secured the Sunny Bay Project without you?”
Myra met Elsie’s furious gaze, her expression calm. “I never said the Chase Group couldn’t do it without me. Like I said earlier, I don’t mind whether or not I’m in charge of this project.”
The Design Director’s face darkened. “Myra, technically, the company doesn’t need your approval—”
Myra interrupted him smoothly. “And I don’t think the company needs my resignation either, right?”
The Director’s face drained of color as he realized what she was implying.
Sighing in defeat, he gave in. “Fine, we’ll proceed as you’ve requested. Elsie will back out of the project. It’s her own fault.”
Elsie’s screech echoed through the office. “Why should I back out?!”
The Design Director cut her off sharply. “Enough, Elsie! This is your own doing. No more complaints. This matter is finished. Let’s drop it.”
Elsie, fuming, shot a final glare at Myra before storming out of the office.
The atmosphere shifted as Myra felt a sense of relief. “Design Director, if there’s nothing else, I’ll return to work now.”
She left his office without waiting for a reply, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
Later that day, the Design Director rushed to make a call. “Miss Stark, I just heard something that might interest you. Elsie, in her fury, went to the Hart Group to confront Director Hart. She was thrown out before she even got to see him, and to make matters worse, she tried to seduce him in the parking garage! The security guards had to throw her out of the building!”
Tilly eagerly shared the gossip with Myra the next morning, grinning. “Can you believe it? Elsie tried to seduce Tony! He already made it clear he has zero interest in her. To think she’d stoop so low.”
Myra couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all. “I can’t believe she did that, trying to compete with me by doing something so desperate.”
Tilly, wide-eyed, gushed, “Tony is amazing. He really is my dreamboat! Always in control, always so dignified!”
Myra chuckled. “Tilly, have you ever thought of joining the Hart Group? You’d be a loss for them if you didn’t!”
Tilly rolled her eyes, exasperated. “Do you really think I would still be here if I could join the Hart Group?”
Myra was taken aback by Tilly’s response but couldn’t help but laugh.