Chapter 28 Intimidation Tactic
Jake snarled, “If she’s so eager to divorce me, so be it! Call the attorney and tell him to meet me at the courthouse tomorrow!” His voice rose toward the end, the rage burning like a wildfire in his chest.
Cedar dared not hang up. “Ms. Lawson said that it’s best if you finalize the divorce as soon as possible. She’ll show up at the courthouse no matter the date and time.”
Upon hearing this, Jake threw his phone on the ground despite being in the middle of the call. He pressed a hand to his forehead to ease the headache that was building.
“Well played, Gwen,” he muttered under his breath.
At Savant Group’s branch office in Bellmont, Gwen was dressed in an elegant, fitted ensemble when she opened the door of the conference room with Yara in her stead. Several directors and executives were already waiting for her.
Having reunited with Gwen, Yara decided not to return to Fernwald so that she could remain and build up her career alongside the former. She was also looking forward to setting up the boutique with Gwen
Gwen greeted the executives first, “Hello, everyone. I’m Gwen Lawson, your new general manager appointed by our headquarters in Dornwick. This is Yara Jefferson, my deputy. I hope we can all work together to build up the Bellmont branch office’s portfolio.”
Most of the executives had come from the Dornwick headquarters as well, and some of them had been here a year before Gwen. They had already marked their territories, and a few of them had been eyeing the role of general manager until Gwen came along.
However, some of the executives had done their homework on Gwen. They knew she once worked as Jake’s secretary but did not learn much about her beyond that. Her family background, in particular, remained a mystery.
“Welcome, Ms. Lawson!”
“Pleasure to have you on board, Ms. Lawson!”
Furious as the executives were about the internal appointment, they dared not protest the headquarter’s decision. But not all of them were content to keep quiet.
“Isn’t headquarters worried that you might leak trade secrets to your previous employer, considering your former role as secretary to the CEO of Hall Group?” someone asked.
Yara was about to defend Gwen when the latter stopped her with a meaningful look. Yara knew what that look meant- Gwen could handle this herself.
The person who had spoken was none other than the director of business development, Carson Lowe. He was the highest–achieving executive among those gathered in the conference room and had been perceived as a shoo–in for the general manager position.
Not only was Carson upset that someone else had been appointed general manager, but he was also irked to find that the role was given to a young woman whose latest stint was as a secretary for three years. In other words, he felt snubbed.
However, Gwen did not seem to mind Carson’s question. She even smirked as she drawled, “I don’t think you have to concern yourself with the headquarters‘ decision, Mr. Lowe.”
She had already read up on the executives‘ backgrounds, personalities, and workplace demeanors. She wasn’t surprised by Carson’s aversion toward her at all. In fact, she had come here expecting some kind of objection from the board.
“I won’t stand for it! I refuse to work together with you, Ms. Lawson!” Carson was the first to speak up against the
decision.
Chapter vidation Tactic
He wasn’t a fool. He knew he would get on Gwen’s bad side after speaking up like this, but he would never allow someone like her, who had been handed the role of general manager without the usual formalities, to climb over his head on her first day!
He was a senior manager in the company and knew the business development could not survive without him. If he could intimidate Gwen, who was much younger and greener, she would be more inclined to give in to his requests in
the future.
Unfortunately for Carson, Gwen did not look the least bit ruffled by his threat. Her gaze was indifferent as she pointed at the secretary taking down the minutes and said leily, “Type out a resignation letter for Mr. Lowe. I can sign off on it right now.”
Pin–drop silence filled the room as the words left her month.
Carson was alarmed. He had wanted to intimidate her, but it had completely backfired, for Gwen was a much more. intimidating person than he imagined. This was a power struggle.
A few of the executives had veto rights on matters of human resources. They were about to argue in Carson’s defense when she asked coolly, “Has the letter been printed?”
The secretary immediately rose to her feet. “The printer’s outside. I’ll go retrieve the letter now.”
Realizing that it had not been a bluff, Carson quickly sought a way out of the predicament. He stood up and forced a laugh, saying, “You’re tougher than you look, Ms. Lawson. I was only jolding. All in good fun.”
Gwen cut him a mocking look. “But I wasn’t.”
Carson grew anxious as blood rushed to his cheeks. He resorted to apologizing. “I’m sorry for speaking out of turn, Ms. Lawson. It was impulsive of me. You have my full cooperation from now on.”
“Very well. You’re all dismissed,” Gwen said. She did not give the executives a second glance as she strode out of the conference room with Yara.
