Chapter 8: ：You're Fired

Elizabeth wanted to explain, but she didn't know where to start.

Strictly speaking, Caesar had indeed forced a kiss on her. But in her father's eyes, that ambiguous mark seemed to have become evidence of her willingly reciprocating.

Raymond let out a weary sigh and set the mirror back on the desk.

"Elizabeth," his voice carried an unprecedented distance, "you've always been my proudest child—excellent, beautiful, composed. I thought you understood how to use your advantages, not be bound by them."

He straightened the collar of his suit, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

"As a father, and as a man, let me give you some advice."

"A man like Mr. Montague is a double-edged sword. He can cut through obstacles for you, but he can just as easily wound you. I don't care what happened between you two, but from now on, I expect you to deal with him in the most professional, rational manner. Don't let any personal emotions affect your safety or the company's future."

"Don't wait until you've paid an irreversible price because of a moment of stubbornness before you learn to regret it."

Elizabeth was momentarily speechless.

Her father's words were like an icy awl, piercing through her anger and leaving her with a deeper sense of helplessness and loneliness.

So even the bond between father and daughter had to yield to cold calculation in the face of absolute interests and threats.

Meanwhile, Caesar rode the elevator down smoothly toward the PR department.

He pulled an exquisite silver pocket watch from his pocket and gently opened it. Inside the cover was a slightly yellowed old photograph of a radiant woman with a brilliant smile.

His fingertip lightly traced her smiling face, and a rare tenderness flickered in his eyes.

"Mother," he murmured inwardly, "the person you chose hasn't disappointed me."

That's right—both times he'd demanded the formula had been tests of Elizabeth.

She was resilient enough, and smart enough to hold the line even in desperate circumstances.

That was good.

A protection target without value wasn't worth his time.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

The legendary PR department of the Williams Group—said to be filled with elite professionals and beautiful women—had arrived.

The air was filled with the scent of high-end perfume mixed with coffee. Women coming and going were all impeccably made up, their postures confident—industry elites, every one of them.

Today happened to be the annual recruitment day for the PR department, and the lobby was crowded with job applicants.

Caesar's gaze swept casually across the crowd, and soon he was drawn to a particular figure.

Not because she was dazzling—quite the opposite. It was because, among all these confident candidates, she seemed oddly out of place... awkward.

She was a woman with an exceptionally voluptuous figure. Her fitted white blouse was stretched to its limits by her striking curves.

She seemed acutely aware that she'd attract too much attention. She kept her head slightly lowered, trying to make herself less conspicuous, but this deliberate restraint only made her breathtaking, mature allure even more obvious.

Caesar noticed she was clutching a résumé tightly in her hands.

Just then, a seductive woman in a PR department uniform walked past her carrying a cup of steaming coffee, seemingly by accident.

"Oh no!"

Mia Garcia cried out as the entire cup of coffee "coincidentally" splashed across the woman's white blouse.

The dark brown stain instantly spread across her chest, forming an extremely embarrassing blotch.

The scalding liquid made her gasp sharply in pain.

The entire lobby fell silent. Countless eyes turned toward her.

"I'm so sorry," Mia said with fake concern, though her eyes were full of smug contempt. "My hand slipped. Vivian Clark, looks like today isn't your lucky day."

The woman called Vivian panicked instantly, her face flushing bright red.

Just as she stood there helplessly, a fine-quality suit jacket descended from above, carrying a faint crisp scent, perfectly covering all her embarrassment.

Caesar's voice sounded above her head, calm and steady.

"Go to the restroom and clean yourself up."

Vivian looked up in confusion and saw a handsome, stern face.

Without time to think, she clutched the jacket, nodded at Caesar, and hurried toward the restroom.

A while later, Vivian emerged wearing Caesar's jacket, her emotions much more settled.

She walked up to Caesar and bowed deeply.

"Hello, my name is Vivian. Thank you so much for your help. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

Caesar extended his hand gentlemanly and lightly shook her fingertips. "Caesar Montague."

Vivian was reassured by his steady presence and smiled bitterly. "Are you here for the interview too? Looks like we're competitors."

Caesar glanced at her coffee-stained résumé and shook his head. "I'm not here to interview. Let me see your résumé."

Vivian hesitated but handed it over.

Caesar opened the résumé, and his eyes narrowed.

Ivy League graduate. Master's in Marketing and Public Relations. Near-perfect GPA. Multiple published papers cited in industry journals. Internship experience spanning several internationally renowned brands.

This résumé was flawless.

Except for a three-year gap in the work history section.

"Single mother?" Caesar asked bluntly.

Vivian's smile stiffened slightly, but then she nodded candidly. "Yes. I need this job to support my child."

Caesar closed the résumé thoughtfully.

He handed it back to her, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "With your qualifications, you'd be more than qualified for a deputy director position."

Vivian froze, assuming he was just trying to comfort her. She smiled gratefully. "Thank you for saying so. To repay you, once I pass the interview, I'll definitely treat you to a nice meal."

As they spoke, that irritating perfume scent approached again.

Mia walked up to them with her arms crossed, looking down at Vivian with contempt.

"Vivian, don't waste your effort. You've been eliminated."

Vivian's face turned pale instantly, her voice almost humble as she pleaded, "Mia, please, we were classmates. Don't do this to me. I really need this job."

"Now you're begging me?" Mia sneered disdainfully. "Back in school, when I asked you to help me on exams, you were so arrogant. Well, guess what? Too late!"

Vivian was completely devastated.

She knew Mia's personality—vindictive to the core.

Caesar frowned and spoke up directly.

"As far as I know, the second round of PR department interviews hasn't even started yet. You're just a secretary. What gives you the authority to decide whether she stays or goes?"

Mia hadn't expected anyone to challenge her publicly. She looked Caesar up and down—aside from being handsome, his clothing didn't seem particularly impressive.

She snorted contemptuously. "I'm the general manager's secretary. My word is the general manager's word!"

"Oh?" Caesar smiled at that, his expression carrying a cold mockery. "I didn't realize the PR department's general manager needed a secretary to make decisions for him."

Vivian nervously tugged at Caesar's sleeve and whispered, "Mr. Montague, forget it. Don't offend her because of me..."

Caesar patted her hand, signaling her to relax.

Mia was enraged by Caesar's gaze. She felt her authority had been challenged like never before and shrieked, "You're eliminated too! Both of you—get out of the Williams Group!"

She assumed her threat would scare off this arrogant man who didn't know his place.

However, Caesar simply looked at her calmly, as if watching a clown jumping around.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it carried clearly throughout the entire lobby.

"How unfortunate."

"Starting today, I'm the acting general manager of the PR department."

He paused, his gaze sharpening like a blade, piercing straight into Mia's heart.

"And you're fired."