Chapter 40
Nora opened the office door and walked out. In an instant, she seemed like a completely different person, all smiles and cheerful.
Holding her coffee, she wandered over to Charlotte.
"You don't have any other work scheduled for this afternoon, right? If not, just wait in the office. Someone important is coming over."
She deliberately kept it mysterious, staring intently at Charlotte's face, wanting to see what nervous reaction she'd have.
Charlotte remained expressionless throughout. She closed the file in her hands and looked up at her.
"If you're so free, why don't you dig up the sales department's past reports for me? Oh right, do you even know where the report archives are?"
Nora's face darkened.
"Walking around here with your coffee, I guess you don't have time to look at reports either?" Charlotte shot back with light sarcasm.
Nora was so angry she stepped forward, wanting to settle the score with her.
But thinking about how her father would come personally to deal with this woman, she forced herself to hold back.
Nora let out a cold laugh.
"Fine, enjoy your little verbal victory while you can! Soon enough you won't be so cocky with me!"
With that, she snorted coldly, turned on her heel, and left.
Watching her figure disappear at the office door, Lily frowned slightly.
She looked back, somewhat worried. "She suddenly came over acting all high and mighty, like she came prepared with some plan to target you. You need to be careful. Should you just reveal your real identity?"
Charlotte scoffed, not taking it seriously at all.
"No need. She just wants to bring her father over to teach me a lesson. I'd like to see what kind of attitude this uncle of mine has."
Lily understood what she meant and nodded quietly, stepping back to help organize files.
Soon, Nora's assistant brought over the documents.
She looked down at Charlotte from above, gloating.
"Don't get too cocky. You'll be crying soon enough - in less than ten minutes!"
Charlotte looked coldly at the assistant without saying a word.
But the contempt showing in her eyes made the assistant's face pale, and she finally left awkwardly.
Ten minutes later, Charles indeed appeared in the sales department.
He had an elegant bearing, wearing a dark gray suit. His features were refined and striking - you could tell he must have been quite handsome when he was young.
Charlotte saw him come in through the floor-to-ceiling window and watched Nora hurry over to greet him, linking her arm through Charles's in front of everyone.
She acted cute with Charles. "Dad, you're finally here. I've been so upset by that new deputy manager."
Charles glanced at her.
"Where is she?"
"Over there, that's her office."
Nora pouted and pointed dismissively at the deputy manager's office.
Charles immediately let go of her hand and walked toward the office.
Nora followed behind, her eyes full of smugness.
She couldn't wait to see Charlotte get dealt with by her father and then kicked out.
He was the company's vice president, the top person managing the southern market.
No matter who pulled strings to get Charlotte in, she was just a small fry in front of him.
As long as he gave the word, anyone who couldn't stay had to pack up and leave immediately.
Seeing this, everyone rushed to flatter Nora again. "You're so impressive, actually getting Mr. Langley to come over!"
"Mr. Langley is so busy with company business these days, but he came in person for you. He really dotes on you."
"Yeah, we all really hate this new deputy manager. What kind of performance targets is she setting? We can't possibly meet them! Just make her get lost as far away as possible so she stops being in the way here!"
Nora was extremely pleased, pursing her lips. "Alright, alright, you don't need to talk about her here. My dad will definitely kick her out. Just sit back and watch the show."
As soon as she finished speaking, Charles had already knocked and entered.
He immediately saw the girl sitting by the office desk.
The girl looked up. Their eyes met.
Charles froze completely, looking at the girl's features, his eyes reddening.
Those eyes, originally gentle as water but now carrying a hint of cool stubbornness, looked exactly like his sister when she was young.
"You are..."
Charles's voice trembled, not knowing what to say.
He carefully took a step forward. The vice president who usually commanded such presence in the company now seemed afraid of disturbing Charlotte, humble to the extreme.
Charlotte stood up, looking at him calmly.
Nora immediately followed in, arms crossed. "Charlotte, this is my dad! The vice president of the Langley Group! You've been disrespectful to me, the sales department manager. Now the vice president is here in person. You should tone down your arrogant attitude, shouldn't you? Hurry up and greet my dad!"
"Shut up!!"
Charles suddenly turned around with an angry roar.
His sharp voice echoed throughout the entire office.
Nora was startled by his yelling, her whole body shaking, freezing in place.
Her heart pounded, her face pale.
"Dad, you..."
The people outside waiting to watch Charlotte's downfall were also stunned, eyes wide, not understanding what was happening.
Nora couldn't process it for a moment.
She only knew that Charles had never spoken to her in this tone before.
He had always been gentle and doting with her.
"I told you to shut up and stop talking. Didn't you hear me?" Charles's tone became even harsher.
Nora was frightened by him. Biting her lip, her eyes reddened as if about to cry, standing there not daring to move.
Everyone else held their breath too, not daring to make a sound.
Charles had always been extremely indulgent with his only daughter - everyone knew that.
How could he suddenly seem like a different person, scolding her so fiercely?
Charles paid no attention to everyone's strange looks and walked straight to Charlotte, looking at her with something unusual in his eyes.
He asked softly, "Are you Charlotte?"
Charlotte nodded slightly. "Hello, Mr. Langley. I'm Charlotte Johnson."
"Don't call me Mr. Langley." Charles's voice choked up. "You should call me..."
He paused, realizing why Charlotte hadn't revealed her identity and was appearing here instead.
Charles's eyes swept over coldly. "Close the office door."
Lily immediately walked over quickly to close the door, giving everyone a warning look before closing it.
Everyone understood this meant they weren't supposed to listen, and they dispersed in a buzz.
They returned to their workstations in the office area, whispering among themselves.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. This seems like someone Mr. Langley knows. What's her background?"
"Dad, what do you mean? Who is she exactly? Do you know her?"
Nora's face was somewhat pale, looking at Charles at a loss.
She didn't know what she had missed, but had a bad feeling about it.