Chapter 78 Priceless Treasure
Selena's POV
I closed the acquisition proposal for Kateson Industries and tossed it aside.
Couldn't read a single word.
My mind was a complete mess - those damn roses, the things that bastard whispered in my ear, and that goddamn photo.
Damn it.
I irritably shoved my pen into the holder on my desk.
Royce Sterling - this man had forced his way into my world, completely out of place, yet everywhere.
"Selena..." Emily's voice came cautiously, "It's already noon. Would you like something to eat?"
Only then did I feel the emptiness in my stomach.
From this morning's ridiculous hot air balloon trip until now, I'd only had a cup of coffee.
"No need, I'm not hungry." I waved my hand, trying to pull my attention back to work.
"But..." She hesitated, then gathered her courage to say, "Anna said you barely ate anything this morning. It's not good for your stomach. I... I brought you something from the employee cafeteria."
She placed a food container on my desk, her face wearing a pleading, hopeful smile.
I was about to refuse.
But looking at those clear, doe-like eyes of hers, I swallowed the words that had reached my lips.
"Leave it."
She immediately retreated.
I opened the container - pasta.
I picked up the fork and ate a few bites absentmindedly.
I needed to get my brain working, not let myself be thrown off by some man.
I picked up the Kateson family's financial statements, forcing myself to read.
Those glaring red loss figures, those chaotic accounts, finally gave me a sense of familiarity.
This was my world.
Cold, cruel, full of numbers and strategy.
But just as I was about to pick up my pen to mark the documents, a sharp, twisting pain suddenly shot through my stomach.
Like a hand was viciously wringing it from inside.
I groaned, my forehead instantly breaking out in cold sweat.
What's happening?
I put down my pen, pressing my other hand firmly against my stomach.
The pain came fast and left fast, but what followed was a wave of nausea.
I looked at the pasta in front of me that I'd only eaten a few bites of.
My expression darkened.
I picked up the intercom and connected to Anna's office.
"Anna, immediately find out which company supplies our employee cafeteria. I want all their information, now."
"Yes, Miss Selena."
In less than five minutes, Anna knocked and entered, her expression serious.
"Selena, the cafeteria supplier is a catering company called 'Delicious Choice.'" She placed a file on my desk. "This company was just changed two months ago. And its legal representative is Robert's brother-in-law."
Robert, my dear uncle, Blake's father.
That VP Ryan Allen I fired was his man.
"I sent someone to check their kitchen. The sanitary conditions are appalling, and to cut costs, they're using large amounts of cheap, nearly expired ingredients, plus all kinds of unapproved additives."
I looked at the half-eaten pasta on my desk, my stomach churning again.
This is the garbage they're feeding Hart Group employees with?
Using my father's money to line their own pockets, treating this place like their personal dumping ground?
Perfect.
I stood up and grabbed the food container.
"Anna, notify all department heads to gather at the employee cafeteria immediately."
"Selena, you're going to..."
"I'm going to take out the trash."
Fifteen minutes later, at the Hart Group headquarters executive employee cafeteria.
It was lunch time, and the cafeteria was packed.
When I appeared at the cafeteria entrance carrying that food container, every eye turned to me.
The noisy cafeteria instantly fell silent.
I walked straight to the service counter.
The cafeteria manager was a pot-bellied middle-aged man. When he saw me, he immediately plastered on an ingratiating smile.
"Ms. Hart, what brings you down here personally? What would you like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare something special for you right away..."
"I'll eat this." I slammed the food container down hard on the marble counter.
The pasta inside became even more of a mess from the impact.
The manager's smile froze on his face.
"This is today's lunch pasta? Do you know how long this pasta has been sitting in the warehouse?"
"This... this..." He started sweating.
"And this meat sauce - do you know how many chemical additives are in here to cover up the smell of spoiled food?"
"I don't know what you're talking about..." He tried to deny it.
"You don't know?" I laughed coldly, my voice not loud but clear enough for everyone in the cafeteria to hear. "Then do you know that your boss, the legal representative of 'Delicious Choice' Catering Company, is my uncle Robert's brother-in-law?"
That sentence exploded like a bomb among the crowd.
Shock and anger appeared on every employee's face.
This is what they've been eating every day?
"Do you know that you're using Hart Group's money to buy the cheapest garbage ingredients, then pocketing the difference?"
My gaze swept across everyone present.
"You all make good money at Hart Group and get great benefits, but they're treating you like garbage! The food they're serving you is absolute trash!"
The manager's face had turned ashen.
"Starting now," I pointed at him, announcing each word clearly, "Hart Group is terminating all contracts with 'Delicious Choice.' You, and everyone in your kitchen, can get out now."
"Starting tomorrow, I'll arrange a new catering supplier for everyone. I guarantee that every Hart Group employee will eat the freshest, healthiest food."
I paused, then added, "I'll have Sterling Group's catering team take over here."
A suppressed gasp erupted from the crowd. Sterling Group's employee meals were famously luxurious.
I wanted the best.
My people deserved the best.
Just as I was enjoying this moment of total control, an angry voice came from the cafeteria entrance.
"Selena Hart! Haven't you caused enough trouble!"
I turned around.
My dear uncle Robert was standing there, with Blake behind him, his face livid.