Chapter 79 Cleaning Up Trash
Selena's POV
Ah, my dear uncle Robert, finally here.
That face twisted with anger, and his son behind him looking like a defeated rooster - what a perfect match.
Did they think loud yelling would scare me?
How naive.
"Causing trouble?" I turned around, looked at him, didn't even bother raising my voice. "I'm just dealing with some trash that should have been taken out long ago."
My gaze moved from his livid face to the restaurant manager behind him.
That fat man looked like he'd found his savior, scrambling to hide behind Robert.
"Mr. Robert Hart, you have to stand up for me! Ms. Selena Hart... she wants to fire me without even asking what happened!"
"Selena! You've gone too far!" Robert pointed at me, his finger trembling. "You shut down Ryan Allen, and now you want to mess with the cafeteria? This supplier has served the company for so long - even if they haven't done great work, they've put in the effort. You want to replace them just like that? Where does that leave the board? Where does that leave me?"
"Where does that leave you?" I laughed, genuinely laughed. "I'm putting you in the position of a stupid, greedy accomplice who let his family poison his own company's employees with rotten food, uncle. Are you satisfied?"
"You... you're making false accusations!"
"Am I?"
I picked up a fork from the serving counter, twirling up a small clump of cold, sticky pasta.
Then I walked up to the manager hiding behind Robert.
"You," I held the fork to his lips, my voice cold as ice, "eat it."
His face turned whiter than a corpse in an instant. He shook his head desperately, trembling like a leaf.
"No... no... I..."
"Eat." My voice had no warmth whatsoever.
All the cafeteria employees watched this scene. Their expressions changed from initial shock to anger and anticipation.
They were waiting for me to get justice for them.
"Selena! Don't go too far!" Robert shoved me aside.
I stepped back twice, steadying myself.
The fork in my hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
"I'm going too far?" I looked at him, the cold smile on my lips deepening. "You're the one who's gone too far, Robert. You take the Hart family money to feed those parasites from your wife's family, letting them treat Hart Group like a garbage dump and our employees like livestock they can feed whatever they want. And now you dare stand here and accuse me of going too far?"
My stomach started aching again.
This pain, like a flame, ignited all my fury.
"Anna," I didn't even turn around, "call the police. Tell them there's a major food safety issue here, possibly involving commercial fraud. Also, contact the company's legal department and have them prepare a lawsuit against 'Delicious Choice.' And notify all employees to keep their medical records from the past few days. All medical expenses will be covered by the company. As for compensation for emotional distress - I'll make sure Uncle Robert pays that out of his own dividends."
"You wouldn't dare!" Robert's eyes turned red.
"Watch me." I met his gaze, not backing down an inch. "Not only will I dare, I'll make sure everyone knows that you, Robert Hart, nearly caused mass food poisoning among thousands of employees for a few million dollars in petty profits. I'd like to see whether the board protects you or me."
Robert's breathing instantly became heavy. He glared at me with a look that wanted to tear me apart.
The police arrived quickly.
When two uniformed officers walked into the cafeteria, the last trace of color drained from Robert's face.
The restaurant manager's legs gave out completely, and he collapsed to the floor.
"Officers," I pointed at the puddle of human waste on the floor and the pasta I'd slammed on the table, "this person is the on-site manager from 'Delicious Choice.'' catering company. I suspect they've been using substandard ingredients for a long time, endangering my company employees' health. This lunch is evidence. I'm requesting you immediately seal their kitchen for investigation."
The police looked at the manager collapsed on the floor, then at Robert, and nodded seriously.
"We'll handle it."
"No! It wasn't me! It was... they made me do it!" The manager grabbed at his last straw, pointing at Robert and Blake. "It was Mr. Robert Hart! He said... he said if we used cheap ingredients, we could split the money we saved..."
"Shut your mouth!" Blake finally snapped. He rushed forward to kick the manager but was stopped by the police.
"Sir, please calm down."
What a great show.
I watched them coldly, then turned to all the cafeteria employees.
"I apologize for what happened today and any distress it caused." My voice carried clearly throughout the cafeteria. "I promise you all that starting tomorrow, Hart Group's cafeteria will guarantee that every bite of food you eat will be the freshest and safest."
Someone in the crowd started clapping first.
Then applause swept through the entire cafeteria like a wave.
This was their choice.
They chose me, not that so-called "family member" who only saw them as money-making tools.
I didn't spare another glance at my pale-faced uncle and cousin.
I turned and walked out of the cafeteria amid the applause.
I won this battle. Won it cleanly and decisively.
"Selena." Anna caught up, draping my coat over my shoulders.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Your stomach..." She looked at my face with some concern.
"I'm fine." I waved it off.
I returned to my office and tossed my coat on the sofa.
My stomach was still cramping in waves, like it was protesting the garbage I'd just eaten.
Good.
I liked this feeling.
Pain kept me sharp.
Anna followed me in. She didn't say anything, just quietly poured me a glass of warm water and placed it on the desk.
"Selena, Mr. Robert Hart, Blake, and that restaurant manager were all taken away by the police. I heard the restaurant manager confessed to everything in the police car."
"As expected." I took a sip of warm water, the warmth temporarily suppressing the discomfort in my stomach. "Trash always likes to shift blame onto others."