Chapter 46

Chapter 46
The way she looked at Jason was exactly how you'd look at someone who just suggested the earth was flat.

And Avery's revelation hit the conference room like a bombshell!

"So Jason was the thief all along!"

"Look at how guilty he looks—Avery nailed him completely. We've got witnesses and evidence!"

"I can't believe he had the nerve!"

Everyone's eyes turned to Jason, filled with disgust and contempt.

Jason's face drained of all color.

"I didn't mean to," he stammered.

He'd thought his plan was foolproof, never imagining Avery had seen through everything and set a trap he'd walked right into!

With no way to escape the truth, Jason scrambled to save himself.

"Avery, I'm sorry. There were... circumstances," Jason said, putting on his best wounded puppy expression. "I've been hitting a creative block lately, but I was desperate to prove myself. That's why I made this mistake."

"We're colleagues, after all. Can't you just let this go? I'm apologizing!"

Jason dropped to his knees, dignity abandoned.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong..." he whimpered.

But before he could finish his pathetic speech, he was cut off.

"Shut. Up."

Matteo's icy stare cut through Jason's performance.

"Apologizing to Avery won't save you."

Matteo's features hardened with barely contained rage.

"Someone with your lack of integrity doesn't deserve a place in this company or this industry!"

Jason froze at those final words as if he'd been struck by lightning.

Was Matteo threatening to blacklist him?

"No, Mr. Ferrari, please don't fire me!" he begged. "I've worked here for three years! I've contributed to this company!"

But Matteo ignored his pleas completely.

Instead, he turned to Tom, who was already trembling in the corner.

"You—you're leaving with him."

Tom's eyes widened in horror. "No!"

Realizing he'd backed the wrong horse, Tom started frantically trying to save himself.

"Jason deceived me too! I didn't know anything about this!"

But his excuses fell on deaf ears.

"Security, escort these two out," Matteo ordered, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, sir!" Two security guards stepped forward immediately.

They dragged out the still-protesting Tom and the now-ghostly pale Jason.

Tom's wails echoed down the hallway.

Not a single person in the room felt sorry for either of them.

Once quiet returned, Matteo turned to Avery.

"Your performance was exceptional. You not only showcased your talent but protected the company's interests."

Though his face remained mostly impassive, everyone else was shocked. Matteo rarely praised anyone. His excessively cold and arrogant personality typically meant he didn't think highly of anyone.

His eyes locked with hers.

"The company will reward you generously and compensate you for what happened. Additionally, you'll take full charge of the Rose project."

The words landed like a golden ticket in Avery's ears—a promotion and bonus all at once.

She smiled. "Thank you."

Her colleagues broke into applause.

"Congratulations, Avery!"

Everyone looked at her with undisguised envy.

"I couldn't have done this without everyone's support," Avery said with quiet confidence. "So when the bonus comes through, we'll split it equally."

Avery's words transformed the opinions of those who had previously judged her.

"I can't believe Ms. Vaughn is so generous!"

"I'm definitely on her team from now on!"

"Thank you, Ms. Vaughn!"

After the meeting ended and everyone else had left, Avery approached Matteo.

"I want to thank you for believing in me earlier, even when there wasn't concrete evidence."

If this had happened in front of Owen, he would have condemned her for lack of ability. He probably would have said even more hurtful things.

So regardless, Avery was genuinely grateful for Matteo's trust.

"Don't mention it," Matteo replied, slipping back into his lazy demeanor.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a casual smirk.

"I just figured if you really hated Jason, you wouldn't use such a stupid method to frame him."

Their eyes met with unspoken understanding.

Just then, Ricci hurried over.

"Mr. Ferrari, Mr. Walker and Ms. Chloe Vaughn are waiting in the reception room. They say they have a scheduled interview."

"Got it," Matteo nodded coolly.

Avery's mind started racing. So Owen had come along too.

While she was lost in thought, she was interrupted.

"Avery, come with me," Matteo invited unexpectedly.

"You are my assistant, after all."

Seeing the mischief dancing in his eyes, Avery knew Matteo was inviting her along just to watch the drama unfold.

She shrugged. "Of course."

So Avery and Matteo walked side by side into the reception room.

"Avery?" Owen looked like he couldn't believe his eyes.

He scrutinized the stylishly dressed professional woman before him.

Today she wore a charcoal gray business suit, perfectly tailored to highlight her figure—elegant yet powerful.

"What are you doing here?" Owen's brows furrowed instantly.

After all, the old Avery had always worn soft, modest white dresses to please his aesthetic preferences.

Now, there wasn't a trace of that meekness left.

Beside him, Chloe couldn't resist throwing shade.

"Wow, Avery, you've changed so much in just a few days."

Chloe had noticed Owen's fixation the moment Avery entered the room.

His gaze had practically glued itself to her.

Chloe forced a sweet smile. "Looks like you've gone to great lengths to impress Mr. Ferrari. So sexy now—your whole style is completely different."

Chloe was clearly trying to suggest to both men that Avery had changed her style to seduce Matteo.

But before she could continue, Avery responded with the faintest smile.

"Chloe, since when did you start paying such close attention to my wardrobe?"

Hearing this, Chloe quickly backpedaled.

"I don't care about you at all."

But watching Avery's completely unfazed reaction, Chloe felt a sense of foreboding.

"What are you doing?" she asked suspiciously.

"Just offering to pour you some coffee," Avery replied casually.

Avery picked up the coffee pot and began pouring unhurriedly.

"I want a hot Americano with three sugars," Chloe commanded haughtily.

She treated Avery like a servant.

That's right, Chloe thought. In her eyes, this bitch Avery belonged on her knees serving her.

So what if Avery had gotten into the Ferrari Group? She was still serving coffee!

Owen looked up expressionlessly.

"I don't need coffee."

Seeing Avery in this position gave him a rare moment of satisfaction.

She was clearly just a powerless employee reduced to serving coffee.

Yet Owen felt an inexplicable irritation.

He had thought today would be his chance to get revenge on Avery, but seeing her in such a lowly position didn't make him happy as expected.

Damn Matteo.

Matteo clearly couldn't be trusted!

When Avery finally regretted her choices, she'd definitely come crawling back to him.