Chapter 310 Power Play and Midnight Fire

Chapter 310 Power Play and Midnight Fire

That afternoon, an internal email from Jackson Group's HR department exploded like a bomb in the PR department.

Evelyn, someone transferred from the sales department, had been parachuted in as Deputy Director.

Even her assistant Amy had followed her over.

The PR department instantly erupted.

Quinn Sullivan's face looked the worst. She stared at her computer screen, the light in her eyes completely extinguished.

She'd worked at the company for three years. Her qualifications and performance made her the undisputed choice for the next deputy director position.

Now, her promotion opportunity had been snatched away by someone else.

"Someone from sales coming to our PR department as deputy director? What does she know about public relations?"

"Exactly. Don't think PR is just about wining and dining clients. This is skilled work."

Everyone chimed in with complaints, their words dripping with resentment.

Quinn clutched her phone and stormed into Director Ember Stone's office, her face full of indignation.

"Ms. Stone, this Evelyn - she doesn't have some relationship with Mr. Jackson, does she? They both have the surname Jackson."

Ember was leisurely trimming the plants on her desk. Hearing this, she smiled knowingly.

"Mr. Jackson only has one precious daughter. Do you think any random Jackson picked up off the street is his heiress?"

She set down her small scissors and looked up at Quinn.

"I checked. Evelyn went through normal recruitment procedures and started from the bottom as a sales rep."

Ember's tone carried mockery. "If you were Mr. Jackson, would you let your daughter work as a sales rep? Drinking herself to death at business dinners with those disgusting men every day?"

Quinn's expression relaxed somewhat, forcing a smile.

"That's true. As long as she has no connection to Mr. Jackson, it's fine. Tonight's welcome dinner for our new deputy director should be quite interesting."

"Don't go too far," Ember warned lightly, waving her hand to dismiss Quinn.

Soon after, Evelyn appeared in the PR department with Amy.

"Ms. Stone, hello. I'm here to report for duty."

Ember looked up, sizing up Evelyn. She was indeed attractive, but seemed like a harmless pretty face.

Ember scoffed inwardly but remained polite outwardly.

"Welcome. Let me introduce you to everyone."

Ember led her around the department for introductions.

Since Evelyn's office wasn't ready, she and Amy sat at empty desks in the main area.

Quinn strutted over in high heels, wearing a warm smile.

"Miss Jackson, our department has specially prepared a welcome dinner for you tonight. We hope you'll honor us with your presence."

The facade was perfectly maintained.

Evelyn smiled warmly.

"I'm new here and will need everyone's support. I should be the one treating everyone. What would you all like to eat?"

One colleague immediately spoke up: "I want steak!"

Another quickly added: "I want barbecue!"

Everyone chattered with different opinions.

Then Quinn cleared her throat, her voice just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I heard Vast Star Hotel has a new 'Bright Future' package that's excellent, specially designed for company gatherings. Why don't we try it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, gasps filled the office.

"Vast Star Hotel? That's a seven-star hotel - way too expensive!"

"I heard that package costs $69,800!"

"My God, that's several months of my salary. Who can afford that? Let's just have barbecue instead."

Quinn looked apologetically at Evelyn.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. Miss Jackson used to be in sales, dealing mostly with men over drinks. Unlike our PR department, we work with media and celebrities - it's all about appearances."

The sarcasm was obvious to everyone.

Amy immediately exploded, stepping forward to glare at Quinn. "What do you mean..."

Evelyn quickly pulled her back.

She looked up at Quinn, maintaining her composed demeanor.

"Amy, please make a reservation for tonight at Vast Star Hotel, the Bright Future package."

She paused, scanning everyone present.

"Tonight, I'll treat everyone to dinner and learn from you all. I hope everyone will attend."

"Really? Wonderful!"

"Vast Star Hotel! I've always dreamed of going there!"

"Thank you, Miss Jackson! We'll definitely be there!"

The colleagues instantly became excited, looking at Evelyn with bright eyes.

Only Quinn's smile froze, her schemes backfiring.

That evening at Vast Star Hotel.

In the enormous private dining room, all 37 members of the PR department showed up without exception.

Everyone craned their necks, eager to see the legendary $70,000 meal package.

Ember and Evelyn sat in the seats of honor.

When exquisite dishes that looked like works of art were served, the entire room filled with gasps of amazement.

Worthy of a seven-star hotel - just looking at the food was enjoyable.

Ember raised her wine glass and stood up.

"This first toast welcomes Miss Jackson to our PR department family. Welcome!"

Everyone stood and raised their glasses.

Evelyn responded with a gracious smile. "Thank you all. Cheers."

She tilted her head back and drained her glass.

Everyone began eating amid continuous praise.

During the meal, Ember spoke up: "The group's 30th anniversary is coming soon. Although the chairman said not to make it too big, our PR department holds a special internal celebration every year."

Her gaze fell on Evelyn.

"This year's event will be your responsibility. It's good training and will help you familiarize yourself with our department's workflow."

Evelyn nodded. "Alright."

Then Quinn approached with a wine glass, swaying gracefully.

"Miss Jackson, thank you so much for today. Thanks to you, we got to enjoy such a wonderful dinner."

"Let me toast you..."

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly stumbled, and her entire glass of red wine spilled directly onto Evelyn.

Before Evelyn could react, her white blouse was soaked, the red wine stain particularly glaring.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" Quinn shrieked, frantically grabbing tissues and pretending to dab at Evelyn's clothes.

The room fell silent as everyone stopped eating to watch.

Amy shot up and rushed over. "Quinn, you did that on purpose!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Jackson. I really didn't mean it - I slipped." Quinn looked ready to cry. She quickly poured another glass of wine and placed it on the table.

"Why don't you spill it back on me?"

Her pitiful act was Oscar-worthy.

Evelyn simply glanced at her coolly. "It's fine. I'll go to the restroom."

She turned and left the private room.

She preferred not to use the attached restroom.

Amy immediately followed, stomping her feet in anger once they were outside. "Evelyn, Quinn was obviously targeting you on purpose! Why didn't you throw wine back at her? I'm so mad!"

Evelyn looked at Amy's indignant expression and actually smiled.

"Amy, let me ask you - if you were walking down the street and a vicious dog bit you, would you get down and bite it back?"

Amy was stunned and instinctively shook her head. "Of course not. People would think I was crazy."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Amy understood.

If Evelyn had actually thrown wine back, Quinn would have played the victim and gained sympathy, while Evelyn would have earned a reputation for being "difficult" and "petty."

A new supervisor fighting with subordinates on her first day - what would colleagues think? They'd keep their distance.

Once someone becomes isolated, they're not far from being "eliminated."

That was Quinn's real goal.

In the private room, Ember sat silently throughout, but her eyes had grown much deeper.

Soon, Evelyn returned after simply drying her clothes, though a wine stain remained visible.

As she entered, she sensed something was wrong - everyone's expressions were strange.

She smiled calmly. "What's wrong? I'm fine. Please continue eating - don't let me affect your mood."

Just as she was about to sit down, Ember pushed a photograph in front of her.

The photo showed her having lunch with an older man.

The angle was deliberately provocative - Jackson Group's Chairman Daryl was affectionately pinching her cheek, smiling warmly.

Quinn's voice rang out again, undisguised triumph in her tone.

"So Miss Jackson and Chairman Jackson have this kind of... special relationship."

"I knew it - how else would someone suddenly be parachuted into our PR department?"

Her voice rose several octaves.

"Our PR department's biggest taboo is scandal! If this photo gets out, it won't just damage the chairman's reputation - it could affect the company's stock price!"

"Miss Jackson, can you explain this now?" Quinn's tone was aggressive, as if she'd already nailed Evelyn to a pillar of shame.

Evelyn glanced at the photo and smiled.

Instead of looking at Quinn, she turned to everyone else and asked slowly.

"Are you suggesting that Mr. Jackson is senile and was seduced by my beauty into placing this disaster in the PR department?"

This counter-question made everyone gasp.

Quinn certainly hadn't expected Evelyn to turn the question back on her instead of explaining.

This woman's mind worked too fast.

Before Quinn could react, Evelyn posed another question.

"Everyone knows PR work is demanding and exhausting. If I really had the power to bewitch Mr. Jackson, why wouldn't I ask to join the executive office for an easy position instead?"

Another soul-piercing counter-question.

Ember's expression grew serious as she spoke sternly.

"The PR department's responsibility is protecting corporate reputation. If this photo truly damages Mr. Jackson's reputation, that would be our entire department's failure."

"Exactly." Evelyn picked up the thread, her gaze sharp.

"So now we need to investigate this photo's source and focus on Jackson Group's competitors - someone might want to use this photo to make trouble."

She suddenly turned, locking eyes with Quinn.

"Currently, this photo isn't online. I don't know where you got it, but if this photo spreads through any channel from today forward and causes any negative impact on Jackson Group, Quinn, you'll take responsibility."

"Everyone here is a witness."

Everyone nodded, instantly turning their attention to Quinn.

Quinn's face went pale, her lips trembling as she defended herself. "This... this was sent by an unknown number! What does it have to do with me?"

"Oh?" Evelyn smiled. "Why didn't this stranger send the photo directly to the media or Jackson Group's competitors, but specifically to you?"

"There are only two possibilities. First, the photographer knows you. Second, in that stranger's eyes, you're the person most likely to sabotage Jackson Group."

This statement shocked everyone, and they all looked at Quinn with scrutiny.

Quinn's face was deathly pale.

"Colleagues responsible for media monitoring, pay attention." Evelyn's voice was calm and decisive. "Starting now, monitor all networks. If this photo appears anywhere, immediately trace the source back to Quinn."

"Of course, I'll report this to the executive office immediately."

Her words were firm and unwavering.

In the corner, several colleagues responsible for media monitoring immediately opened their laptops and began typing rapidly.

Quinn bit her lip, trembling all over.

Evelyn had turned the tables completely, achieving total victory.

...

When Evelyn got home, it was past 9 PM.

Luke was unusually sitting at the dining table drinking soup.

He'd come over to feed the babies and saw Ruby bringing out a bowl of soup.

"Luke, you've gotten thin lately. Quick, I just learned to make this - try the flavor."

Luke didn't refuse and sat down to drink.

After the first sip, he knew what was in it.

His eyes flickered, but he continued drinking.

Ruby came over, seeing the wine stain on Evelyn's clothes. "Did you go to war?"

"Yes, and I won." Evelyn nodded, heading upstairs.

She didn't give Luke a single glance.

When she came out after showering, her phone showed a message with an image.

His hands were covered in alarming blood.

"I'm injured. Come over."

Evelyn was startled. Without thinking, she changed clothes and ran to Luke's villa.

As soon as the door opened, she was pulled inside.

Luke pressed her against the wall, his dark eyes carrying dangerous intensity.

"Where are you hurt?" Evelyn asked worriedly.

Luke looked at her, speaking word by word. "Nosebleed. Mrs. Jackson's soup was heavily spiked."

Evelyn's pupils contracted as she instinctively tried to flee.

But he dominantly embraced her, gripping her chin. "You'll extinguish the fire you've ignited."

"Don't you have any sense of caution? Go find your first love."

"With you in front of me, why would I look for anyone else?"

He lowered his head to kiss her lips, his large hands tearing...