Chapter 89 Who cheated?
Earlier, Oriana was excited when introduced to the fashion department of RD Group, but the moment she heard from HR that she was going to start at one of the branches and not the head office, she grew upset.
From the email sent after filling out the employment form, she was also to begin from the lowest level reserved for interns because she lacked work experience.
This did not sit well with her after reading the email, and she rebuked the HR Manager. “I can’t accept this. Yes, I’m a fresh graduate, but I have experience and have worked on my own collections. You can’t let me start from scratch?”
The dress Karen wore to Roger’s birthday party was her design, but she couldn’t mention or refer to it because she did not recall seeing the HR Manager there.
“I understand your sentiment,” the HR Manager sympathized. “But without proper proof of any work performance, you would have to start from the bottom. However, if you prove yourself worthwhile, we can promote you faster,” she hinted, but Oriana was not liking this.
The reason why she worked so hard on her own collections was her thirst to avoid people bossing her around like how starting from scratch would.
Roger had personally handed her over to the HR Manager, so didn’t that mean anything to them?
“No. I have to talk to Roger first.”
“You address the CEO by his first name?” The HR Manager was stunned and slightly afraid.
Oriana wanted to flaunt that Roger was her half-brother but remembered his warning from yesterday and forced a smile. “He’s a family friend, so does that qualify me to start from a higher level?”
The HR manager smiled, but it was a sad one. “Sorry, but even the CEO worked in disguise at the lowest levels, including that of a janitor. It’s the reason he knows the work of each employee very well, having exceptional salary and motivational packages that other companies don’t.”
Oriana knew Roger had worked under disguise but never thought the lowest levels were involved.
“No, I won’t work at the low level, and I want to be here, at the head office,” she said with a tone of finality. With her hands tied, the HR Manager had to inform her boss, calling her on the intercom. She was hoping Karen would be the one to answer and informed,
“Ma’am, Oriana wants a higher position and doesn’t want to work at the branch.”
Roger’s response was curt. “Oh, send her over.”
The HR manager dropped the handset, trembling slightly as she informed Oriana, “Mr. Dawson is waiting for you.”
Karen had the softness of a mother which they loved, but Roger’s masculinity was sometimes scary.
“You didn’t have to report me,” Oriana said in annoyance, and the HR Manager felt helpless. “Yeah, and you don’t have to be difficult.”
If she had her way, she would just let Oriana go, but since she was brought in by the CEO, she would have to leave it for the higher-ups to handle.
Oriana had mixed feelings when she made her way to Roger’s office, hoping he would support her, but his words knocked her hard, inciting her anger. “I don’t think you want to work here.”
"Yes, I don’t want to work here when you are so ashamed of me. What’s wrong with being your half-sister?"
She strongly felt that if Roger had allowed her to use her identity as his sister, then the HR would not have made things difficult for her. But seeing Roger’s dark gaze at the entrance, focused on something that wasn’t her, she instinctively turned to see the pale Delanie.
Delanie had stepped out of the elevator seconds after Oriana made it to Roger’s office, and due to her relationship with Roger, there was no need for a knock, and not even Dahlia stopped her.
However, hearing Oriana’s words broke her. It was as if she had been lied to all her life.
“She’s your half-sister?” Pain sat in Delanie’s eyes, and her voice was bitter, but Karen was also confused, not knowing how to massage the situation.
Oriana’s remorse disappeared when she saw Roger move swiftly to the entrance to embrace Delanie. “Hey, let me explain,” he said so softly, as if he was handling an egg.
If only he could be so soft and loving towards her, then her anger wouldn’t burn so much, but it was clear that Roger was only mean to those he didn’t consider as ‘family.’
Delanie wiggled out of his arms and pushed him with a force that stunned the two women. The Dawsons were well-trained, but none of the women there had ever seen Delanie fight.
"Is it true? Are you not my brother? Who cheated? Was it Mom or Dad?" Anger, disappointment, pain, and bitterness swept through her eyes.