Chapter 49
The sleek car pulled up in front of the company, its model sending shockwaves of excitement through the crowd.
“Wow!”
The collective gasp was followed by hands covering mouths, eyes glued to the vehicle as if mesmerized. As gazes drifted to the license plate, speculation ran rampant.
Could it be her? Why’d she arrive on such an enigmatic ride when Felix and Chairman Dawson opted for more understated models?
“You can get out now, ma.” Easton said, his voice a gentle prompt. The plan had been to turn heads, and with attention firmly fixed on her, Floria stepped forward, her timing perfectly choreographed.
With a slight bow, she opened the door, greeting, “welcome, ma.”
Cressida grabbed her bag, took a soft breath, and stepped out, her heel touching the ground precisely. For a moment, she paused, then descended, her movements fluid.
Floria stepped aside, allowing Cressida to lead the way before closing the door and falling into step behind her, bag in hand, her gaze cast downward.
As Cressida scanned the surroundings, her eyes met the sea of admiring faces, and with a subtle smile, she glided forward, her steps effortlessly elegant. As she approached the entrance, the guard swung open the door, and as she stepped inside, the staff, lined up in perfect formation, bowed in unison.
“Welcome, ma!” Their voices echoed through the space.
Cressida paused, her eyes scanning the rows of faces before her. As the staff lifted their heads, she flashed a warm smile. “Good morning, everyone.” She greeted, her voice gentle.
“Good morning, ma.” They replied in harmony.
Cressida’s gaze swept across the room, her expression radiant. “How are you all doing?” She asked, then continued without pause, “you know who I am, don’t you?”
They joggled their heads, so she proceeded. “I’m thrilled to be here and look forward to achieving great things together. Let’s work hand in hand to flourish. Can we do that?”
The staff responded with enthusiasm, “Yes, ma’am!”
Cressida’s gaze swept across the staff, her eyes subtly counting their numbers. When she reached the last person on the right, her brow furrowed slightly. She glanced over her shoulder at Floria. “Someone’s missing?”
Floria discreetly counted the staff again, confirming Cressida’s observation. “Yes, ma’am,” she replied, then turned to the staff. “Where’s Clara?”
The first lady on the right line spoke up, “She’s not in the office yet, ma’am. I think she might be running late today.”
Cressida checked her watch, a hint of amusement dancing on her lips as she glanced at the lady. “Might be running late or she is already?” She teased. “It’s 9:00 am, and she’s not here yet. Which floor does she work on?”
Floria chimed in, “She’s on the second floor, ma’am.”
“Tell her to-”
Just as Cressida was about to instruct Clara to report to her office, Clara breezed in, her voice cutting off Cressida’s words.
“I’m here already, so no need to report.”
The staff’s eyes widened in shock at Clara's bold tone, but Clara met their gazes with a stern stare, her expression unapologetic as she moved closer.
Floria’s eyes flashed with indignation, and she stepped forward to defend Cressida, but a raised hand from Cressida silenced her.
Cressida’s voice remained calm and firm. She didn't flinch, her focus still on the staff as Clara arrived, standing not in her designated spot but beside her.
Her peers tried to discreetly warn Clara to step back, whispering her name and gesturing for her to come to their side, but Clara pointed a finger at them, responding with a fierce warning glance.
“Leave me alone!” She snapped.
“Don’t you see who you’re standing with?” One of her colleagues whispered, nodding toward Cressida.
“Who?” Clara immediately shot back, her eyes wide with defiance. She crossed her arms, a hint of a scoff on her lips as she angled her body slightly to the right. “Since when did we start following rules about who we can stand next to in this office? My feet are mine, and I’ll stand wherever I please.”
Floria seethed with anger, biting back her response out of deference to Cressida’s presence.
Cressida, however, remained calm, turning slightly to Clara. “You’re late,” she stated, her voice even. “You know that, right?”
Clara met Cressida’s gaze head-on, nodding once. “Yes, I am,” she answered, her tone turning sharp as she added, “And don’t think you have the right to question me. Who are you to lecture me, anyway?”
Cressida took a deep breath, her expression unreadable as she assessed the situation. She knew exactly what was going on, and she wasn’t about to waste her energy on someone like Clara.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding,” she said cooly, turning fully to face Clara with a polite smile. “Perhaps you don’t know me, or maybe you think I’m someone else,”
She placed a hand on her chest, her voice smooth. “I’m Cressida, the new director of this company.”
Clara raised her chin, her expression unimpressed. “Welcome to the position,” she said dryly. “But how’s that my problem? You’re the director now. What does that have to do with me?”
Clara shrugged, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Should I be groveling at your feet just because you landed a job you didn’t earn?” She queried, her voice growing more confrontational. “Frankly, I’m not concerned with your title or who you think you are. I’m here to do my job, and I know who I should report to.”
Cressida’s expression remained serene, masking the simmering anger beneath. “Everyone else seems to understand the hierarchy, Clara,” she said evenly. “But sometimes, it’s not just about acknowledging your direct supervisor—it’s about showing respect to those in leadership positions.”
Clara’s response was immediate. “What if I refuse?” She shot back, her eyes flashing with challenge. “Are you going to fire me? Is that what you’re thinking?”
She laughed, the sound mocking, as she dropped her hands from her chest and locked gazes with Cressida. “You want to sack me? Go ahead and try.”
Cressida shook her head calmly. “No,” a simple response escaped her lips, followed by a soft chuckle.
“Firing you would only make me look like I’m taking the easy way out," she said, her voice laced with a hint of glee. “You think you’re a challenge, but to me, you’re just... unnecessary. So unnecessary,”
Her gaze locked onto Clara’s, her tone dripping with disinterest. “You’re wasting my time, and trading words with you is pointless,”
With a deliberate step forward, she closed the distance between them, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Let me send you back to whoever sent you. Tell them you’re not enough. You try, but they need an army of people like you to accomplish their goals.”
The silence between them was discernible as Clara stood frozen, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and umbrage. She watched, speechless, as Cressida stepped backward, her movements calm and intentional.
“To everyone who values their role, here’s a lesson—know your place and respect boundaries,” Cressida addressed the staff, her voice firm as she gazed ahead, deliberately avoiding eye contact. “I’m not sure what the previous rules were, but I know how I expect this company to operate from now on,”
Her tone rose slightly, carrying an air of authority. “I’m taking charge, and it’s crucial everyone understands the expectations. Is that clear?”
The staff responded in unison, their voices echoing hers. “Okay, ma!”
Cressida’s gaze shifted to Clara, whose face still reflected a mix of shock and apprehension. Her eyebrows arched authoritatively, and with an unwavering tone, she asked, “Is that clear?”
Clara’s lips compressed, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, ma'am.”
“Good,” Cressida uttered, her eyes still fixed on Clara, her voice low and cautionary. “I may not be directly responsible for your termination, but if I want you gone, it won’t take much effort,”
Her words hung in the air as she proceeded, “consider this a warning or a threat. Know your place when those in power are at odds. Otherwise, you’ll learn a harsh lesson.”
Clara swallowed hard, her face still down-turned, avoiding Cressida’s gaze. Fear had taken over, and the confidence Amabel had instilled in her had melted away. She was now silently pleading for Cressida’s mercy, the promised reward forgotten.
“Don’t provoke someone who won’t hesitate to strike back,” Cressida continued, her voice firm. “If I fight back, you won’t stand a chance. Got it?”
Clara nodded hastily, her stomach twisting with anxiety. “Y-yes... Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
Cressida’s gaze shifted away from Clara, a smile spreading across her lips as she turned to face the rest of the staff. “Now, let’s get to work. Let’s do this!”
“Let’s do this!”
The staff erupted in a rallying shout as she moved forward with Floria walking behind her.
“I like how you handled that situation,” Floria said as they stepped into the elevator, her voice filled with admiration.
“The goal is to never give them what they expect,” Cressida said, her gaze distant for a moment. “Clara’s not a subtle opponent. Just by looking at her, I could tell she was in it for the money.”