Chapter 32: Forced Familiarity

Chapter 32: Forced Familiarity

Victoria glanced sideways at the woman, her expression completely unbothered, and spoke with a lazy, cutting edge.

"Who are you? And what exactly do you want from me?"

"If you have something to say, say it. If not, don't waste my time."

After Victoria said this bluntly, she lowered her head and turned her attention back to the data reports on her computer.

The woman in the tight floral dress was quite unhappy seeing Victoria's dismissive attitude. She was Janice Young, General Manager Billy Brooks's personal secretary, and they shared a very "special"relationship.

Throughout the entire Maplewood Hotel, anyone who crossed paths with Janice had to greet her respectfully with a smile.

This new Victoria sure had some nerve. Not only did Victoria ignore her, but she was also acting shockingly arrogant .

It seems she has no idea who I am, Janice thought, her lip curling into a sneer. Once I reveal my status, she’ll be scared out of her wits.

The woman in the floral dress crossed her arms over her chest, lifted her chin haughtily, and introduced herself in a domineering manner.

"Ms. Hughes, I'm Mr. Brooks's secretary, Janice Young. He specifically sent me down here to come get you and bring you to his office."

Hearing Janice formally introduce herself as Billy's secretary, Victoria took a few more looks at her. So, this was Billy's rumored mistress.

Her attitude was quite intimidating, wasn't it?

Victoria chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll go now."

With that, Victoria stood up, grabbed her coat, put it on, ignored Janice's look, and headed straight upstairs to Billy's office.

Janice was absolutely infuriated by Victoria's rudeness. She followed closely behind Victoria; if looks could kill, Victoria would have died hundreds of times under her gaze.

When they reached Billy's office door, Victoria knocked and walked straight in.

Billy was on the phone. Seeing Victoria enter with such unbothered confidence, he quickly hung up.

"Hello, Mr. Brooks." Victoria greeted him, her tone perfectly neutral.

Billy was clearly still a bit angry because Victoria had contradicted him earlier. His gaze toward her was anything but friendly.

He put on the air of an elder and started lecturing Victoria.

"Victoria, you should know that your mother and I are actually related."

Victoria frowned, looked Billy over, and immediately shut down the claim. "I'm sorry, Mr. Brooks, but my mother passed away years ago. I've never heard of any relative like you in my mother's family."

"By the way, what did you call my grandmother?"

Victoria's meaning was clear: Do not try to fabricate relationships. Mabel had been gone for years, and Victoria knew for a fact he had no blood ties to her.

Billy was momentarily stunned by the direct rejection and quickly explained, "Jade, I'm her cousin's husband."

Victoria curled her lip and said, "She's not my mother."

"Mr. Brooks, if you have something to say, just say it. No need to bring up these relationships."

Seeing Victoria being so stubborn, Billy was so angry his mouth was almost crooked. If Victoria wasn't someone Charles had personally called to arrange, he would fire her right now.

"Victoria, I'm at least the general manager hired by Maplewood Hotel with a high salary. As a department manager, you should show me some respect, right?"

"A few days ago I summoned you to come to my office, and you completely ignored me. I'm puzzled -as the General Manager, can't I even get a department manager to listen to me?"

He sneered. "If it weren't for your father's sake..."

Billy had family ties with Jade, so he naturally knew about Charles and Victoria's strained relationship. However, what Billy—and the rest of the Hughes family—did not know was that the legal representation and ownership of the hotel had recently been forcefully transferred back to Victoria.

In other words, he was the hotel's general manager, but Victoria was actually his real boss.

Hearing this, Victoria contradicted him once again.

She said to Billy expressionlessly, "Mr. Brooks, you don't need to bring up these family connections. Let's just talk business if there's business to discuss."

"Fine. Connor," Billy demanded, attempting to use his authority to stand up for the incompetent employee Victoria had recently disciplined. "What exactly did he do wrong to justify you placing him on indefinite, unpaid leave?"

This was the main reason he kept calling Victoria to his office.

Victoria was prepared. She straightened up and said to Billy, "Mr. Brooks, on my very first day at work, he stirred up department colleagues to stage a mass sick-leave walkout, which prevented a lot of department work from moving forward. That's his first offense."

"He's been pretending to be sick and staying in the hospital long-term, which really shows he can't handle the department's work. If he wants to slack off, he doesn't need to use such a clumsy excuse. That's his second offense."

"During the months he was in charge of the department, several highly difficult problems arose. He ignored all of them, which proves his professional competence is grossly inadequate. That's his third offence."

"The department data has been a mess, leading to a huge deficit in the department account. As the department manager at the time, he made a complete mess of the department finances. That's his fourth offense."

"Going over my head to complain to you and threatening me in my office proves his character is also problematic. I ask you, Mr. Brooks, with someone like this, if you let him continue working at Maplewood Hotel, doesn't that show you have some problems with hiring?"

Victoria threw this whole string of irrefutable facts directly in Billy's face. As general manager, Billy was immediately dumbfounded. He never expected that Victoria, only in her twenties, would be so ruthlessly articulate and logically flawless.

Facing the shortcomings Victoria pointed out about Connor, he had to admit them.

But to protect Connor, he still took a roundabout approach, trying to persuade Victoria.

"Victoria, I know Connor has some minor disciplinary issues, but these aren't fatal problems."

"For Jade's sake and mine, give him a chance and let him continue working in your department. That way, everyone's relationship won't become strained, right?"

Billy's statements made Victoria want to replace him right then and there.

As the general manager hired by Maplewood Hotel with a high salary, instead of thinking about bringing benefits to Maplewood Hotel, he was playing favorites. For his own selfish interests, he was actually asking Victoria to compromise.

Victoria finally understood the primary reason why Maplewood Hotel had been losing money all these years.

There were simply too many parasites feeding off its corpse.

Facing Billy's pathetic request, Victoria snorted coldly.

She stepped back and sat in the chair opposite Billy's desk. She looked at Billy with a challenging gaze.

Billy was intimidated by Victoria's presence. He felt a bit nervous.

After sitting down, Victoria started confronting Billy head-on.

"Billy, don't forget that you're the general manager hired by Maplewood Hotel with a high salary."

"You're actively attempting to use your position as general manager to pressure me into keeping Connor, that useless burden who can't do anything? Let me ask you, are you worthy of the high salary the hotel pays you?"

Billy was left speechless by Victoria's question. He had no idea how to counter Victoria's aggressive approach.

Unexpectedly, before Billy could formulate an excuse, the heavy office door was shoved open. Janice stormed in, pointed a manicured finger directly at Victoria's face, and began shrieking.