Chapter 19
Lately, Victoria had been incredibly busy.
Her desk was piled high with thick stacks of documents, every page filled with dense terms and requirements—all demands from their partners.
"Need any help?"A colleague passing by couldn't help but ask. "With so many requirements, how long will it take you to finish all this?"
Victoria looked up from her work and forced a smile. "You go ahead with your own work. I can handle this."
Seeing her insistence, the colleague shook their head and returned to their desk with their water cup.
Although the pile of documents was decreasing slowly, she didn't feel frustrated at all.
On the contrary,
Victoria’s frown softened, and a subtle smile tugged at the edges of her lips.
She couldn't remember how long it had been since she'd had such direct contact with the work she loved.
After the incident, Aiden had forcefully canceled her previous job.
Because of her injury, no other company was willing to hire her either.
Looking back now, everything that happened had been building up to this.
Victoria shook her head, pushing those thoughts away.
She put in a full week of overtime at the company to finish the outsourced project, ultimately completing the design draft.
During Monday’s team meeting, Xanthe beamed, holding up several documents as she waved them enthusiastically.
Her gaze fell on Victoria as she said earnestly, "Here, I want to give special praise to Victoria!"
Everyone's eyes turned to Victoria in unison.
Among them were looks of envy and jealousy.
"The partners are very satisfied with the design draft, and they've even raised the price. In these areas, everyone should learn from Victoria! Don't just go silent the moment you encounter difficulties!"
Xanthe glanced at everyone's expressions and continued discussing other work matters without changing her expression.
Facing the stares from those around her, Victoria pressed her lips together, her expression calm.
Under the desk, her hands were tightly balled into fists, her palms damp and sticky with sweat.
Good thing. She lowered her eyes and let out a breath.
The design draft was approved.
Her hard work during this time hadn't been in vain!
Perhaps soon, she would make enough money to reclaim the Heart of the Ocean from Edward!
Victoria felt as if a bright future was beckoning to her.
However, when three documents she needed all went missing, Victoria realized something was wrong.
She looked down and glanced at the printer, then suddenly smiled.
Someone passing by saw her standing there and asked, "Why are you just standing here?"
"I came to pick up printed documents."
Victoria frowned. "But I just realized this printer seems to be eating paper. I went to the break room just now, and when I came back, all three documents were gone. Ms. Garcianeeds these for Mr. Windsor later. If they're still missing..."
She shook her head. "I guess we'll have to ask Mr. Windsor to check the surveillance footage."
Victoria's voice wasn't loud, just enough for those nearby to hear.
Her gaze moved subtly as she silently took in everyone’s reactions.
The colleague who asked was also a bit surprised. "Eating paper? I've never encountered that before. Could someone have taken them by mistake?"
Victoria sighed softly. Before she could speak, she caught sight of a figure hurrying over and stopping in front of her.
"I'm so sorry! I took extra documents when I was printing earlier. These should be yours, right?"
The person in front of her acted naturally, even urging, "Quick, take them to Ms. Garcia! Don't keep Mr. Windsor waiting."
Victoria looked at her with an ambiguous smile, not immediately reaching out to take them.
Only when the person’s expression became stiff and the faint smile on her lips began to falter did Victoria finally turn her gaze aside.
"Well, thank you so much."
Victoria's gaze was sincere, but the smile at the corners of her lips seemed somewhat mocking. "If you hadn't brought them just in time, we might have really needed to get maintenance to check if there's something wrong with this machine."
She deliberately emphasized the words "just in time."
The person in front of her froze, smiled awkwardly, made up some random excuse, and hurried away.
Her steps were flustered—clearly guilty.
Victoria stood in place, the curve at her lips falling away.
Watching that disappearing figure, she felt only coldness in her heart.
Even these seemingly insignificant coworkers were eager to seize the chance to set her up and have her reprimanded by her superiors.
But she wasn't a three-year-old child anymore—not so easy to bully.
Besides, how could documents left in the printer just disappear into thin air?
In other words, the petty schemes they employed against her were truly...
Too amateur.
Victoria's eyes lowered, hiding the mockery in them, as she walked toward Xanthe's office.
At the same time, at The Smith Group.
"What did you say?!"
Bianca looked stunned, then frowned and demanded, "Are you telling me Victoria is now a designer at the Windsor Group?"
Why?!
Victoria was no longer Q—she was just a waste now!
What right did such a waste have to enter The Windsor Group?
Her eyes were full of jealousy. Recalling the man she'd encountered at the jewelry store last time, she nearly ground her back teeth to dust. If it weren't for the fact that the studio collaborating with The Windsor Group this time happened to be under The Smith Group, she probably wouldn't even know that Victoria had climbed such a high branch.
No.
This won't do.
She had to make sure Victoria could never turn things around!
Bianca took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her emotions.
Her tone was cold as she ordered, "Find someone to spread some rumors at The Windsor Group. Say that..."
She paused for a moment, her smile sinister and her gaze vicious. "Say that her private life is messy, that she especially likes to interfere in other people's relationships, and that... she's good at clinging to powerful people."
The Windsor Group was very strict about hiring.
It wasn't just about ability.
This kind of morally corrupt employee, who might also seduce her superiors, would absolutely not be accepted at any company.
Moreover... Bianca suddenly smiled.
Victoria was nothing but a waste with a crippled right hand!
She didn't believe The Windsor Group would still protect her!
Troubles came one after another.
In the office, Victoria was currently using tools to add details on her digital tablet, her expression focused but from time to time, she could feel eyes looking her way. She frowned and stopped her pen.
Lately, there had been especially many people staring at her. The emotions behind those gazes made her very uncomfortable.
Had something happened while she wasn't aware?
Victoria wanted to ask, but thinking of the series of troubles that would follow...
Forget it.
As long as she completed her work well and got paid, that was enough.
Colleagues and such didn't matter.
Victoria pressed her lips together, though her mood wasn't great. She felt a bit irritated. Her peripheral vision caught sight of her empty water cup. She put down her tools, preparing to get some water.
The break room wasn't far from the office, with a tall money tree placed by the door.
The glass door didn't seem to be closed properly.
Victoria walked closer with her cup, about to push open the door, but suddenly stopped.
—Someone was talking about her.
She stopped in her tracks, standing quietly in an inconspicuous corner, listening.
"Is what you're saying true?"
"Why would I lie to you! Someone told me that Victoria's next target is our Mr. Windsor!"
"I never thought she was that kind of person... So the thing about her being a mistress before was also..."
The glass door wasn't closed tightly, and everything could be heard clearly from outside.
Victoria calmly lowered her eyes, but her red lips were pressed white, and her eyes were dry and reddened.
Whether before or now.
She had only ever been with Aiden.
But Aiden didn't dare move against her for now, which left only one other option.
Victoria turned around, no longer bothering with the rumors in the break room.
She thought.
She'd figured out who was behind this.