Chapter 22
Tessa's face had turned bright red. Her mouth hung open, unable to get a single word out.
Amelia's expression was even worse. She stared at me hard, her eyes full of disbelief.
She couldn't figure out how the one who, in her memory, only knew to follow behind Michael, meek as a rabbit, could know all this.
Aurora started clapping. She stood up, walked over to me, her face showing undisguised appreciation. "Well said, Luna. I want this proposal, and I'll only work with you on this project."
Her words were like a loud slap across Amelia and Tessa's faces.
The colleagues around us snapped out of it, and the way they looked at me completely changed—from contemptuous mockery to shock and a hint of barely detectable awe.
Amelia's nails were practically digging into her palms.
She knew that today, not only had she failed to embarrass me, but she'd made me the center of attention—the biggest winner.
Aurora, having achieved her goal, strode out on her high heels.
As soon as she left, Amelia dropped her fake smile, and the air in the conference room instantly dropped to freezing.
She looked at me coldly, like a poisoned blade. "Nice proposal. Looks like you prepared in advance."
She paused, then changed tack, her tone carrying an unquestionable command. "But you're still new. You're not familiar with the company's processes and operations. I can't feel comfortable handing such a big project to you. This project will still have Tessa as the lead, and you'll assist from the side."
This was a blatant attempt to steal credit.
Tessa perked right up, straightened her back, and looked at me smugly.
The colleagues around us, though they knew exactly what was happening, kept their heads down and didn't dare speak.
Looking at Amelia's face twisted with jealousy, I sneered inwardly.
She thought she was still the White family's younger daughter who could manipulate me at will, and that I was still the older daughter who needed to grovel to survive.
"Ms. White," I met her gaze, my tone calm but firm, "I don't accept this."
Amelia looked like she'd heard the world's funniest joke. "You don't accept it? What right do you have not to accept it?"
"Because I made this proposal, and the client specifically asked for me to be in charge." I looked around at the colleagues with their various expressions, saying word by word, "Since Ms. White thinks I'm not capable enough, and everyone just heard the entire proposal, why don't we let everyone judge?"
I paused, and as Amelia's pupils suddenly contracted, I threw out my suggestion.
"Let's vote on who should lead this project."
As my words fell, the air in the entire conference room seemed to freeze.
No one expected that I, this seemingly timid and obedient newcomer, would dare to openly defy Amelia, even proposing something like a vote that directly challenged her authority.
Amelia's face instantly turned ashen, her fingers on the table slightly pale from the pressure.
She stared at me hard, her eyes looking like they wanted to tear me apart.
"A vote?" She laughed in anger, her voice sharp and piercing. "Ophelia... who do you think you are? What right do you have to propose a vote here?"
In her agitation, she almost called out my real name.
But I acted like I hadn't heard, maintaining that respectful and innocent expression, only my gaze swept over everyone present, my voice not loud but every word clear. "Ms. White, I just think that Ms. Rivera's project is very important to the company and should be led by the most suitable person. Since everyone understands the proposal well, having everyone choose the project leader they trust most—isn't that the fairest way and the best way to ensure the project goes smoothly?"
I brought out "company interests" and "fairness," placing myself on the moral high ground.
Now, Amelia was the one left speechless. She could use her authority to forcibly suppress me, but if she refused such a seemingly "fair" proposal in front of everyone, it would only make her look more guilty and dictatorial.
The conference room fell into dead silence. Colleagues kept their heads down, wishing they could turn invisible, afraid of getting caught in this clash.
Tessa's face looked terrible. She looked to Amelia for help, only to find that Amelia was also stuck.
During the standoff, a female colleague sitting next to me quietly nudged my arm under the table.
The colleague, Kenna, quickly glanced at Amelia and Tessa, then leaned close to my ear and said rapidly in a whisper, "Luna, stop fighting. You can't win against her."
I raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
Seeing I wasn't moved, Kenna got anxious and added another sentence, her voice even lower: "Tessa... her last name is White, you know? Some people say she might be related to the chairman. None of us can afford to offend her."
I see.
I understood now, and finally realized why Tessa could act so arrogantly in the department.
A baseless rumor, an ambiguous hint—that was enough to make these self-serving office workers treat her with respect.
How ridiculous.
A fake, throwing her weight around because of a surname.
Looking at the genuine concern on Kenna's face, I felt no ill will, just absurdity.
I turned my head and, mimicking her, used a voice just loud enough for the people around us to hear, asking with feigned innocence, "Really? Which White family? How come I don't know the White family has such an impressive 'daughter'?"
My voice carried just the right amount of confusion, sounding like a naive newcomer asking out of curiosity.
But to those paying attention, these words were like a thunderbolt.
Kenna froze, staring at me blankly.
And Tessa, who had been listening to our conversation with pricked ears, immediately changed expression.
My comment had precisely hit her most vulnerable spot.
That bit of false prestige she'd built on her surname—I'd torn open a crack in it with one light comment.
"You... what did you say?" Tessa suddenly stood up. The chair scraped against the floor with a harsh sound. She pointed at me, her voice trembling from guilt.
I looked up, meeting her panicked gaze, my face still wearing that harmless expression. "Tessa, I didn't say anything. I just think you're amazing and wanted to know which White family you're a daughter of, so I can learn from you."
The more innocent my tone, the more her overreaction stood out.
The colleagues' gazes began to turn subtle, moving back and forth between Tessa, carrying a hint of scrutiny and doubt.
Tessa felt uncomfortable under those stares. She forced herself to calm down.