Chapter 87
Today, there happened to be a small meeting, and I ran into Bronte again.
Bronte wasn't like she was this morning - she seemed much calmer. She must have given herself a pep talk.
Work went on as usual. I went to the break room to rest for a bit and happened to overhear two employees from the project department chatting inside. Besides them, there were a few other employees there too.
Before I even walked in, I heard their conversation.
"Did you hear? Bronte got divorced. Her husband is a shareholder at the Johnson Group. She used to rely on her husband to be called Ms. Langley. Now it's over - Bronte will probably be kicked out of the Johnson Group soon."
I frowned.
Bronte was quite capable at her job and very dedicated to her work.
Plus, she'd been at the Johnson Group for so many years - it shouldn't come to the point where she'd be kicked out because of a man.
I didn't go in, but stood outside listening.
"Of course. I heard that Mr. Vasquez got involved with his own secretary, and Bronte insists on suing Mr. Vasquez. She won't let him off the hook at all."
"She's just a woman. What man doesn't have a few lovers on the side? What is Bronte doing? She really doesn't know what's good for her. Now look, she's lost everything."
My frown deepened.
I hadn't expected this.
And the people chatting inside were clearly all women.
I thought they were just gossiping privately, but who knew Bronte actually resigned?
When she came to submit her resignation letter, I happened to be in Michael's office.
She didn't look well, like she hadn't been sleeping properly.
Because Bronte had seen Michael and me together before, Michael had a strong impression of her. When he saw Bronte submitting her resignation, he asked her a couple of questions.
Bronte only said it was for personal reasons.
That evening, Michael had a business dinner. Tom was driving me home when we witnessed quite a scene in the Johnson Group's underground parking garage.
On one side stood a middle-aged man with a secretary in her early twenties, and on the other side was Bronte holding a little girl's hand.
"Bronte, I told you already - without my protection, you can't do anything at the Johnson Group!"
The man said mockingly, as if he'd been waiting there specifically to taunt Bronte.
Bronte's face still looked terrible, and in the dim lighting of the underground garage, she looked somewhat dark and frightening.
"This is all you amount to. Once you leave the Johnson Group, you can't do anything."
"You think you can find such a good job after leaving the Johnson Group?" the man said sarcastically.
Bronte kept quiet, not even bothering to talk to this man. She turned to get in the car with the little girl.
But the man continued to block her way.
"Get on your knees and apologize to me, and I can arrange a clerk position for you at the Johnson Group. A clerk at the Johnson Group is different from ones elsewhere - I'm sure you understand!"
Bronte looked up at the man.
"Not necessary."
The man still blocked her path.
"Ms. Langley, I wonder if you'd be interested in joining the project department? We're short a deputy director."
I was standing behind a pillar, so they hadn't noticed me. Not until I spoke up and walked out, standing beside Bronte, looking at Francis Vasquez and his secretary.
Bronte seemed about to say something, but I pointed at the surveillance cameras in the parking garage.
"Everything Mr. Vasquez just did was recorded. I'm guessing Mr. Vasquez wouldn't want to see that video sent to every email inbox at the Johnson Group tomorrow morning, right?"
I guessed correctly. Although Francis kept a mistress, he couldn't keep her out in the open.
After hearing what I said, he was clearly scared.
Francis gave a cold laugh, then left with his secretary in his arms.
"Thank you." Bronte had her daughter get in the car first, then sincerely thanked me.
"I'm serious. If you want to keep working at the Johnson Group, you can come to the project department. The salary might not be as high as before, but I believe with your hard work, it will gradually increase."
"Besides, you know my position. As long as I'm backing you, Mr. Vasquez can't touch you!"
I said earnestly.
I wasn't pitying Bronte - I just wanted to keep a capable person at the Johnson Group.
Bronte was excellent.
Bronte didn't even take long to think about it. She nodded right in front of me.
"In that case, thank you, Ms. Smith."
I had Michael transfer Bronte's files directly to the project department, and Bronte came to work there right away.
Of course, no one thought Bronte wasn't qualified.
Everyone at the Johnson Group admired Bronte's workaholic attitude from before, whether they were men or women.
However.
I didn't expect Jane to switch to the department led by Francis. She even came to say goodbye to me when she left.
"Ms. Smith, I know Michael must have helped you with all those previous projects, but as women, we should rely on ourselves to survive in this society, don't you think?"
Hearing Jane say this, I couldn't help but twitch my lips.
She really was consistently confident in her own assumptions!
"Then I wish you success," I said to her.
Seeing that I seemed unmoved, Jane didn't get angry. Instead, she confidently left. I handed over several new projects I'd been researching to Bronte.
Bronte looked them over and, when facing me, showed more respect.
"Ms. Smith, these projects are all really good. You're truly amazing!"
I smiled. Of course, I had to thank my memories from my past life for all this. Without those memories, I naturally wouldn't have spotted these projects.
After the projects were confirmed, when I went upstairs to submit the project proposals, I learned there was a Johnson family dinner that evening.
"Nancy, those people aren't easy to deal with. If you want to go, I'll take you. If you don't want to go, go home and rest well tonight. You must be tired from work lately."
Michael was very considerate, so I agreed.
Then Michael had his assistant contact Tom to prepare an evening gown for me to wear to the dinner.
He must have been instructed by Michael, because Tom stayed by my side the whole time.
I saw quite a few people from the Johnson family.
The last time I'd seen them was at Michael's and my engagement party.
Many people politely greeted me - at least on the surface, we were all very harmonious.
"Isn't this Nancy, who got into the Johnson Group thanks to Michael? I heard you've been landing quite a few projects by relying on Michael!"
A sharp voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around to see a young man in his early twenties with Jane standing beside him. They seemed pretty close.
This person was... Michael's cousin Terrence Wheeler.
After Terrence spoke, Jane immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.
"It's not like that. The fact that Ms. Smith can hold the position of director shows that she must be quite capable herself."
Jane's words didn't stop Terrence. Terrence stared at me: "What capability? She just spread her legs and seduced Michael. I won't fall for it. A woman like you doesn't deserve the Johnson family."