Chapter 2

The surrounding chatter suddenly fell silent.

But Kara quickly recovered, pointing at me with a mocking smile.

“How dare you address President Damian by his first name!”

“Damian holds such a high position. Do you really think an intern like you can see him whenever you want?”

As she spoke, her brows drew tightly together, her eyes filled with suspicion and contempt.

“I finally understand!”

“You deliberately came here to get close to Damian, didn’t you?”

“First, you barged through the Group’s main entrance without permission, and now you’re openly calling him by his first name. Aren’t you just trying to get his attention and play that whole Cinderella-rising-to-the-top game?!”

“Someone like you actually thinks you can climb your way up to Damian? Do you even deserve him?”

I didn’t rush to defend myself. I simply stared at her coldly.

Seeing that I remained silent, she assumed she had exposed my true intentions, and her arrogance grew even stronger.

She slowly circled around me, looking me up and down, her words dripping with ridicule.

“I’ve seen plenty of women like you.”

“You think dressing simply and pretending to be above everyone else will make Damian notice you?”

“Too bad Damian has always had his own principles. Within the Group, no woman besides me gets to approach him so easily.”

Listening to her, anger surged inside me.

“I came here to take over the Group’s affairs.”

“I’m not here to waste my time fighting with you over a man.”

“And as for that ridiculous employee entrance rule, starting today, anyone in the Group can use the main entrance.”

Kara froze for a moment.

Then her entire face flushed red.

“What is your status? What gives you the right?”

“How dare you overturn the rules I established!”

“I’ve been working alongside President Damian for ten years, and the Group’s entrance management system has been in place for ten years!”

“How dare you stand here and talk nonsense in front of me!”

At that moment, a freckled woman approached from the edge of the crowd.

She gently tugged at my sleeve and whispered,

“Miss, please just go along with Assistant Kara.”

“I’ve worked at the Group for many years, and I’ve always used the side entrance in the back. I’ve never really found it inconvenient.”

I paused slightly.

“How far is the side entrance from your office?”

She nervously glanced at Kara.

“I have to take the long way around.”

“It’s really nothing. It just takes a little more time.”

“Please don’t argue with Assistant Kara anymore.”

“As long as you lower your attitude and apologize, she won’t make things difficult for you.”

Take the long way around.

All because of a rule Kara had imposed on her own.

I turned to the woman.

“This is blatant internal discrimination. Have you never thought about reporting it to the Group’s management?”

The next second, Kara suddenly snatched the employee ID badge from the woman’s chest.

She sneered.

“So what if you have to take the long way around?”

“You’ve spent all these years without getting into the core departments or gaining access to senior management. You only have yourself to blame for not being capable enough!”

“What right do you have to speak up?”

“Say another word, and I’ll submit your position to Human Resources for disciplinary action too!”

I never expected her to threaten an employee in front of everyone.

I immediately stepped forward and shielded the woman behind me.

“That’s enough.”

“How can you use your authority to threaten an employee?”

Kara let out a cold laugh.

Then she raised her hand and shoved me hard.

“I’m not just willing to go after her.”

“I dare to come after you too!”

“I’ve been putting up with you for long enough!”

“Now, leave this place immediately!”

“Otherwise, don’t blame me for having security escort you out!”

At that moment, the people inside the archives heard the commotion outside and hurriedly pushed the door open.

Leading them was Evelyn, the Group’s Head of Personnel Records.

The moment she saw me, she immediately recognized me as the person who had just been appointed President of the Castellano Group that very day.

Her face instantly turned pale.

She turned toward Kara and shouted furiously,

“Assistant Kara!”

“What exactly have you done?”