Chapter 39 – The Incident

Jeslyn had just stepped out of the car when the sound of factory machines and the scent of metal filled the air. The morning was still damp with dew, and the sky hung gray, as if harboring a bad omen. She glanced at her watch—exactly 7:00 a.m.

Before she could take another step, the roar of a black car engine halted nearby. From it, Leonel stepped out first, followed by two men: Edric, his impeccably dressed and composed personal assistant, and Mike, a broad-shouldered aide with sharp, alert eyes.

Their gazes met briefly—cold and wordless. Jeslyn quickly looked away and lowered her eyes to the marble floor.

Without a word, Leonel walked past her and headed straight toward the main factory building. Seeing this, Jeslyn hurried to follow.

The head of production greeted them warmly, bowing politely. “Good morning, Mr. Leonel. We’ve prepared the reports and are ready to begin the inspection at any time.”

“Take me straight to the production area,” Leonel said curtly, his tone firm as always.

Jeslyn followed closely behind. She walked beside him, her heart pounding with nervous tension at being near him. Still, she kept her composure and wore a professional expression. This was not the place to show emotion.

As they entered the production line, the thunder of heavy machinery and the clanging of metal filled the space. Workers bowed respectfully as the leadership team passed, and Jeslyn couldn’t help but admire the impressive efficiency of the operation.

“The delivery of raw materials for batch four has been delayed due to transport issues,” the department head explained, showing data on a tablet.

“How long is the delay?” Leonel asked, his eyes fixed on the graph.

“Three days, sir.”

Leonel paused, then turned to Jeslyn. “Solution?”

Jeslyn, who had been quietly observing, responded quickly. “We can shift focus to batch five for now while waiting for the fourth batch to arrive. But make sure there's no overlap on the packing line.”

Leonel stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Do it.”

That single word was enough to make Jeslyn realize she had just passed her first test of the day. She kept her gaze forward, her tone and expression neutral as if nothing had happened. But her heart was racing—whether from pride or because of the man beside her, she wasn’t sure.

They moved on to the next section. The sound of steel-cutting machines rang sharply through the air, while the heat from the sparks made the air feel thick. Leonel stopped in front of one of the main control monitors.

“Main machine output is down ten percent compared to last week. Explain,” he demanded from the department head.

“There’s been a minor malfunction in the cooling system, sir. We’ve requested a technician, but the spare part is still en route.”

Leonel didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at Jeslyn. “What would you do if this happened under your supervision?”

Jeslyn frowned slightly at the question but composed herself quickly. She studied the screen for a moment before replying in a calm tone. “I’d evaluate the backup lines and shift some of the workload to secondary machines while making sure the in-house technicians expedite repairs. That way, we maintain production—maybe not at 100%, but it keeps moving.”

Leonel said nothing for a few seconds. He simply studied her, as if weighing something.

“Good,” he finally said, and continued walking.

But it wasn’t over.

In the packing area, he asked again, “What’s this team’s average daily efficiency?”

“Eighty-two percent on average,” the department head answered promptly.

“Is that good enough, Jeslyn?” he asked, once more throwing the question to her.

Jeslyn took a slow breath. “It meets general standards, but not company targets. If I had the authority, I’d implement biweekly evaluations and motivation sessions, plus incentives for top-performing teams.”

Leonel glanced sideways at her, his expression unreadable. “Edric, take note.”

Edric immediately typed something into his tablet, while Mike stood behind them like a silent shadow—alert and unmoving.

Time passed, but Leonel’s interrogation didn’t slow. With every issue, every explanation from the department head, there followed one question aimed squarely at Jeslyn. His testing was subtle but relentless.

Strangely, what Jeslyn felt wasn’t just pressure—it was something else entirely. A mix of being challenged… and captivated.

During a short break, Leonel looked at her with a gaze that wasn’t quite professional. “You’re surprisingly capable and intelligent. But next time, don’t waste your intelligence on things that don’t matter,” he said, a veiled jab.

Jeslyn met his gaze with her head held high, even though her heart pounded louder. She understood now—Leonel was punishing her for helping Jefran yesterday with his analysis and investigation. Deep down, she knew Leonel could’ve handled it himself without her involvement.

Leonel stood next to the department head, fingers flipping through a digital report on the large tablet screen. His voice was firm and efficient as he reviewed production graphs, machine performance, and distribution issues. He examined every detail thoroughly, leaving no room for negligence.

Feeling unneeded in that discussion, Jeslyn quietly stepped away, wandering toward the tall shelves on the left side of the room. Finished products were neatly packed in large boxes, ready to be shipped to suppliers. The air was thick with the smell of cardboard, factory dust, and metal.

She inspected the shipping label on one box, checking for consistency with earlier reports. But before she could read further, the sound of a machine approached from behind. A large, wheeled freight mover rolled into the aisle, driven by a worker in a hurry.

Jeslyn stepped back to make room. But the vehicle came too close, and as the operator lowered a pallet stacked with boxes, one slipped. Within seconds, the box fell, crashing to the floor with a loud thud—its contents spilling across the ground.

“Jeslyn!” Leonel’s voice rang out from across the room.

The atmosphere in the packing area shifted immediately. Workers turned to look as Leonel sprinted toward Jeslyn, leaving the department head frozen with the tablet still in hand.

His steps were quick, his breath slightly ragged, and without hesitation, he began moving the boxes aside with sheer force. Each box weighed 10 to 15 kilograms, yet Leonel handled them with ease. He feared Jeslyn had been buried beneath the pile.

Everyone watched in tense silence.

From the distance, someone began walking closer—drawn by the chaos, the alarmed shout, and the sudden shift in the air.

***