Chapter 218: Slit Her Wrists

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Slit Her Wrists

The meeting room was silent. The others either pretended to be busy or kept their heads down, saying nothing. They wanted no part in the confrontation between the two managers.

Although Leah Sinclair was the second daughter of the Grant family, she was bound to be promoted and move on sooner or later. As far as they were concerned, sucking up to Finn Farrell was far more practical than trying to curry favor with her.

"I’ve already reviewed the project you’re currently working on. I’ve managed projects before, so I know how many people are needed for one of this scale. Transferring three people will not affect your current progress."

"Manager Flynn, since you find this so difficult, I’ll go back, consider my options, and then pick the people myself. Of course, I would much rather welcome volunteers. That’s all. Meeting adjourned."

Leah Sinclair finished speaking and stood up. As she reached the door, she stopped, turned back, and smiled at them, her beautiful phoenix eyes crinkling slightly. "I know you all think I’m inexperienced and unqualified for this position. But I hope you understand that every single one of you here also started out with no experience."

"Since I dared to take on this manager role, I have the confidence to lead Department Three to success. So, I’ll need everyone’s full cooperation with my work. And I don’t just mean paying lip service."

Without another glance at the people in the meeting room, their expressions a mix of emotions, Leah Sinclair opened the door and left, leaving them all to stare at each other in dismay.

They never expected the girl, who had been all smiles since she arrived, to pull a move like that at the end of the meeting. She had still been smiling, but for some reason, they felt a chilling coldness in her gaze.

"Tsk, Asher, did you teach Leah that move? The old carrot-and-stick approach? HAHAHAHA, look at the expressions on their faces. Priceless," Shawn Grant said gleefully, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he watched the surveillance footage on the computer.

It was Leah Sinclair’s first day, after all. When Shawn Grant heard she was holding a meeting, he turned on the surveillance feed in his office to watch. He just hadn’t expected Asher Keating to show up too. The two of them had listened to the entire meeting in front of the computer.

A faint smile played in Asher Keating’s eyes. "I didn’t teach her that. She figured it out herself."

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of someone from our Grant family. I was worried her personality was too soft, that she’d get pushed around and wronged by that bunch of old foxes. Well, I’m not worried anymore."

"Alright, I’m heading back. Don’t tell her I was here."

Asher Keating stubbed out his cigarette and stood up as he spoke. He really had been worried about Leah Sinclair coming here. Even though he knew she was no pushover, it was still her first day, and he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy.

"Tsk, tsk. Who would’ve thought that the great President of the Keating Group would come all the way to our Baystream office first thing in the morning, just because he was worried his girl might get bullied? If word of this got out, who would believe it?" Shawn Grant said, giving him a teasing look.

Asher Keating ignored him, opened the door, and left. Sean Yates quickly said goodbye to Shawn Grant and followed him out. Sean Yates had returned to the country the day before yesterday, and after shaking off his jet lag, he had come straight to work.

Back in her office, Leah Sinclair closed the door and let out a small sigh of relief. Although she had put on a powerful front, she had still been a little nervous deep down. After taking a sip of water to calm her nerves, she sent a message to Asher Keating: "Asher, I just showed them who’s boss."

Asher Keating had just stepped into the elevator when he received the message. A smile touched the corners of his lips as he read it. "Hm?"

Leah Sinclair told him all about it. As he was typing a reply, Sean Yates, who was behind him, asked curiously, "Sir, for some reason, that move Leah Sinclair just pulled feels a bit familiar."

"Familiar?"

"It was just like your first day at Aevon all those years ago. You were all smiles at first, but then you sounded a warning during the department meeting." The more Sean Yates thought about it, the more similar it seemed. Indeed, that was exactly how Asher Keating had been on his first day at Aevon.

Asher Keating’s hand, busy replying to the message, paused slightly. He couldn’t help but smile. ’It seems he’s right. That girl really does have a good memory.’ He recalled the commanding presence Leah Sinclair had projected on the surveillance feed, like a tiger cub just starting to show its claws. ’Looks like I really don’t need to worry about her after all.’

He had even considered, if things got too difficult, transferring Sheila Hughes to her for a while. He had asked Sheila’s opinion before, and Sheila had said she was even willing to quit her job to come work for Leah Sinclair.

He had asked Leah Sinclair yesterday, but she had refused. She said she could handle it herself. There were many things she had to tackle on her own; she couldn’t rely on others forever. Constantly relying on others would not only make people look down on her, but she would also look down on herself.

Not long after Asher Keating returned to his office, Phoebe Peyton knocked and entered. She placed a cup of coffee on his desk. "Asher, your favorite—an iced americano."

"Thank you."

Asher Keating didn’t look up, his eyes already on the document Edward Yates had just given him.

"Why were you so late today? You weren’t here when I came up earlier. Edward Yates said you’re usually very punctual."

Only then did Asher Keating look up at her. "Is there something you need?"

Phoebe Peyton sat down across from him, smiling gently. "Oh, it’s nothing major. It’s just that the Peyton Group’s opening ceremony is coming up soon, and we aren’t familiar with Riverfall. I wanted to ask you who would be appropriate to invite to the banquet."

"You can just ask Edward Yates about that. He’ll tell you."

Phoebe Peyton sighed softly. "That’s what I thought, too. But my brother insisted I ask for your opinion. He already asked Nash and Shawn, but neither of them knows the scene as well as you do. We’re afraid we might miss someone important and bring shame to the Peyton Family."

Asher Keating considered it for a moment, then had Edward Yates bring in a file.

After Edward Yates came in, Asher Keating had him hand the file to Phoebe Peyton. "You can invite the first eight families on this list. As for the rest, you can decide who to invite based on the Peyton Family’s standing."

Phoebe Peyton opened the file. It was a list of key players in Riverfall’s business community. After looking it over carefully, she looked up and asked Asher Keating, "This Sterling Group... aren’t they the ones who approached my family for a partnership and were rejected?"

"Mhm."

Asher Keating suddenly remembered—wasn’t Thomas Sterling’s funeral in the next day or two? The old Mr. Keating had called him a couple of days ago, implying that he should still attend. After all, one should respect the dead.

"Alright, I’ll go back and study this, then finalize the list with my brother." Phoebe Peyton smiled, stood up, and took her leave.

After she left, Edward Yates said to Asher Keating, "President Keating, we just received news. Before you returned to the country, Morgan Sterling went to the prison to visit Madeline Sterling. We don’t know what they talked about, but Madeline Sterling... seems to have gone insane. She slit her wrists last night."

Asher Keating raised an eyebrow. "Is she dead?"

"No, they found her in time. She’s at the hospital now. It seems the Sterling Family is preparing to apply for medical parole for her."

Asher Keating lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. Edward Yates stood by quietly, not speaking. He waited until the cigarette was nearly finished before his boss spoke. "Keep an eye on Madeline Sterling. I don’t believe she’s really insane. Also, arrange for someone to follow Leah Sinclair. I don’t want any more accidents."

A chill went through Edward Yates. "Understood. I’ll make the arrangements right away."

Just as Leah Sinclair was working on the restructuring plan, her corporate messaging app chimed. She opened it to see a message: "Manager Grant, may I participate in the Peyton Group’s restructuring project?"