Free Web NovelChapter 67: Chapter 67: Is Estelle Back?...
Noelle Lockwood’s expression froze. "Miss Yara, how could you think so poorly of me? That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just worried about you. What if your subordinates refuse to cooperate? It will be very difficult for you to make any progress." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"But Miss Yara does have a point. I believe I would be better suited for the department head position. First, because I’ve been with Evernight for a long time, so everyone knows me. Second, I have created many independent perfume lines. I’m very familiar with this industry, so I’m certain I can handle the job."
Noelle Lockwood’s words silenced the conference room for a couple of seconds. No one dared to speak.
This woman... was the daughter-in-law favored by Mrs. Sloan. There were all sorts of rumors circulating, and she could very well become the CEO’s wife one day. They couldn’t afford to offend her.
But Yara Lockwood didn’t look like a pushover, either.
"You’d be better suited?" Estelle Lockwood chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Lockwood. Why is it that if I take the position, my subordinates will be uncooperative, but if you take it, everyone will listen to you?"
Just as Noelle Lockwood was about to speak...
Estelle Lockwood cut in with a series of cool questions: "Miss Lockwood, of all your perfume creations, how many have won international awards? How many have won national awards? Have you ever designed a bestseller? How many have sold out completely? And how many are still on the global perfume charts today?"
"Ah, surely the answer isn’t zero for all of them?"
Noelle Lockwood’s face flushed crimson. "You..."
"In that case, Miss Lockwood, why don’t you guess what I’ve accomplished?" Estelle Lockwood’s tone shifted.
Estelle Lockwood didn’t have to say it herself. Her assistant stepped forward.
"As Star’s Chief Perfumer, Miss Yara Lockwood has independently launched twelve perfumes, each one a global sensation. She has also led her team in launching twenty more, generating tens of billions in revenue for Star."
After the assistant finished, Estelle Lockwood propped her chin on her hand. "So, Miss Noelle Lockwood, who do you think people are more likely to respect? Me, or you?"
The others in the room were beginning to look at Noelle Lockwood with disdain.
’What league is she in, trying to compare herself to Star’s Chief Perfumer?’
Estelle Lockwood turned to Nathaniel Sloan and rose from her seat with deliberate slowness. "Mr. Sloan, when we signed the contract, it was agreed that I would have the highest authority. But now, a mere manager at Evernight International dares to question me and demand I give up my position as department head."
"Your company’s actions are in breach of our contract. If you cannot provide an explanation, Mr. Sloan, I will withdraw from this collaboration, and Star will send another Perfumer to take over."
That was out of the question! The executives panicked. The whole point of this collaboration was to work with this specific Chief Perfumer, wasn’t it?
Nathaniel Sloan didn’t spare Noelle Lockwood’s feelings in the slightest. "Since you were given the highest authority, not even I can overrule your decisions. As for what anyone else says, you can simply ignore them."
Simply ignore them! The color drained from Noelle Lockwood’s face, and she swayed on her feet.
Nathaniel Sloan’s words had made her look like a complete fool!
A half-smile played on Estelle Lockwood’s lips as she nonchalantly brushed back her hair. "Excellent. Let’s continue the meeting."
Noelle Lockwood remained pale-faced until the very end of the meeting. Once most people had left, she approached, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face.
"Nathaniel, why did you do that just now? Do you really not care about my feelings at all?"
Nathaniel Sloan glanced at a message from Iris Sloan. His aunt said she had arrived. He was about to go meet her and didn’t even bother to look up at the sound of Noelle’s voice.
"What else? Should I have given you the R&D department head position?"
A wave of sorrow washed over Noelle Lockwood. She wanted to scream. ’Why not?! If that woman Yara can have it, why can’t I!’
’I don’t believe it’s because Yara is more capable than me. It must be because Nathaniel is bewitched by her!’
"Nathaniel, I don’t really want to be the R&D head. I just think you’re being too good to Yara. Giving her so much authority right from the start... what will other people think?" frёewebηovel.cѳm
"As for me, ever since I joined the company, you’ve only given me a token position. Everyone has a higher rank than I do. No one in the company listens to me. I feel so stifled. Nathaniel, you can’t treat me like this..."
Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a strong, clear female voice rang out from behind him.
"Why only a token position? Because you’re an idiot. Got it?"
Iris Sloan strode in on high heels. Time had left no trace on her face; though in her forties, she could have passed for Nathaniel Sloan’s older sister.
Nathaniel Sloan nodded. "Aunt."
Iris Sloan shot her nephew a look of disdain before turning to sneer at the other woman.
"Noelle Lockwood, you want real power with that tiny brain of yours? So you can run amok and cause the company to lose money? Don’t think a pretty face is enough to make a man lose his senses. Let me be blunt: when it comes to the company’s interests, what are you even worth?"
"And while Nathaniel here is no saint and can’t see through a scheming little actress, at least his brain isn’t completely fried. Look at your pathetic, petty display. Stop making a fool of yourself in public!"
Nathaniel Sloan: "..." ’Aunt, there’s no need to be so harsh.’
But his aunt wasn’t wrong. He was well aware of Noelle Lockwood’s capabilities. Any position given to her would descend into chaos. Besides, it was Laura Jennings who had arranged for Noelle’s employment at Evernight behind his back.
Noelle Lockwood’s tears flowed freely. "Aunt..."
"Oh, drop that innocent little act. I’m not a fool like Nathaniel. Your ’charms’ are wasted on me; I’m not buying it! Now, go on, crawl back to wherever you came from."
Iris Sloan said impatiently, "Nathaniel, come with me."
Nathaniel Sloan nodded and followed. Left alone, Noelle Lockwood smashed several glasses in a fit of rage.
’Why did that bitch have to come back! Why!!’
...
Iris Sloan looked at the nephew she hadn’t seen in years, skipping the pleasantries. "Zane Grant tells me Christian’s condition has improved?"
Nathaniel Sloan nodded. "Yes. He’s made two good friends. They eat, play, and go to kindergarten together. He’s really opened up."
"The psychological issues are being addressed, but we have to focus on the physical ones too. You know very well why Christian had such severe pneumonia. By the way, where’s Yara Lockwood?"
"Aunt, you want to see her now?"
For some reason, an unnatural expression flickered across Iris Sloan’s face. She immediately looked down. "She’s the doctor you paid so much to bring back. I need to see for myself if she’s reliable."
Nathaniel Sloan nodded. "Alright. I’ll have her come to my office."
Estelle Lockwood had just sat down when she received an internal call and couldn’t help but mutter, "So much to do."
But despite her words, she went.
The CEO’s office was enormous. Besides the work area, it had a reception area, a lounge, a bedroom, and a bathroom—it was practically a full suite.
She walked in but didn’t see Nathaniel Sloan. Instead, she saw a woman.
’Auntie...’
Seeing Iris Sloan so unexpectedly, Estelle Lockwood was suddenly overcome with a mix of longing and grievance, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Back when she had first returned to the Lockwood Family, everyone had called her a country bumpkin, unworthy of the family name. Only Iris Sloan had fiercely defended her, questioning them sharply: ’She’s unworthy? You’re the ones who lost her and made her suffer terribly, and now you have the nerve to say she’s unworthy?!’
It was also Iris who had protected her when Noelle Lockwood came to provoke her: ’Noelle Lockwood, you’re a fake heiress and a real mistress, so stop with the phony act, will you? It’s nauseating to watch!’
As strong as Estelle Lockwood was, seeing an elder who had doted on her still made her want to cry and pour out all her grievances.
Unfortunately, to Iris Sloan, she was now a stranger.
She did her best to suppress the tremble in her voice. "Ms. Sloan, hello."
But unexpectedly, Iris Sloan asked directly, "Is that you, Estelle? Are you back?"
