Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8
When Quinn pushed the door open with Naomi, she walked straight into the scene of Zoey tossing her nameplate into the trash.
Elise stood by the floor-to-ceiling window behind the desk, her back to them, calmly overlooking the city below.
Zoey dusted off her hands and met Quinn’s furious gaze with a smirk. "Just clearing out some eyesores. No need to thank me."
Quinn’s expression darkened. "This is a company, not a place for you to make a scene!"
Elise turned. Her gaze swept over Quinn—cold, sharp.
"Miss Foster," she said evenly, "I’m cleaning house. This office, this position—this entire company—never belonged to you. Now that I’m back, it’s time you return to where you actually belong."
For a split second, Quinn’s carefully made-up face twisted with anger.
But just as quickly, she composed herself.
The office door hadn’t been closed. Outside, the secretarial staff were already watching, whispering, eager for drama.
A flicker of calculation crossed Quinn’s eyes. She deliberately raised her voice for everyone to hear.
"Elise, you misunderstand. I’ve never tried to take the company from you. But five years have passed—the company has moved forward. Dylan told me you’ve been on medication all this time. We just think... in your current condition, you’re not suited to manage the company."
"Even if I were bedridden," Elise shot back coldly, "that still wouldn’t justify you repaying kindness with betrayal—or taking what isn’t yours."
She glanced toward the doorway, then gave a quiet, mocking laugh. "And don’t bother hiding behind Dylan. To me, you and he are the same—you both need to be removed."
Quinn frowned faintly. "Elise, I know Robin’s situation has affected you deeply. I understand you’re upset. But this is a private matter—we should discuss it in private. You shouldn’t keep coming to the company and causing trouble. It puts Dylan in a difficult position too."
"Exactly!" Naomi stepped forward from behind her, pointing angrily at Elise and Zoey. "This is President Foster’s office. Who do you think you are? Get out before I call security!"
Zoey arched a brow, looking her up and down. "The one who should be getting out is Quinn and you, her clueless little lapdog who can’t even tell who the real owner is."
"You—!"
"Naomi." Quinn quickly reached out to stop her, sighing as if helpless. "Don’t. Elise is the major shareholder. We don’t have the right to drive her out."
Naomi looked even more indignant. "So what if she’s the major shareholder? If it weren’t for you, would this company have grown this much in five years? She’s just abusing her position!"
"Enough." Quinn frowned, her tone stern. "Elise has gone through difficult things these past few years. Her emotions are... unstable. She wasn’t like this before."
"Unhappy in her personal life, so she comes here to throw a tantrum?" Naomi scoffed, growing more heated. "People like that need treatment! If she’s sick, she should go to a psychiatric hospital—not come here to bully others!"
Her voice rose. "After the last shareholders’ meeting, we all talked about this. We were trained by President Foster—we stand with her. If Elise comes back as CEO, then we all resign!"
"Naomi!" Quinn snapped, feigning anger. "Don’t talk nonsense!"
"I’m not! I’m speaking for everyone here!" Naomi insisted loudly. "If you don’t believe me, go ask them yourself!"
Quinn looked utterly exasperated.
She turned back to Elise. "Elise, you’ve heard them. People still don’t trust you. How about this—we talk privately first?"
Elise looked at her, expression icy.
The two of them playing good cop, bad cop—did they really think she was a fool?
"There’s nothing to discuss." Elise walked over and sat down in the executive chair behind the desk. "As of today, I am officially resuming my role in the company. Consider this a notice."
"You can’t fire me," Quinn frowned, her voice tightening. "I’m a shareholder now. I have a contract. If you dismiss me without cause, you’ll have to pay compensation."
"Who said I’m firing you?" Elise’s lips curved faintly, coldly. "Five years ago, I promoted you from director to vice president. Now that I’m back... everyone returns to where they belong."
Quinn’s composure cracked. "In these five years, I’ve brought enormous value to this company. What right do you have to demote me?!"
"If you’re dissatisfied," Elise said calmly, glancing at Zoey, "you’re free to resign."
Zoey immediately stepped forward, ushering Quinn and Naomi toward the door.
"Out, out—this is President Elise’s office now. Next time, knock before you come in." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Quinn stumbled back a step from Zoey’s shove. Her heel twisted, and a sharp pain shot through her ankle, making her gasp.
"Miss Foster, are you alright?" Naomi quickly caught her, then turned on Zoey with fury. "Do you have any decency at all? How can you just hit people like this—"
Slap!
The sound cracked through the room.
Naomi staggered backward, knocked off balance and fell hard to the ground. The corner of her mouth split, and her cheek began swelling almost instantly.
When she came to her senses, she clutched her burning face and burst into tears. "Miss Foster... they’ve gone crazy! If the company is left in their hands, it’ll be destroyed sooner or later—!"
Quinn’s eyes flashed with anger as she glared at Zoey. "What gives you the right to hit her?"
"She said I was bullying people," Zoey replied coolly, flexing her hand. "I’m just sticking to that image."
Her sharp gaze shifted to Quinn. "What? Want to try it yourself?"
Quinn instinctively took a step back, visibly shaken.
Zoey stood at 172 centimeters tall, and that slap had not been light. It was clear she wasn’t someone to confront head-on.
Quinn lowered herself and helped Naomi up. "Come on, Naomi. I’ll take you to clean the wound."
Naomi sobbed, covering her face. "Miss Foster, they’ve gone too far. I’m going to sue them for assault—"
"Let’s go out first," Quinn said softly, sighing, her expression full of restrained grievance—as though she were the one being wronged.
When she supported Naomi out of the executive office, the staff from the secretarial department immediately gathered around them, voices full of concern.
Behind them, Zoey shut the office door with a firm click, cutting off the murmurs and whispers outside.
She turned back, snorting. "That’s all Quinn’s got? And she thinks she can take you on?"
Elise’s expression remained cold. "She’s retreating to gain sympathy."
"That Naomi is basically her trained attack dog—and not even a smart one," Zoey scoffed, walking over. "If anyone in this company is stupid enough to risk their career for her and go against you, they deserve to be fired. A bunch of blind idiots with no brains—none of them deserve to work for you."
Elise let out a small laugh despite herself. "It can’t be the entire company that’s that blind. This is just the beginning. The real fight is still ahead."
She paused, her tone sharpening.
"If it were just Quinn, I wouldn’t be concerned. But she has Dylan backing her. If I want to remove her from the company, I’ll need stronger grounds."
"So what’s your plan?"
"First, we investigate," Elise said calmly. "Find out how many of her people are still in the company."
Zoey nodded. "Makes sense. We’ll need to win over some reliable people from the inside first."
"Start with the finance department."
"Got it. Leave it to me."
...
Not long after Zoey left the office, Elise’s phone—forgotten on the desk—began to ring.
The number was unfamiliar.
She hesitated briefly, then answered.
"Elise. It’s me." Quinn’s voice came through the line. "Let’s meet. Just the two of us. We need to talk."
"I’m not interested," Elise replied coldly.
"It’s about the truth behind your twins’ death."
Elise froze.
Before she could respond, Quinn’s voice continued, soft but deliberate, "Dylan... lied to you back then."
