Chapter 457

Melanie shook her head. "No clue, Winnie. The position could be a sudden appointment. The company system hasn't issued a notice yet. How did these people become aware of it? Our sales department is newly established; it's likely Uncle Carlos wants you to get hands-on experience, leaving both the principal and deputy manager roles open."

Winnie nodded indifferently to the unfilled positions, but she had a gut feeling about this newcomer-this wasn't going to be straightforward.

In the Rodriguez family's private lounge, Lawrence hurriedly changed out of his blood-stained suit, the cut by his temple went untreated as he descended the family skyscraper with a top executive, en route to another building housing subsidiaries and holdings.

The executive mentioned, "Today's inspection is of ST Corporation, a Blanchet family subsidiary, though we hold the majority stake"

Lawrence's thoughts were preoccupied with Oscar's predicament and his eagerness to wrap up work and see Winnie.

"Lawrence!" A voice soft with delight called out to him.

Turning, Lawrence saw Ishara stride into ST Corporation. Dressed in professional attire, clutching a briefcase, she looked nothing like her usual delicate self.

"What a coincidence, it's my first day on the job, and I run into Lawrence inspecting the company?" she beamed.

"You're working here?"

Blushing, Ishara appeared slightly flustered. "With Winnie joining ST, I figured instead of wasting away sick, it'd be better to spend this last stretch learning from her. The family set me up with the Sales Manager position, but, oh, it's my very first day... I'm quite nervous.

"Lawrence, I'm worried my coworkers will think I'm incompetent and look down on me... Can you introduce me later? That way I won't feel so invisible," she asked timidly, her face showing her lack of confidence.

Lawrence understood her concerns. In three days, she'd need to give a blood transfusion to her mother, and he wanted to keep her spirits and health up during that time.

His voice softened as he reassured her, "No problem. I'll help you transition smoothly into your new role and ensure you're treated with respect."

"Lawrence, you're so kind. ST is so close to the Rodriguez family headquarters; you could come by often to join me for meals and look after me." Ishara's face lit up with joy as she moved closer to stand by his side.

Lawrence remained aloof, offering a slight nod in response.

"Lawrence, how did you get hurt?" Suddenly, Ishara reached out to touch his temple.

Quickly, Lawrence dodged her touch, stepping aside, and answered calmly, "It's nothing serious."

"But I'm really worried about you..." Ishara said, her concern evident.

Ding-The elevator doors opened.

Lawrence stepped out first and instructed her, "Follow me."

ST's leadership swiftly came forward to greet him nervously, "Mr. Rodriguez! Welcome to our company to review our work and performance. This floor houses the sales department..."

Lawrence looked up, and his commanding presence filled the space, "Gather the sales team here."

Ishara modestly kept her head down, a faint smile crossing her eyes.

"Attention, sales team! Stop your work; Mr. Rodriguez has something to say," the leader quickly announced.

The entire office floor was abuzz with employees standing up in alarm. Lawrence of the powerful Rodriguez family was well-known to all.

ST's very existence was at the mercy of its major shareholder, the Rodriguez family.

Leading Ishara to the front, Lawrence declared, "Today, we welcome a new sales manager, Ishara. She's been under the weather, so I'm asking everyone here to give her your full support."

The fact that Lawrence himself was introducing Ishara left the staff awestruck. A thunderous applause followed.

"Welcome, Miss!"

Amidst the applause, Winnie, clutching her documents, stepped out of the elevator just in time to hear the man's deep, doting voice.

The new manager was Ishara-and she was appointed by Lawrence. It was as if he didn't know Winnie was the deputy manager.

Perhaps, it didn't matter to him, as long as his precious Ishara was the new manager.

In that moment, an ache clutched at Winnie's heart, indescribably torturous and silent.

The chime of an alert caught Lawrence's attention, his towering frame swiftly scanning over the crowd in response. When his gaze landed on Winnie, his dark eyes narrowed in a frown. He wondered what was she doing here.

"Winnie, with Miss Ishara now at the helm as the new executive manager, you'll be assisting her in running the sales department," said the ST leader as he approached.

Melanie's face was a picture of shock. Glancing at Ishara, her features turned icy, and her brows dipped in disapproval. The new executive manager was Ishara, parachuted by the boss. This was both unexpected and yet not entirely.

Acknowledging the leader with a nod and without giving Lawrence another glance-especially after hearing the title 'Vice Manager Winnie'-she made her way over to Ishara. Ignoring the young woman's markedly arrogant air, Winnie greeted her professionally, "Hello, Ms. Nelson."

Afterward, Winnie returned to her own office to sort out some papers.

Lawrence, watching her decidedly cold departure, felt a sudden headache. He didn't know Winnie was the vice manager.

His actions had backed Ishara heavily within the company, but he had inadvertently stirred some misunderstanding.

"Mr. Rodriguez, as you're reviewing ST over the next few days, we've arranged an office for you. You must be tired; perhaps you'd like to take a break there?" suggested the leader with a subservient smile, attending to every detail.

Considering that Winnie was right here, and although he was originally planning to leave ST, Lawrence hesitated and then walked into the spacious office.

"Everyone, leave," he ordered, dismissing the surrounding leaders.

The desk was stacked with ST's performance reports. He lit a cigarette, his brows knitting together slightly as he reached for the phone, "Please ask Vice Manager Winnie to come to my office."

In Winnie's office, the door opened, and Ishara entered with a gentle and vulnerable air, smiling as she spoke, "Winnie, bet you didn't see it coming that I'd be your boss, huh? Honestly, I didn't want this managerial position-I just mentioned wanting to join the company and learn from you.

"Lawrence immediately got in touch with Mr. Zhang of ST and appointed me. At the end of the day, he holds the reins at ST, and he can't stand to see me mistreated... You're not upset, are you? If it bothers you, I could just talk to him and work under you instead."

Winnie had to admit, Ishara's triumphant demeanor was a stinging affront. She told herself to take Ishara's words with a grain of salt, recognizing them as mere tactics to get under her skin.

But the fact remained that Lawrence, fully aware of her role as vice manager, had disregarded her feelings completely to make Ishara happy, placing her overhead. This was a blatant insult.

Even if he didn't love her anymore, he could at least showed her some respect.

A cold disdain filled her, and she retorted with a mocking bite, "Whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter, does it? You seem thrilled enough.

"Playing the saint when you're anything but, and now you're criticizing me on office decorum? Since when does a manager need to be taught what to do at work?

"I'm not presumptuous enough to lecture my superior, but perhaps you'd like our father to give you a refresher on workplace responsibilities?"

Ishara's eyes flashed with annoyance; that woman's words sharp as a blade.

Yet she remained unfazed, tears welling up as she lowered her head. "Winnie, you're right. I just came here to add you on Facebook for work-related matters in the future."

Winnie had no interest in connecting with her, but it was a necessary work formality.

She sent a friend request.

With a slight curl to her lips, Ishara gave Winnie a deep look. "Winnie, I'll leave you to your work then."

Winnie sensed something off about her smile. After a cold pause, her gaze locked onto the friend request, and with a fateful click, she opened Ishara's profile.

Regretting her impulsive curiosity, Winnie felt her breath hitched at the latest update, wishing she hadn't indulged her nosiness.