Chapter 460

She wondered if Ishara was so untouchable that she could slander Melanie and just get her kicked out of the company.

Winnie saw right through it; Ishara was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

Melanie was close to Winnie, and Winnie would never stand by while she was bullied-that would be giving in to Ishara's pressure.

Yet, if she spoke up for Melanie, Lawrence might just cut her job and toss it out along with hers.

Winnie sneered at Ishara's pitiful act, then turned to face Lawrence's stormy expression. Her eyes were icy as she glanced back at the office. Pointing at the pathway, she said, "Mr. Rodriguez claimed Melanie intentionally pushed Ms. Nelson?

"I'm curious, if Ms. Nelson was carrying two full cups of coffee and rushing to meet with Mr. Rodriguez, why didn't he take the shortest route?

"Why go out of his way past Melanie's desk?"

Ishara played the victim. "Winnie, I just saw Yingying and wanted to say hello, maybe I startled her, and she accidentally pushed me."

"So, are you saying you deliberately scared her, causing her to turn around, and then you intentionally spilled your coffee to set her up?" Winnie scoffed.

Ishara's eyes narrowed, and she swiftly began to sob, looking to Lawrence. "Why is Winnie saying these things about me? I got burned too. Lawrence, let's forget about this. I'll apologize; I'll say sorry to Yingying...

"Winnie has already accused me of not understanding office etiquette, and I don't want her to think I'm a troublemaker. After all, this might be my only shot at a career..."

The more pained and aggrieved she appeared, the more Lawrence worried about her health. He wondered if Winnie was mocking Ishara; she looked down on Ishara, a patient, because of her stint as a CEO.

His face set in a mask of cold fury, Lawrence glared at Winnie. "Enough! Why drag her name through the mud? With her frail health, do you really think she's capable of setting someone up?

"I'm warning you, keep your mouth shut. You're just an assistant manager, and I wouldn't hesitate to fire you too!"

Winnie clenched her teeth, a bitter smile emerging as she met his stunning gaze, a pang of spite in her heart.

Just because Ishara was delicate, that didn't mean she couldn't have ill intentions. Winnie wanted to crack open that man's skull to see what he was thinking!

He was so blind with affection for Ishara that he was ready to fire her on a whim.

Biting her lip, Winnie retorted with a sneer, "Mr. Rodriguez, you are tyrannical, dismissing employees on a whim without evidence. If that's the case, I may just have to file a labor dispute! Why don't we just check the surveillance tapes to see if Ms. Nelson truly framed Melanie?"

With Lawrence. present, no one in the office dared to speak up. They quietly watched the drama unfold, sensing Lawrence's bias toward Ishara and feeling his decisions were rather autocratic.

An older colleague suggested, "Mr. Rodriguez, maybe we should review the surveillance footage. There's a camera right above Melanie's desk, after all!"

Ishara's fingers clenched as she leaned back weakly. "Lawrence, my ankle might be infected. Can you please take me to soak it in cold water first? Winnie, Yingying, can we just say this was my fault?

"I shouldn't have greeted Yingying so eagerly when I arrived, but I was so nervous without any acquaintances at the company. When I saw her, I was just so happy and wanted to chat.

"I didn't realize even that would be a mistake. Winnie, you want to check the footage for Yingying's sake, and I understand.  But could you please have some pity on me and not delay my treatment any longer? The pain is unbearable."

A flicker of sympathy crossed Lawrence's face, and his disdain for Winnie's cold-heartedness grew even chillier.

Winnie's lips curved into a mocking smile. Such a pitiful plea--afraid of the surveillance footage, she played on delaying her treatment.

Lawrence was probably feeling heartbroken all over again.

Sure enough, he reached out to help Ishara up, calling for his assistant, "Get a doctor to my office!"

He gave Winnie and Melanie a cold look. "She's not holding a grudge against you, so this matter is closed. Don't push your luck with me. Labor dispute? Hah, go ahead and try!"

The man's voice grew steely with his next words, his displeasure toward Winnie evident in the way he gritted his teeth.

Winnie watched his face, frosty with a coldness reserved not for her but for Ishara. Unperturbed, she goaded him, "Mr. Rodriguez has his ways, making sure I couldn't even file a labor complaint if I wanted to. He keeps his girlfriend by his side, turning the office into their personal romance playground, and we employees might as well be sacrificed in their love games.

"Ms. Nelson, on her very first day, didn't bother with work; she was too busy making lovebird lattes for Mr. Rodriguez. What an exemplary corporate culture we have here. No doubt everyone's eager to follow suit. If ST ever goes down, we'll know exactly who to thank--Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Nelson!"

The colleagues nearby remained silent, but their eyes secretly darted toward Ishara, sharing unspoken thoughts. Indeed, no manager would do that. Ishara seemed oblivious, wasting work hours brewing coffee for Lawrence as if the place were their date spot rather than an office.

Ishara's face darkened, taken aback by the open defiance Winnie showed toward Lawrence, sparking criticism from the staff.

Feeling the man's chest heave with suppressed fury, Ishara bit her lip, tears swirling. "Lawrence, I'm sorry, it's my fault you're facing all this slander. I only made coffee with your blessing, never expecting Winnie to lash out at me too.

"I might be new and still learning the ropes, and despite...my condition...I am making an effort. What do I need to do to make Winnie accept me? Maybe, I shouldn't stay at the company..."

"You've done nothing wrong." Lawrence scowled, narrowing his eyes.

There was no end to Winnie's barbs. She seemed to take pleasure in needling him so sharply with her quick wit.

With rage boiling within him, he protectively drew Ishara closer. "Enough, Winnie. Save your cutting remarks. Ishara was earnestly trying to learn from you, is that why you despise her?

She's staying with the company. If that bothers you, then you're the one who can leave!"

He had refrained from firing Melanie, considering Winnie's protective stance, attempting to keep the peace. Yet, she was unrelenting, embarrassing him in front of everyone.

With a chilly arm around Ishara, he ushered her into his office. The doctor was on his way, and, through the door's closing crack, his anxious voice could still be heard, full of concern for Ishara.

Winnie clenched her fists, icy and bitter. For Ishara's sake, he had threatened to fire her, to drive her away, more than once. His words always came down to him shielding Ishara - if Winnie didn't like it, she could just leave.

Ishara was truly the apple of his eye, believing in his every word. To think, a mere brush burn got him all riled up.

The icy fog in her eyes pierced her heart; the uncontrollable sorrow gave way to a sobering disappointment.

"Winnie..." Melanie's voice broke through the pain.

A colleague spoke up quietly from the side, "Ms. Winnie, you can't fight city hall. Ishara is Mr. Rodriguez's girlfriend, and he really has her back. We should just be more careful from now on."

Winnie forced a smile and steadied Melanie with a firm grip. "It's okay! Did you burn yourself? Come to the clinic with me, quick."

Melanie's lips were pale as she gingerly lifted her collar to reveal a stark red burn on her neck.

She managed a bitter smile. "Thanks for standing up for me, Winnie. If it weren't for you, I'd have been burned for nothing and probably fired because of her."

"She's not just trying to get rid of you; I'm the real target," Winnie replied, her voice cool.

The sight of the red mark, so much larger than the petty injury Ishara had to show.

Ishara had been cunning and ruthless, picking a spot Melanie couldn't openly reveal. But her own ankle injury was there for all to see.

Winnie twisted her fingers and narrowed her eyes. "From now on, you stick with me, Melanie. We'll settle this score sooner or later!"