Chapter 118
The morning sun cast golden streaks across the city as Isabella Sinclair strode into the Charisma Company building.
Her phone buzzed the moment she stepped inside—a message from Alexander Kingsley.
Miss Sinclair, you don’t have an assistant today.
They’d only slow me down.
Isabella had no intention of accepting an assistant. It would only invite unnecessary attention, and she preferred working alone. Having someone hovering over her shoulder would make her uneasy.
After sending her reply, she ventured deeper into the building.
To her surprise, the atmosphere was unexpectedly vibrant. Charisma Company had expanded rapidly under the backing of the Kingsley Group, acquiring an entire skyscraper for its operations. Unlike the stiff, corporate environment of most offices, the perfume company had a creative energy pulsing through its halls. Laboratories were scattered throughout the building, and two entire floors were dedicated to lounges where employees could unwind.
But as she neared the office area, something felt off—an anomaly in the company’s data stream.
Someone’s hacking in.
Her fingers tightened around her phone. The nearby computer screens flickered with distorted codes, yet the security alarms remained silent. The IT staff was conspicuously absent.
Her instincts screamed—this was no accident. Someone was manipulating the system.
Without hesitation, she dropped into the nearest chair and got to work.
An illegal breach? She hadn’t seen one this bold in years.
This wasn’t how she’d imagined her first day.
Determined, she headed straight for the central control room, firing up the main computer. Her fingers flew across the keyboard in a blur. Alexander had assured her she had full access to all systems, and she intended to use it.
The other technicians blinked in shock at her sudden intrusion. They’d been told a new boss was arriving today—but they hadn’t expected her.
Though they knew the situation, resentment simmered beneath their polite facades. Tabitha Redford shot a discreet glance at Marcus Wainwright, the senior technician who’d been next in line for promotion. Watching a stranger waltz in and claim what he believed was rightfully his only stoked his bitterness.
Swallowing his frustration, Marcus approached Isabella, sarcasm dripping from his tone.
“So, you’re Miss Sinclair. Trying to make a splash on your first day, I see. But really—shouldn’t you be mixing perfumes instead of playing with computers?”
Isabella didn’t bother looking up.
This wasn’t the work of amateurs.
The intrusion bore the hallmarks of Dark Web hackers. Given Charisma’s skyrocketing market value, vultures were circling, eager to steal its coveted perfume formulas. If she didn’t block the breach within minutes, the hackers would penetrate the firewall and raid the company’s database. By the time the Kingsley Group’s cybersecurity team intervened, it would be too late.
She wasn’t about to let priceless data slip through her fingers.
Ignoring Marcus’s jab, she replied coolly, “If you know who I am, then you also know not to get in my way.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed, irritation flaring. Around them, the other technicians exchanged amused glances, whispering among themselves.
“She’s awfully confident,” one muttered.
“Acting like she owns the place already.”
Tabitha smirked, her voice laced with venom. “Miss Sinclair, don’t misunderstand—we respect talent. But when someone’s only here because of connections… well, don’t expect us to stay quiet.”
Their words were sharp, their disdain palpable. They’d expected a battle-hardened leader—not a composed young woman who seemed easy to dismiss.
But Isabella wasn’t about to let herself be underestimated.
“If you’re aware of how rude you’re being, maybe it’s time to shut up. If you can’t solve the problem, at least don’t make it worse. Common decency—or is that beyond you?”
Her retort struck like a blade.
She knew they resented her appointment. Their sarcastic remarks made that painfully clear.
“The company’s under cyber attack. I’m handling it. Now leave me alone.”
Fully focused on countering the breach, their interruptions only frayed her nerves further.
Their expressions darkened, but none dared argue. They stormed out, jaws clenched, exchanging silent glares.
Once outside, they clustered by the glass windows, watching her every move like vultures.
“Fixing the system? What a joke.”
“Shouldn’t she be blending scents instead of pretending to be some tech genius?”
Tabitha smirked. “What’s her deal, anyway?”
Marcus scoffed. “Does it matter? The real issue is how she got here in the first place. Playing hero with computers—ridiculous.”
Another technician muttered, “She’s just trying to assert dominance. If we don’t put her in her place now, she’ll start making all the decisions.”
The group exchanged knowing glances, nodding in silent agreement.
Finally, Marcus—the eldest and most respected—spoke, his voice calm but firm.
“No representatives from rival companies are scheduled to visit today. It’d be a shame if they didn’t meet our new leader.”
A sly smile spread through the group.
Office politics thrived here like weeds in an untamed garden, each faction vying for control. To them, a new leader meant the erosion of their carefully built influence.
So what if Isabella had won the Perfumery Contest? That didn’t give her the right to disrupt their hierarchy.
Marcus wasn’t just a senior technician—he was the unspoken leader of his own faction. And he wasn’t about to let some outsider undermine his authority.
