Chapter 122
“It’s nothing special,” Isabella Sinclair remarked with practiced nonchalance, brushing off the compliment. “Just doing my job.”
She flashed a wry smile, deftly steering the conversation elsewhere. “I can’t very well let the company crumble the moment I step through the door, can I?”
Then, with effortless grace, she turned the focus onto Alexander. “Mr. Kingsley, your company’s security protocols are impeccable. Even without me here, someone would’ve caught the issue eventually. What I did was barely a drop in the ocean.”
Alexander sensed her deflection but chose not to press. If she wanted to keep her thoughts private, he wouldn’t pry.
“Your efforts are appreciated, Miss Sinclair,” he acknowledged. “I’m well aware of what our competitors are capable of this time.”
His expression darkened as a thought struck him. Eyes narrowing, he asked, “Miss Sinclair, did you face any difficulties on your first day? Anyone give you trouble?”
The atmosphere in the room thickened. The others—including Marcus—held their breath, their gazes flickering nervously to the surveillance camera overhead. Their earlier confrontation had been recorded. There was no denying it now.
As they scrambled for excuses, Isabella answered coolly, “No. Everyone here knows better than to upset their boss.” Her tone was light, but the ice in her eyes was unmistakable. “They wouldn’t want me making their lives difficult, would they?”
The team exhaled in silent relief, their eyes dropping to the floor, too wary to meet her gaze.
Alexander dismissed them with a wave. “Good. I’ve extended multiple invitations for Miss Sinclair to join us. If anyone oversteps, there will be consequences.” His smile was pleasant, but the warning in his words was razor-sharp.
“Effective immediately, Miss Sinclair is the head of this laboratory. She has full authority over personnel decisions—no approval needed from me.”
In other words, Isabella now held the power to hire or fire at will.
The team stiffened, the implication settling over them like a weight. “Understood,” they murmured, voices barely audible.
Isabella knew that if she couldn’t handle this without Alexander stepping in, her authority would be undermined. Fortunately, he understood workplace dynamics and trusted her capabilities.
“Miss Sinclair, the lab is yours to manage as you see fit.”
“Thank you, Mr. Kingsley.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Alexander departed. The moment the door closed, Isabella’s demeanor shifted. Her voice was steel as she ordered, “Everyone, return to your stations. This is your first and only warning. If it happens again, I’ll enforce the rules—without leniency.”
Regardless of their thoughts, the team scattered, eager to avoid provoking her further. She was their leader now, and her decisions could shape their futures.
Not long after, a young woman with a timid demeanor and blunt bangs slipped silently into Isabella’s office, head bowed.
Isabella glanced up. “Something on your mind?”
“I—I just wanted to apologize,” Evelyn Fairchild whispered, her eyes brimming with remorse.
Isabella arched a brow. “You didn’t speak up earlier.”
Evelyn shook her head, voice dropping even lower. “Women already have it hard in this field. I stayed quiet, believing their gossip, doubting you. I should’ve defended you. By saying nothing, I became complicit. I had to apologize.”
Isabella remained impassive. “What would it have changed? Those people are experts at manipulation. They’d have outmaneuvered you with words. Even if you’d spoken up, they wouldn’t have believed you—they’d have turned on you next. Self-preservation is instinctive. Don’t blame yourself.”
Evelyn’s shoulders slumped further in shame. After a hesitant pause, she finally mustered the courage to confide in Isabella.
“Miss Sinclair… there’s unrest in the lab. Cliques fight over research credits, sabotage projects. Their methods are underhanded. You need to be careful.”
Evelyn had lost a major client to such tactics when she first joined. The memory still stung.
Isabella nodded, giving Evelyn’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I appreciate the warning. Now, get back to work.”
Evelyn left quietly, clutching her files.
Isabella turned to the window. Dark clouds gathered on the horizon.
A storm was coming.
