They even made a separate group chat just to gossip about you. You’re not In it, so I took screenshots, I’ll send them to you.”

A momentter, Jenny sent over more than thirty screenshots.

Charlotte scrolled through them one by one, fury building with every messages

ce she read.

.25 bBonus /b

She had thought that treating beveryone /bto a nice meal at a high–end restaurant would bring her closer to her coworkers.

They had all smiled at bher/b, acted polite, even friendly. However, behind her back, they had painted her as someone shameful and despicable.

Yasmine and Willy had led the charge, smearing her name with rumors while the rest just joined in blindly, taking it all at face value without a shred of proof.

That was when Charlotte realized that she had been far too naive about the workce.

she had thought a nice meal might bring people closer, maintain good rtionships not clearly, that kind of thinking was just wishful.

This ce? in chewed people up and spit out the bones.

in that moment, she understood. In thisnd of emironment, only power and background mattered. No one bcared /bbif /byou were kind or beasy /bto get along with.

Sometimes, being too nice only made you ban /beasier target.

Charlotte stared at the stream of screenshots, jaw tight

“Jenny, thank you for telling this. Can I bask /byou for favor?”

Jenny replied almost immediately. “Of course, Miss Riley. You saved my life, remember? Anything you need, just say the word.”

“Next time they start talking about meb, /bbcan /byou record it for me?”

“No problem”

Charlotte took ba /bdeep breath, steadied her emotions, and made a phone call.

“Hey, Dad. Is ourpany bin /bneed of a legal advisor

After hanging up,

she went straight to the printer to run off ba /bfew contracts, then headed to her family’spany without dy.

She ward straight into the chairman’s office.

Desmond bad just wrapped up a meeting and was waiting for her.

Charlotte tossed the contracts unto his desk

b*/bTr a look, Dad. If everything checks out, go ahead and sign.”

Desmond flipped through the pages carefully

“My bassistant /btold me our current legal advisory contract runs out at the end of the year, I can sign a new five–year contract with your firm, but it’ll start at the Leginning of next year.”

Chudu nodded.

“No problem. But the payment needs to be bmade /btodayb./b”

bDesmond /blooked bup/bb, /bsurprisedb. /b

That buige /b

“Yeah,” Charlotte said casually. “I went to meet some letsst night and ended bup /bgetting harassed by two sleazy executives. The deal fell throughb, /band now my supervisor’s berthing down my neck.”

At that, Desmond’s expression shifted immediatelyb, /bs voler bsharp /b

*Who had the nerve to you?”

Carlo supped.

b“/bDon’t worry. They didn’t get the upper hand 1 gave them a lesson they won’t bforget/b.”

Drunend’s brows remained furrowed

“Charlotte, maybe byou /bbshouldn’t /bbe practicingw anymore. bYour /bfirst had that trident long ago, and now this? The risks are btoo /bhigh. What if someone testo retaliateb? /bCome back and work at thepany. bI’ll /bgive you a general manager position”

Charlotte shook her head.

*Not for now i still portes being a Lawyer hold shares in thepany, and dividends are benough /bform Besides, Iluve et experie You prally want me crashing yourpany Into the bground/b?”

reto experience ruining a bbusiness/bb. /b

Desmond chuckled

“I’ll hire professionals to help you.”

Charlotte smiled bbut /bdeclined.

No need. Maybe someday–if I get tired bof /bbeing awyer.”

Desmond bsighed/b, clearly helpless.

you_”

Still, he signed the five–year legal advisory contract without a wood band /bcalled ounting to wire b$/b150,000 bto /bthew firm’s ount immediately.

Charlotte grinned.

“Any legal disputes going on btely/b?”

Desmond picked up the internal phone and called for one bof /bbhis /bbsubordinates /b

“Let Zion fill you inb. /bI bdon’t /breally keep track of the details.”

“sounds good.”