CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 180: MISS SHOWS HER STRENGTH

"Sit down, everyone!"

Sienna Johnson calmed down, her anger mostly subsided, so she relented and let everyone sit down. However, those who had been frightened by Sienna Johnson remained standing, motionless.

"I told you to sit down!" Sienna Johnson repeated, her tone stern.

Only then did everyone timidly find a chair and sit down. Kenneth Brown sat on Sienna Johnson’s right side. Among those present, only Kenneth Brown wasn’t afraid of Sienna Johnson.

Sienna Johnson regarded Kenneth Brown for a moment then asked, "Have you figured out a strategy to deal with this situation?"

Now that Kenneth Brown had been promoted to Manager, the crisis at Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory was his to resolve.

After taking over the Eastminster Group for some time, Sienna Johnson’s most profound realization was the need to cultivate more capable assistants. She wasn’t willing to be like her father, who exhausted himself by handling every single thing personally. She didn’t want obedient sheep under her command; she wanted them to be lions!

Kenneth Brown spoke with assurance, "We don’t need to worry about the Environmental Protection Bureau. First, our Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory indeed hasn’t discharged wastewater into the river. As for that single incident, it can be attributed to our poor judgment in personnel. Second, the Eastminster Group is a major taxpayer in Sileria City, and the group’s public relations department has maintained good relations with government departments over the years. As long as we clarify the matter, I believe the government won’t give us trouble.

The biggest problem is the media.

In recent years, domestic enterprises have faced frequent quality issues, and the recent scandal of ’poisonous capsules’ has impacted many companies. Our company was investigated at that time, and our products were found to be problem-free. However, not long after that, we were exposed as having problems. So I suspect, President Johnson, that you might have offended someone?"

Kenneth Brown looked at Sienna Johnson, waiting for her answer.

Sienna Johnson was momentarily stumped. Seeing everyone in the room looking at her, she retorted, "Why assume it was I who offended someone, and not Eric Johnson or one of you?"

Kenneth Brown smiled. "I believe none of us here carries that much weight."

Having grasped the basic situation, Sienna Johnson rubbed her throbbing temples and said, "Kenneth Brown, now that you are the Manager, the crisis at Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory is yours to handle. If you handle it well, that falls within your duties. If you handle it poorly, just as I can promote you to Manager, I can also remove you from that position..."

With clear rewards and punishments, Sienna Johnson could scout talent unconventionally, and she could also mercilessly drive out those who were useless.

Kenneth Brown replied earnestly, "Yes, President Johnson! I will certainly not disappoint your expectations and will do my utmost."

Sienna Johnson glanced at the young man, nodded, and stood up to leave.

When Sienna Johnson stood up, everyone else also rose. Only Kenneth Brown walked her out. Mr. Blake, seeing President Johnson approach, quickly got out of the car and opened the door for her. "President Johnson!"

Sienna Johnson turned to look at Kenneth Brown. He was still smiling at her, not showing any fear of her at all. "President Johnson, please be careful on your way. I will handle matters here; you can rest assured."

Sienna Johnson said, "If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to the headquarters to find me."

"I will."

Sienna Johnson glanced at the brightly lit meeting room on the third floor, her dark eyes deeper than the night itself. "After this matter is resolved, Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory will also need to undergo reforms..."

"What does President Johnson mean?"

"Eric Johnson has worked at Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory for many years, and I’ve heard plenty about his reputation. I imagine Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory still has many of his distant and close relatives..."

"Is President Johnson going to fire all of them?"

"Manager Brown, you must remember this: as long as they are competent in their roles, whether they are relatives or not, I don’t care. However, if anyone draws a company salary without doing their job, and worse, causes trouble, then you must not be soft-hearted!"

Kenneth Brown understood Sienna Johnson’s meaning. "Some of the regulations at Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory were established ten years ago, and certain clauses indeed need revision. Once this crisis at the Pharmaceutical Factory passes, I will draft a reform plan for President Johnson’s review."

"Okay."

Sienna Johnson got into the car. The door closed, and the luxurious business vehicle sped away. Kenneth Brown stood there, watching her depart, his gaze complex, until the car was out of sight. Only then did he turn and return to the meeting room.

Miss Johnson, Sienna Johnson... Kenneth Brown had never expected this woman to be so decisive, replacing the Manager of Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory in a single meeting. Thinking of Sienna Johnson’s formidable way of beating Eric Johnson, Kenneth Brown couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Miss Johnson is truly formidable!"

Eric Johnson really did deserve that beating!

As Kenneth Brown reached the entrance of the meeting room, he heard the discussions from within.

"That Miss Johnson is terrifying, scared me to death... My back is soaked!"

"I never imagined Chairman Johnson could have such a formidable daughter."

"Have you guys heard about the Johnson family’s switched-at-birth daughters?"

"Yes, I know. The daughter raised in their home isn’t their biological child. The one who was just hitting someone, that Miss, she’s the Johnson family’s real daughter. I’ve seen the Adopted Daughter. Her temperament is quite like Chairman Johnson’s. But this one? She’s practically a bandit... Have you ever seen a woman beat a man to such a pulp?"

"Is Manager Johnson really fired?"

"Could that be false? Didn’t you see that poor kid from the countryside get appointed as Manager?"

"That kid’s luck is really something!"

"He just knows how to suck up, that’s all! Look at the way he was looking at President Johnson earlier, just like a pretty boy latching onto a rich woman."

"Isn’t the Johnson Family looking to recruit a live-in son-in-law? That Kenneth Brown is quite good-looking. Do you think he has ideas?"

Everyone had a sudden realization. "...If he really becomes the Johnson family’s son-in-law, he’d get to skip several decades of struggle..."

"More than several decades, that’s several lifetimes! The Johnson Family isn’t your average wealthy family!"

Those discussions made his expression change. Kenneth Brown’s smile vanished as he pushed the door open and entered. The chatter inside ceased abruptly. Everyone looked at the young man who had been promoted like a rocket, their gazes complex, mostly filled with sour jealousy.

Indeed, no one had imagined Miss Johnson, Sienna Johnson, to be so swift and decisive. In just a few hours, she had ousted Eric Johnson, who had been Manager for over a decade and was related to the Johnson family, and promoted a young fellow who had only been working for a few years.

"Don’t let me ever hear you discussing President Johnson behind her back again!" Kenneth Brown said, his face grim, devoid of the slightest trace of the smile he had when he was with Sienna Johnson earlier.

The sales manager from the Marketing Department said sarcastically, "Well, Manager Brown, quite the imposing air you have now. Just got promoted and you’re already disregarding us old folks."