In just a few minutes, Derek's eyes were watering and he was coughing up tea after seeing Harleen's photo on the screen.
"Mr Hines, are you okay?" Harper Rodriguez looked at Derek with some surprise.
Although Harleen was indeed very beautiful, there was no need for such a big reaction.
Harper secretly despised Derek.
'As someone so high up in the company, does he really need to have such an immature response to seeing a pretty woman?' Harper thought to herself.
"She... she works here?" Derek finally managed to compose himself and asked.
"Yes, Ms Knight just started three days ago," Harper Rodriguez paused before asking, "Mr Hines, do you know her?"
Derek felt a chill run down his spine. Before this moment, he had asked Billy if they should arrange for Harleen to work at a subsidiary company of World Group in Ozin. However, Billy had told him that Harleen didn't want any special treatment and wanted to find work based on her own abilities, so he hadn't given it much thought.
But now here she was, introduced by SunPark Group.
'What are the odds?' Derek exclaimed inwardly.
"How has she been at the company these past few days? Has she not been mistreated?" Derek asked loudly.
'Thank goodness, I came to this meeting today. Otherwise, if Harleen has suffered any unfair treatment here, Mr Gardner would tear me apart!' Derek thought to himself.
"No... not really..." Harper Rodriguez hesitated again. "Who is she, Mr Hines?"
Based on Derek's tone, she realized that Harleen must hold a special status.
"Never mind who she is for now!" Derek responded sharply. "Just remember a few things!"
"Yes, Mr Hines!" Harper Rodriguez nodded vigorously.
While Derek was giving instructions to Harper, Harleen received a text message from Ava Jones reading, "Ms Knight, he's at it again..."
"What an asshole!" Harleen muttered angrily before quickly walking towards the door.
Bang!
Upon arriving at a large office room, Harleen forcefully pushed open the door and saw Ava Jones sitting in one corner of the sofa in panic, while a man around fifty years old sat next to her with hi hands about to grab her hand.
"How dare you!" Gerald Patton furrowed his brows upon hearing the commotion outside and turned his head towards them. "Who are you? Get out!"
As he spoke, he looked over at her.
When he saw Harleen, his eyes lit up with amazement. He had played with so many women, but none could compare to the beauty in front of him.
"Ms Knight!" Ava Jones hurried over.
"Are you the new marketing department manager?" Gerald Patton asked as his eyes kept scanning Harleen.
Then Harleen and Ava turned around and headed towards the door.
"Hold on!" Gerald Patton's face darkened as he looked towards Isabella Martinez next. "Ms Martinez, what should be done when an employee disobeys their leader's work arrangements or challenges their authority without cause?"
"The lighter punishment would be a deduction from that month's performance bonus. Heavier punishment would result in immediate dismissal." Isabella Martinez replied with renewed confidence in her gaze.
Her thoughts were just like what Ava Jones had said earlier. Ever since Harleen started working here two days ago, she had been worried about whether or not Gerald Patton would take notice of Harleen, which would ultimately lead to pushing herself out into obscurity. That was the last thing she wanted. Because of her relationship with Gerald Patton, she had been able to flaunt power and gain benefits in the past two years at the company. Gerald Patton had been using her to do some shady business, and after each job, he would give her a cut of the money. In just two years, she had earned more from this than from her regular salary.
"Very good!" Gerald Patton then turned to Harleen. "I'll give you one last chance. Sit down now, I have some work for you to do."
"Mr Patton, I'm sorry, but if you really have work for me, please let your secretary inform me." Harleen replied coldly.
"How dare you!" Gerald Patton shouted in anger. "Do you believe that I can fire you without even going through Ms Rodriguez?"
"I believe it," Harleen answered crisply. "But if the company's management is so chaotic like this, then it's better not to do this job!"
Both sides were speaking loudly and many colleagues gathered around them. After hearing what Harleen said, they secretly gave her a thumbs up.
"You're quite something!" Gerald Patton was so angry that he looked towards Isabella Martinez and said, "Notify HR immediately! From now on she is fired!"
For him personally, although he wanted to keep Harleen in the company so that he could slowly deal with her later on, she had embarrassed him too much in front of everyone. If he didn't put an end to it right away, there would be no respect left for him within the company.
"Alright!" Isabella Martinez looked at Harleen with a smirk on her face, "You can start packing your things now."
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