Chapter 41 Sly colleagues

Claire's POV

I paused, only to find Peter blocking my path, smirking sarcastically with animosity and disdain in his eyes.

“Ha, Claire, getting too big for your britches now, are you? You've set your sights on my position?”

Not wanting to argue, I sidestepped him, but Peter’s voice followed.

“Do you think Jayden, that old fox, genuinely wants to promote you? He's just using you!”

I turned to look at him; Peter adjusted his tie impatiently, a visage of frustration on his face. He strolled closer, and I caught the pungent scent of tobacco on him, making me feel queasy.

“Claire, if you're so fond of my position, I’ll hand it over! Why resort to these tactics?”

“I've never coveted your position,” I said coldly, eyeing Peter, “Mr. Simmons called me in to say...”

“To say you’re a capable person?” Peter scoffed lightly. “That old fox said the same when he had used me!”

My gaze darkened as I stepped back to keep some distance, “The jewelry and diamond market has always been monopolized by a mysterious family and is a market share our department has failed to capture for years. Even the chairman is out of options; what makes you think you can succeed?”

“Whether I can or not, it’s worth trying,” I enunciated clearly, my eyes bright, “The company has never been about seniority. If you're so afraid of losing your position to me, then compete with me fairly and squarely!”
Peter laughed heartily: “Oh, Claire, you’re adorably foolish! Fine, since you're determined to tackle this market, I'll share some of my experiences with you!”

“The jewelry and diamond market is the Morris family’s domain; securing any part of it could support you for life!”

Peter’s eyes gleamed with malice, “But few have ever met the Morris family, so don’t even dream about it. The Browns, on the other hand, might be worth a shot! Especially since Kevin is a wealthy and charming man. With your beauty, you might just catch his eye!”

My face turned steely; my fists tightly clenched as I took a deep breath. After a few seconds of silence, I lifted my eyes and flashed Peter a wry smile.

“You always seem to like bringing a woman's looks into things.”

Peter was taken aback, squinting as he sized me up.

My gaze cold, I called to him, using both his first and last name, "Peter Walker, do you think the only way a woman can achieve anything is by seducing her way to the top? That a woman has to sell her looks and take shortcuts to be successful?”

Peter glanced at me, sneering with a laugh.

“Ah, Peter, always talking about women's so-called natural advantages. You must be jealous. On those days when you haven't closed a deal, you must curse being born a man, unable to take the ‘shortcuts’ women can.”

“It’s fine though,” I said, my arms crossed over my chest, "there's a country in Southeast Asia that’s quite advanced in gender reassignment surgery. It’s close by, affordable, and round-trip tickets cost about half your monthly salary! You could easily get it done over a weekend.”

“What?” Peter spat through clenched teeth, “I—you…”

“With your handsome features, Peter, if you became a woman, you’d eclipse my beauty! And then, the company’s performance could rely entirely on you, you!”

Many around us laughed behind their hands, whispering about Peter's deflated pride. I smirked coldly and walked away.

Peter stood there, stunned, unable to recover.

Perhaps my look was a bit terrifying, as I had been studying and mimicking Colin’s behavior. His demeanor and presence were enough to intimidate anyone.

...

Back at home, I finished dinner and immediately started researching on my computer.

Colin, seemingly curious, stood behind me and glanced over, “Do you know Kevin?”

“I don’t, but I’ve familiarized myself with his preferences,” I confidently affirmed that I could secure Kevin's partnership, “I studied the materials and photos all night, memorizing Kevin’s likes and dislikes.”

Colin didn't give me the encouraging look he usually did, which was strange. He silently walked over to the balcony and slid the door shut.

Colin’s perspective

On the balcony, I lashed out at my punching bag and boxing gloves, my frustration mounting with each hit. Glancing back into the room, I saw Claire still intensely focused on her computer screen.

I punched the bag so hard it went flying, then stood in a corner of the balcony. After thinking it over, I took out my phone and called Kevin.

"Alpha Colin? What do you need?" Kevin's voice was surrounded by noise, as if he was in a bar, and from his tone, I could tell he was surprised by my call. “What can I do for you?”

I stayed silent.

Kevin spoke again, “Alpha Colin, what’s the matter?”

Still, I said nothing.

“Alpha Colin, if there’s something you need, just say it, I’ll certainly…”

Thinking about Claire’s interest in Kevin earlier filled me with rage: “From now on, stop loafing around in front of me!”

Third-person perspective

Kevin flinched, and when he looked again, the call had ended.

He couldn't believe it. Colin, who never initiated contact, had called him in the middle of the night just to shout that one line?

Baffled, Kevin turned to Dennis with a rueful look: "What have I done to offend him this time?"
But this time, Dennis was at a loss too.

"Could it be... something went wrong with that secret recipe you gave him?"

Kevin slapped his forehead, "Could it be that Claire didn't drink the love potion?"

Dennis gave a wry smile, "Maybe it was too strong and sapped all of Alpha Colin’s energy!"

Kevin nearly spat out his drink on Dennis's face.