Chapter 38 Enlightenment
Juniper didn't want to offend a client, but Matthew's remarks were becoming increasingly out of line.
She replied with a smile that was neither submissive nor arrogant, "Mr. White, if you're looking for company, you've come to the wrong place. This is a sales office, not a bar. The only thing for sale here is real estate."
Matthew thought Juniper was feigning modesty, his tone reeked of entitlement: "So is Ms. Beaumont on the market as new property or pre-owned? Of course, I don't mind if it's pre-owned—sometimes they have more character."
Juniper's smile didn't reach her eyes.
"It seems Mr. White is quite the connoisseur of new and pre-owned. I wonder if that applies to keys as well?"
Before Matthew could respond, Juniper suddenly bent her knee and thrust it upwards with force!
Striking Matthew's vulnerable spot!
"Ah... Damn!" he exclaimed, clutching himself, face flushing with pain.
"Mr. White, better keep a close eye on your own ‘key.’ As for the property, I'm not selling anymore. If you're interested in buying, please consult with my colleagues," Juniper stated, crisply turning on her heel and leaving.
Doubled over in pain, Matthew cursed, "Juniper! You'll wait for this! I will make you pay dearly for what you've done today! Son of a... such a fierce move! Shit!"
Meanwhile, across from the model home:
From the window of the building directly opposite, one could see into the model home. Patricia was snapping pictures with her phone, zooming in to capture a series of photos that showed Juniper and Matthew in what appeared to be an intimate exchange.
She blasted these photos throughout the company group chat.
The chat exploded instantly!
Going all out, even selling oneself to make a sale!
Female sales agents are more in demand than males, leave some opportunities for us guys!
If I were a woman, I could sell at least ten houses a month!
All sorts of distasteful comments erupted in the group chat.
In the office chat group—a mix of sales associates and marketing planners—everyone spoke their minds freely, lacking any corporate bigwigs to censor them.
But nothing travels faster than gossip.
Before long, it would come out that the woman in the photo was Juniper, and word would get around to the higher-ups in no time.
When Magnus laid eyes on those photos, would he still see Juniper as the emblem of purity?
Patricia smirked at the thought. She closed WhatsApp and turned on her camera, ready to continue filming.
But when she looked through the lens, Juniper had vanished!
All that was left was Matthew, contorted in agony.
Without a second thought, Patricia called him: "What's going on? Where's Juniper?"
"Damn it, Patricia! This has to be your doing! What did you expect, throwing that harpy at me? If I'm really hurt, you've got another thing coming! Ahh... it's killing me! If anything happens, you and Juniper—you won't get off easy!"
Matthew's voice boomed angrily through the phone.
"Have you lost your mind? Can't even tell friends from enemies! Useless!" Patricia shot back.
"Who the hell are you calling useless?" he yelled.
Disgusted, Patricia hung up and muttered, "Idiot, can't handle a woman."
Yet, staring at the group chat, she couldn't help feeling triumphant.
Anything that embarrassed Juniper gave her a wicked sense of delight.
...
The rumor of Juniper "sleeping her way to the top" spread like wildfire through Sycamore Group.
Whispers followed her even to the restroom, colleagues darting looks.
"No wonder she sold a property on her first day in sales; it was all about her looks!"
"Those of us who play by the rules are done for now!"
"Why don't you reel in some big clients like she did?"
"Do I look like some kind of temptress? I'm a model employee—I can't do things like that!"
"That's true. I'd rather just stick to my base salary than stoop to such sleaziness!"
Juniper passed by the gossipmongers without changing her expression.
If she hadn't done it, she hadn't done it—no point in explaining.
Yet, Juniper soon found that it wasn't so simple.
She was being ostracized by the sales department.
Occasionally she'd find a wad of glue on her office chair.
And one morning, her computer screen greeted her with "Bitch" scrawled in lipstick.
Her high heels, meant for meeting clients, were found under her desk filled with water.
Even work-related matters were kept from her by her colleagues, ensuring she was always the last to arrive at meetings.
Their tactics were childish, yet effective, rendering Juniper completely isolated.
...
In the CEO's office of Building One.
Joseph reported, "Mr. Blackwood, I looked into the incident, and it started with a client named Matthew harassing Juniper. He complained to the sales department, accusing her of unprofessionalism."
"Unprofessional?"
"Yes, it turns out Matthew was sexually harassing Juniper, and in response, she... uh, well, she kicked him, striking him right in the...let's just say he was seriously hurt. He's got a hospital report and is talking about suing her."
Joseph had to stifle a laugh.
Blackwood's gaze hardened slightly, as if surprised. "I thought after all these years, she'd be used to taking things lying down. But she can still kick, huh?"
Despite the chilly tone, there was a hint of admiration.
Joseph added, "Miss Beaumont probably only plays submissive in front of you. I heard that recently Patricia purposefully spilled her food and refused to apologize, so Miss Beaumont... she dumped the entire serving... right over Patricia's head."
That's certainly not the behavior of someone who takes things lying down.
Magnus's lips curved slightly.
Then his expression turned cold again, and he frowned in reprimand, "Who gave her the audacity to behave like that at the company?"
Joseph, somewhat playfully suggested, "So, should I bring her down from sales to apologize to Patricia and Matthew now?"
The icy glare from Magnus cut through him, "You're very chatty today."
Perhaps he was always this chatty.
Joseph cleared his throat and said earnestly, "However, Mr. Blackwood, Juniper's situation in sales is dire. She's been ostracized. It's possible she won't last much longer."
"If isolation makes her quit, then she's too weak."
Joseph forced a chuckle, thinking to himself—
"Not everyone is like you, having spent three years inside and coming out to build such an empire! Ordinary folks don't have that kind of drive or patience. How many Magnuss are out there in the world?"
Joseph only dared to grumble in his thoughts, never aloud.
Reading the room cautiously, Joseph probed, "Mr. Blackwood, should we send someone to warn Juniper in the group chat? Actions like hers, offending clients – they need to be sternly criticized!"
It was a criticism on the surface, but in reality, it was an attempt to vindicate Juniper.
Magnus scoffed, "Not only are you talkative, but you also think you're smart."
Joseph coughed and touched his nose.
Cool and detached, Magnus picked up a contract and began to skim through it. "If you want to busy yourself with such trivial matters, go ahead, but don't drag me into it."
His voice was indifferent, neither approving nor objecting.
Was that... support?
"Understood. This is my initiative and has nothing to do with Mr. Blackwood."
Magnus was silent.
Why did it feel like he was protesting too much?
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