Chapter 205 Pleas for Leniency
"You thinkLeniency"Do you truly believe you can forceoust me out? Get? Understand this straight, Layla, you're justyou are merely the leadprincipal designer, not even Susan haswields the powerauthority to bootexpel me out, let alone, much less you."
," Gioanna asserted defiantly.Layla liftedmerely arched an eyebrow. "You're welcome to try."
"Who's scared? You think I don't have connections? I wanted to keep, a silent challenge in her gaze. "Feel free to attempt.""Who do you think is afraid? Do you presume I lack influential allies? I've chosen to maintain a low profile, but you've pushed me too far. I’m not afraid to tell you, provoked me beyond my limits. I have no qualms about revealing that my uncle is the headdirector of the Design Department for the Americas. Heard that? The entire American region,"Do you comprehend the magnitude of that?" Gioanna spelled outdeclared, her voice blaring likeresonating with the force of a trumpet.
"So"And? Are you scaredtrembling in fear now?"
Gioanna eagerly awaitedanticipated a look of terror ondread to wash over Layla's face. HoweverYet, it didn't comenever materialized. Layla remained calm, even composed, her demeanor bordering on dismissive.
What was the headdirector of the Design Department for the Americas to her? Samuel was the presidentPresident of the Holland Group, what didcould she have topossibly say aboutto that?
SometimesAt times, when Layla encountered such self-important jesters, she couldn't help but laugh.aggrandizing buffoons, she found it impossible to suppress her laughter. It was ridiculous.
utterly ludicrous.People, she thoughtmused, should never bebehave like frogs at the bottom of a well.
"He can'twon't be able to help you."
Gioanna frowned,Gioanna's brow furrowed, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "You dare to belittle my uncle? Let me tellenlighten you, he has no daughters and treatscherishes me as if I'mI were his own. If he learnsdiscovers that you’veyou've been bullyingtormenting me, he'll definitelyhe will undoubtedly have you fired."
dismissed.""Then give it a shot."
"Fine! You asked for it, by all means, proceed.""Very well! You've brought this upon yourself!" Gioanna pulledwhipped out her phone, dialed a number, and with a smug sneer flipped, gave Layla offa dismissive wave. "Uncle... it's me, Gioanna."
Her voice was syrupy sweet.dripped with saccharine sweetness. "Uncle, someone ina member of our team is bullying me and even wantsintends to kickremove me offfrom the Eilish Group project."
She turnedswitched on the speakerphone.
"What's her name?"
"Layla."
"Layla?"
"Yes, Uncle, Layla, just ana mere assistant designer, dares to stand up todefy me and wants to kickexpel me offfrom the project. Isn't that laughableabsurd? You're the headdirector of the Design Department for the Americas..."
"Apologize to Layla right away!"
immediately!" Gioanna froze in place, the smug smile dramatically stiffening on her face morphing into a mask of shock. She thought somethingshe must be wrong with her earshave misheard. "Apologize to her? Uncle, you've got it all wrong.misunderstood. It's Layla who's been bullying me..."
"Don't I know your tempertemperament? If you hadn't done something wrongcommitted some transgression, why would Layla have reactedresponded in this waymanner? Go and apologize now."
"I won't."
this instant.""I refuse.""Don't be stubbornobstinate. Do you still wantwish to keepretain your jobposition or not?"
Gioanna was furious.
seethed with rage.Was it now up to Layla whether she kept her jobher employment at the Holland Group, a company to which she had devoted ten years to?
dedicated a decade of her life, now at the mercy of Layla?"Gioanna, be sensible."
reasonable.""I..." Gioanna bit her lip, unable to swallow her pride. preventing her from backing down. Layla's slight, tauntingfaint, mocking smile was infuriating, the slapblow to her ego painfully sharp.
Youstinging sharply. 'You think you've won?
triumphed?'"Gioanna, did you hear me? If you don’t apologize now, I'm not going to interveneimmediately, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore."
matters any longer."It was this final warningadmonition that madesent Gioanna panicinto a frenzy. "I'm sorry, okay?"
alright?""Since when is 'sorry' the antonym of an apology?" Layla chuckled calmly.
retorted with a calm chuckle."Layla, don't push it."
your luck.""Gioanna, giveoffer a propersincere apology." The man's voice grew even more stern.
hardened further.Gioanna's eyes reddenedblazed with anger, andfury, a fire seemed to blaze seemingly ignited in her chest, burning uncomfortably.
causing an uncomfortable burn.Why should she, a seasoned B-level designer with a decade of experience, be humiliated by a junior C-level assistant like Layla?
Gioanna couldn't bear it."Gioanna couldn't stand it.
"Gioanna."
.""I'm sorry." Having said thatuttered those words, she hung upabruptly ended the phonecall and glared at Layla. "Are you satisfied now, humiliatinghaving humiliated me likein this manner?"
"You're the one"Layla, it was you who made the callinitiated this. If we're talking about discussing humiliation, that's onthe blame lies with you," Layla said, believingvoiced, her belief in her own kindnessbenevolence and softtender-heartedness. Yet, she knew unwavering. She had mastered the art of balancing her softness with her strength, knowing when to be tender and when to be tough, when to showextend a hand of compassion and when not to withhold it. In her eyes, Gioanna didn't deservewas undeserving of such sympathy.
PeopleLayla was no stranger to individuals like Gioanna, stubborn and unyielding, their behavior unaltered even after countless pardons.Layla's biting words left Gioanna were nothing new to Layla, set in their ways, unchanging even if forgiven ten times.
Stung by Layla's words and even angrier, Gioanna was left speechless.
"Go back , her anger intensifying."Return to Susan," Layla said, turning away, no longer wanting to waste her time with Gioanna.
instructed, her back turned, her patience for Gioanna's antics exhausted."But haven't I already apologized to you?"sought your forgiveness?" Gioanna's complexion changed in urgency. Ifface paled at the mention of Susan got involved, she'd surely, aware that she would undoubtedly side with Layla.
The project commissions for the project were substantialsignificant, and Gioanna didn't wantwas unwilling to lose out onforfeit such a lucrativeprofitable opportunity. Plus, everyone knew sheThe tension between her and Layla didn't get along. Being kicked offwas common knowledge, and being removed from the project would make her the company's laughingstock of the company.. She couldn't afford to lose bear such a loss of face like that.
He hadn’t asked Gioanna for an.Gioanna's apology, what he wanted wasn’t her was irrelevant to Layla. What she sought was not remorse but a united and harmonious team that could work efficiently—and clearly, she a quality Gioanna evidently lacked that ability.
Gioanna scrambled.In a desperate attempt to defend herself, “Gioanna argued, "How do I lack that? I’ve wonam I lacking? I've received international awardsaccolades, you know.”
“.""There are more than onenumerous B-level designers in the company, and you can be replaced at any time,” hemoment," Layla retorted.
A chillshiver ran down Gioanna’sGioanna's spine. Yes, sheShe was replaceable, but Layla wasn’t. Although she didn’t was not. She didn't know who Layla's influential supporterbacker was, but she now understood that even if she caused trouble a hundred timesdisruptions, Layla's position would remain unshakable.
secure.She shouldn’t have crossedregretted ever opposing Layla from the start, and now the situation had escalated beyond repair.
“We’respiraled out of control."We're all colleagues, there’sthere's no need for this muchsuch drama over a small conflict,”minor disagreement," she pleaded.
“"If you thinkbelieve everything that happenedtranspired was justmerely a small conflict, I don’tminor disagreement, then we see it that waythings differently. I need team players who work diligently, not someone who constantly causes trouble all the time.”
“disruptions.""I can just stop arguing with you, isn’tisn't that enough?”?" Gioanna hurriedrushed to catch up and reached, reaching for Layla’sLayla's hand, “"I admit I was wrong.”
“.""I really promise it won’twon't happen again, Layla, just give me another chance,”," Gioanna almost cried out inpleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. She had never begged so humbly in her life.
"Gioanna, I gave you a chance, but you justonly made things worse. We’llWe'll let Susan decide," Layla said, without wanting to speak further andresponded, pushing away Gioanna’sGioanna's hand.
and refusing to engage further.Gioanna came out of Susan’semerged from Susan's office in tears, cryingsobbing as she gatheredcollected her thingsbelongings and left.
The incident sparked muchignited a flurry of discussion among the team.
“"Did Gioanna really get kicked out?”
“dismissed?""Her thingsbelongings are all packed up, what else could it be? I heard a new designer will takereplace her place by this afternoon.”
“.""Layla is too harsh, a real she-devil.”
“Heh, haven’t.""Have you not heard the saying? ‘If, 'If a woman isn’tisn't tough, her position won’twon't be stable?’' That applies to the workplace just the same. Layla is makingsetting an example of one to deter everyone.. Gioanna justsimply got what was coming to her.”
“I’mshe deserved.""I'm scared. Better be careful around her from now on; I don’tdon't want to end up like Gioanna.”
“.""Jane, watch yourself.be cautious. You and Gioanna were the main instigators. You might be next.”
Jane frowned. She was worried too.
."Jane's brow furrowed in worry.Ever since Gioanna leftGioanna's departure, Jane had been on edge all day, fearful, dreading that a call from Susan would besignal her dismissal.
She knew Layla had connections, but she hadn't realized just how powerful they were.
the extent of their power.It was Jane who had trippedpushed Gioanna into the wishing well, hoping to exacerbateamplify the conflict and drive Layla away. Instead...
Kenneth had been let godismissed, followed by Gioanna; within a week, they had both been dismissed.
let go.Jane was truly worriedgenuinely concerned that she might be next.
Anxiety filledgnawed at Jane's heart.
No, she had to do somethingtake action.
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