Chapter 323 No Room for Compromise
The Rolls-Royce parked at the back door of Brightness Design Company. Samuel, in a black trench coat, his slender chin accentuated by the collar, asked, "Are you sure you don't want to go home and rest before coming to work?"
"I'm fine. I slept enough on the plane," Layla replied.
"Alright, how about dinner tonight?"
"I can't. I might have to work late. I've been on leave for half a month, and there's a lot of catching up to do."
"You're already two and a half months pregnant. Don't overwork yourself, make sure to get enough rest."
Despite Samuel's insistence, he didn't want to restrict her freedom but genuinely wanted to take care of her.
"I know. And you, your injuries haven't fully healed. Don't push yourself too hard," Layla said. Her concern, even in a few words, warmed Samuel's heart.
"I'll head up first," Layla said as she entered Brightness Design Company.
"Fanny," the assistant nudged Fanny with her elbow. Fanny, who was just smiling, turned around and her face contorted in disgust, as if she had swallowed a fly. "Layla, I thought you resigned. Why are you back?"
"Just here to pick up some things," Layla replied.
"You've been gone for half a month. I thought you found a sugar daddy," Fanny taunted.
"How do you know I didn't? Maybe I was dumped after being kept. Haha." Familiar provocation. Layla felt exhausted before even starting work. She just wanted peace, but Fanny wouldn't let it go.
Fanny came over and said, "What's the matter? Is silence your only response? Do you think staying silent will make me forget that you hit me? Pack your things and leave immediately, or I'll call the police."
Layla ignored her, reached for a chair, but Fanny pushed it away. Layla frowned at her, "Fanny, don't push it too far."
"You hit me and yet you accuse me of going too far? Layla, you're really good at turning the tables. You've been absent for half a month; even if you don't resign, the company will fire you," Fanny retorted.
Layla's expression turned serious, "There's only one person in the company who can dismiss me, and that's Levi. You don't have the authority."
"You're relying on Levi, aren't you?" Fanny said angrily. "Let me tell you, it's useless. If you don't leave, I'll call the police."
"Do as you please." Layla pulled a chair and sat down, opening her computer to start working.
Fanny's anger surged as she saw Layla ignoring her. She reached out to grab Layla, cursing and demanding that she leave.
"Fanny, do you want me to expose what you've done?" Layla's anger flared.
"What have I done? Don't talk nonsense."
"Some things don't need to be brought to light."
"Stop threatening me. Speak up, what is it? You better make sense, or I'll sue you for defamation."
Should she say it? Fine, she would. Layla's fighting spirit ignited, "Last year's project, you embezzled a hundred thousand, and the year before, you misappropriated public funds. Both projects you took on this year have encountered problems. If anyone is going to jail, your situation is much worse than mine."
These were all things her colleagues had told her. She knew they were using her to bring Fanny down because they were afraid of her. She didn't want to be used as a pawn, but Fanny had gone too far, and since she had no shame, there was no need to give her any leeway.
Fanny panicked. How did she know? Her gaze swept over her other colleagues, who all nervously looked away. It must have been them who told her! Layla wanted to destroy her.
"I'll tear your mouth that spouts nonsense!" Fanny yelled as she rushed forward to hit Layla, but Layla intercepted her, grabbing her hand in mid-air.
"You little b*tch, let go of me." "Let go!" Fanny went hysterical, like a madwoman.
"What are you two doing!" Levi's face was stern.
In the office. "The two of you, fighting in the office all day long, do you realize how much negative impact it has on the company?" One time, two times, three times, the same thing happened too many times, and Levi's patience was worn thin, and he was very angry.
"I don't want to argue," Layla said calmly, but Fanny was immediately triggered.
"What do you mean? You don't want to argue, so it's me who wants to argue? You're pushing all the blame on me? Layla, you?
"Alright, lower your voice," Levi said, pinching his brow. One thing he really disliked about Fanny was her temper and loud voice. Every time she cursed, her voice was piercing, and he couldn't stand it.
"Levi, she took a half-month leave for no reason. She should be fired."
"I asked for leave from Levi that day," Layla said.
"You think you can just take a day off? What about the company's rules? Where is your leave application? Did I approve it? You're just playing truant, so pack up and get out. Levi, if you don't fire her, how will the others in the company see it?"
"Uh, the project of the Sheeran Group was brought in by Layla, and we will have to rely on her to maintain the relationship."
Didn't you already hand over the Sheeran Group project to me?" Fanny was anxious. The reason she was so afraid of Layla coming back was also because she was afraid that Layla would take back the big project of the Sheeran Group.
"I just handed it over to you temporarily. Layla, since you're back, you and Fanny will be responsible for this project together. What do you think?" Levi asked.
Layla raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you think we can work together?" Now that there was no longer any conflict of interest, Fanny was about to turn the world upside down. When it came to money, Fanny wouldn't stop at anything. She didn't want to spend all her time dealing with a shrew in the future and couldn't work properly.
"There's no possibility for me to work with her," Fanny said. "I've been busy with this project for half a month, and I'm the only one who knows all the latest developments. How much effort and resources have I put in? She just came back and took it away. Why should I?"
"Just because this project was won by me," Layla said, her tone calm but forceful.
"I can assure you that if I make a phone call to the Sheeran Group, they will immediately cancel the cooperation. Do you believe me?"
"I don't believe it. Who do you think you are? The president of the Sheeran Group? Can't this project be done without you? You're making too much of yourself. Go ahead, make the call! Do it now!" Fanny goaded.
Layla immediately picked up the landline. "Don't, don't make the call." Levi rushed to the landline, snatched the receiver, and pressed the hang-up button with his other hand.
"What are you doing! Do you have to ruin this project? Think about it, is it more important to throw a tantrum or to make money?"