Chapter 53 Manipulated
"Miss Isabel, please take a look." Layla handed over the design sketches with both her hands.
Upon seeing Layla's design, Isabel widened her eyes and then furrowed her brows.
Molly sneered. What bold innovation? These frivolous embellishments won't fool Isabel. She was extremely picky and not easy to impress.
Layla, do you think having Mr. Marley's support ensures the project's success? Isabel holds the final decision, and in the end, this project still belongs to her. No assistant would steal her thunder!
Molly leisurely took out her own design, full of confidence, and said, "I also made one. Take a look. If you like my design, then I will take on the project."
Molly thought Isabel would definitely choose hers, but little did she know Isabel only glanced at Molly's design without even connecting with it..
Instead, she asked Layla, "Did you have an expert design this for you?"
"Of course not. As designers, we strongly avoid such actions, that could ruin our careers. I wouldn't jeopardize my future." Layla explained confidently.
"So, this is really your work? You're just an assistant, aren't you?" Isabel showed a look of disbelief. While she had connections with other designers, Layla's design was the most impressive one she had seen so far.
Layla nodded, feeling somewhat assured. "Although I'm just an assistant, I graduated from City University's Architecture Design Department and received a scholarship for four years. I've always been the top student in my school."
Mockingly, Molly said, "Which designer from the Holland Group hasn't received a scholarship? Is this something to brag about? When I won international awards, you didn't even know how to count yet."
"Let me talk to her, you stay out of it!" Isabel reprimanded sharply.
Molly's face turned red with anger. She and Isabel had some acquaintanceship, and yet she yelled at her for Layla. Molly was instantly furious, seething with anger.
Isabel looked at Layla, arrogantly saying, "You're right. Nathan must have chosen you according to my preferences. The design looks good on paper, but can you achieve the same effect in reality?"
"I can!" Layla assured.
Molly wanted to scold her for boasting, but after just being reprimanded by Isabel, she dared not speak up. All she could do was glare at Layla.
"Then this project is yours. My assistant will give you my phone number so you can report the progress to me anytime." Isabel stood up, crossed her arms, and snorted, "Remember, Nathan is my boyfriend."
Layla smiled and remained silent.
If Molly had previously treated Layla with indifference, now she wanted nothing more than to tear her apart.
The atmosphere in the car reached freezing point.
Molly gripped the steering wheel but didn't drive, unable to suppress her anger any longer. Through gritted teeth, she yelled, "Get out of the car!"
"Molly..."
"Am I your driver? Get out of my car!" Molly shouted angrily.
Layla reluctantly got out of the car and walked toward the bus stop.
Molly grew angrier the more she thought about it. She couldn't understand why Isabel chose Layla's design. After all, Molly had won an international competition, while Layla was just a newcomer. Isabel must have lost her mind.
But if things continued like this, Layla would eventually surpass her, something Molly would never allow.
A flash of determination appeared in Molly's eyes as she made up her mind and pulled out her phone.
"Are you interested in striking a deal?"
After an hour-long bus ride, Layla arrived back at the Holland Group. Molly had already been there and was yelling at someone in her office. The sound of her scolding could be heard from outside.
"Isabel didn't like your design, did she?" Grace said with sly delight.
"On the contrary, Isabel was quite satisfied." Layla answered with a smile.
Grace frowned, feeling conflicted. On one hand, she disliked Layla and didn't want her to steal the limelight. On the other hand, if this project succeeded, she would earn a significant commission.
Not knowing what to say, Grace just huffed and walked away with her coffee.
As soon as Layla sat down, she received an unfamiliar phone call.
"Hello, this is Torres, the director of the Hill Group."
"Hill Group?" Layla was surprised for a moment.
Hill Group is the second largest construction group here. If she hadn't joined the Holland Group in the first place, joining the Hill Group would have been a great choice for her.
"Are you interested in chatting with me?"
"Just a moment." Layla quietly walked out of the office.
As soon as she left, Molly came out of the office and sent Grace and Julia away, her scheming eyes falling on Layla's computer.
Layla walked to the staircase. "Hello."
"Miss Adkins, I looked at your resume. Are you applying for the position of our company's assistant designer?"
"I did, yes, but I applied a week ago and I already have a job now."
"No problem, you can switch over. Hill Group offers good salary and benefits."
"But I'm currently at the Holland Group."
"Is that so? No worries, it's just an additional option. In this industry, there's no harm in making more connections. How about this, let's have dinner at Dream Diner at seven o'clock tonight."
Layla was somewhat surprised. Mr. Torres, the director of a reputable company, thought highly of her?
But he didn't give her a chance to refuse, and hung up the phone.
Well, I supposed I can go. He's right, even if I don't switch jobs, networking would still be beneficial.
After work, Molly, for the first time, didn't make Layla work overtime. She arrived at Dream Diner on time and met Mr. Torres. He asked her some questions about her situation and offered to double her salary to lure her away, but Layla politely declined.
"Molly, why are you treating us to Dream Diner today?" Grace asked happily. Dream Diner costs an average of three hundred dollars per person, it's not cheap.
"Don't say that. When has Molly ever been bad?" Julia tried to please her.
"You've been busy with the Lifestyle Pavilion project these past few days. You've worked hard, so today is a way to reward everyone." Molly said.
"It's all thanks to someone, isn't it? If it weren't for her, we wouldn't be so exhausted. We suffer all the hardships, but she takes all the credit. She really thinks highly of herself." Grace complained unhappily.
"Is that Layla? Yes, it really is her. Is that Mr. Torres over there? No wonder she mentioned the Hill Group on the phone earlier. She's really famous now, even the director of the Hill Group personally came to recruit her. I don't get that kind of treatment." Julia said.
"I don't think it's that simple." Molly said meaningfully, "Don't you think they chose this place very discreetly, deliberately avoiding being seen by others?"
After the seed being planted by her, Grace nodded, "Yeah, this restaurant is a forty-minute drive from the company. Could there be a conspiracy behind this?"
"Molly is right, there must be something fishy. That woman is not simple at all. She might have some hidden agenda with the Hill Group."
"Do you know who Hill Group's spy is?"
"Do you really think so?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Molly sneered.
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