Chapter 502 William and Hayden (103)
Maddox, who was 36 years old, was an elite professional Finn had hired at a high salary and held in high regarded. That was why Finn had handed Hayden over to him for training.
Hayden looked at Maddox and smiled slightly. "You’re the Minister, and I’m a new employee. How could I trouble you to show me around?"
Maddox nodded and laughed. "You're right. I'll find someone to take you around."
"Maddox," Hayden suddenly called his name earnestly and seriously while looking at him,.
Maddox looked at her and knew she had something to say. He nodded. "Please go ahead!"
"I joined the Business Department of the Smith Group because I want to learn from all the senior staff. I hope you’ll keep my identity a secret and guide me and treat me like any other employee." Hayden looked at Maddox earnestly.
Maddox offered a smile and a nod of agreement. "Alright, but on one condition—you keep this between us, and don’t tell your father. In return, I promise you an 'unforgettable' experience in the Business Department."
Hayden returned the smile, her eyes alight with a mix of anticipation and challenge. “Agreed.”
On her second day at the Smith Group, Hayden immediately threw herself into intense work. Although she had never had a formal job before, her months of internship at Southern had provided her with extensive work experience. This led to Maddox taking notice of her on her first day in the Business Department.
Given Hayden's professionalism, she could eventually become a manager in the Business Department. Maddox recognized her outstanding performance and, after just one week, personally placed her under his leadership.
Maddox's decision was unprecedented and drew criticism from insiders in the department as well as colleagues from other departments. It was well-known that Maddox, as the Minister of the Business Department, would not personally mentor new employees. Typically, new employees were guided by their supervisors. The supervisors reported to managers, who reported to the Deputy Minister, and only then would it reach Maddox.
Maddox's decision meant that Hayden, who had been a new employee in the Business Department for only a week, now reported directly to him and would be personally mentored by him. It was as if Hayden's position had gone from ordinary staff member to at least a manager in the Business Department.
Many were quick to speculate that she and Maddox were in a romantic relationship. After all, since joining the Business Department, Hayden had more opportunities to spend more time with Maddox than his secretary. As a result, many female colleagues isolated Hayden, and some male colleagues began to regard her with disdain.
However, Hayden did not care because she was too busy to pay any attention to office politics. She was too absorbed in digesting all the knowledge that Maddox taught her every day to even think about those rumors.
After two weeks, Maddox started taking Hayden with him to various meetings, negotiations, contract signings, and public events. Since she often went out with Maddox, they also frequently ate together and rode in the same car.
However, whether in the car or during meals, their conversations were solely focused on work. Hayden's spirit genuinely attracted Maddox, and he unconsciously shared all his skills and knowledge with her. As a result, they spent more and more time together.
Rumors about them within the department and the company continued to grow.
One month after Hayden joined the Business Department, she arrived at work, set down her bag, and opened her computer. She grabbed a cup and headed to the pantry to get some coffee. However, before she even reached the pantry door, she heard several female colleagues inside mocking and ridiculing her.
"Hayden saw Sylvia walking with the Minister when she left work yesterday. It was past eight. Did Sylvia spend the whole night in bed with the Minister?"
Sylvia was the alias Hayden used at the company to avoid revealing her identity.
"She definitely didn't get any sleep before coming to the company. How could she work with the Minister otherwise? She’s even more powerful than the Vice Minister nowadays."
"That's just what she does. Can any of you do that?"
"I don't want to. Look at her, she’s naturally promiscuous. She’s signed so many contracts with the Minister. I guess they were all obtained through her methods."
"I wonder how many men she’s slept with. I don't know if she has any diseases. You all should stay away from her to avoid being infected."
"You're right. From now on, if we see her, we'll walk around her."
"Diseases?" As one of the female colleagues was happily speaking, Hayden walked in. She smiled and said, "What diseases do I have? I have no idea."
Everyone turned to look at the sound of her voice. When they saw that it was her, they made expressions of disdain and disgust.
"Disgusting." One of the female managers in her thirties glanced at Hayden and sneered. She raised her hand and fanned it in front of her nose. "Let's go somewhere else with fresh air."
"Yeah, it stinks. Let's go somewhere else." Immediately, someone agreed and started to leave.
"Stop!" Just as they were leaving with their cups, Hayden spoke again, calmly and with an oppressive and intimidating voice.
They were startled and stopped, looking at her with utmost contempt.
"You’re all long-time employees of the Smith Group. I’m sure you know the employee regulations very well, right?" Hayden looked at everyone, still smiling gently without a hint of anger. However, at this moment, she seemed like a queen. Her presence left them momentarily stunned.
"You’ve only been in the Smith Group for a short time, Sylvia. There’s no way you can teach us a lesson." The female manager sneered at Hayden, burning with anger.
She worked hard every day, trying to please Maddox, but she never had the opportunity to go out alone with him or have a meal with him.
Hayden was young, beautiful, and promiscuous, so she could easily come and go with Maddox. There was no way she could accept that.
"Yeah, I've only been at the Smith Group for a few days. How could I be in the position to lecture you all, my senior colleagues?" Hayden looked at them with a gentle smile, showing no trace of annoyance. But then, she changed her tone. "However, as someone from the Smith Group, I am in the position to lecture you all!"
If her identity as someone from the Smith Group could make all the rumors disappear and allow her to focus more on work, creating a better and more pleasant work environment for everyone, it wouldn't be a bad thing if everyone knew her identity.
"What did you say?" The female manager was be dumbfounded. Her eyes widened in shock, and she spilled the coffee she was holding.
"You?" The others also reacted, looking at Hayden in disbelief.
The rest of the staff were completely dumbfounded and didn't move at all.
"Yes." Hayden nodded. She continued to smile gently and said, "I forgot to tell everyone, my name is Hayden Smith."
"Smith!" The female manager's eyes widened even more in absolute shock.
Although the Smith Family sisters were low-key, it didn't mean that no one in the company knew their names.
Within the company, the names Hayden and Jocelyn were familiar to most people.
With a smile and a nod, Hayden introduced herself. "I'm Hayden."
"So, you've finally chosen to come out of the shadows. That's quite the step." A male voice, easygoing and laced with a hint of playful mockery, chimed in.
Everyone immediately turned their heads to see Maddox entering the room.
"Minister."
Everyone quickly lowered their heads and greeted him, wishing they could disappear.
"Good morning, Minister!" Hayden greeted Maddox with a smile that was elegant and graceful.
"Good morning, Miss." Maddox smiled in response to Hayden and then glanced at everyone. He solemnly said, "This is Miss Smith from the Smith Group. She might become your boss one day. So, let’s all work hard in front of the boss, shall we?"
"Yes!" Everyone nodded. "You’re right, Sir. We were wrong. We’ll go back to work now."
After they said that, the staff hurriedly left the pantry as if their lives depended on it.
When everyone had left, and only Hayden and Maddox were alone in the room, Maddox smiled and asked, "You're not angry, are you?"
Hayden smiled. "You’re right, Minister. Sometimes, we can't be too low-key."
Maddox nodded. "With your talent and your family background, you’ll definitely succeed, as long as you're willing to work hard."
Hayden lowered her head and smiled. "Thank you."
"I'm just telling the truth," Maddox said as he walked up to the coffee machine and started brewing coffee. He added coffee powder to the machine while saying, "I have a business trip to River North the day after tomorrow. Can you come with me?"
In Hayden's mind, William's sad appearance in the Hart family's restroom flashed by, and her heart couldn't control the sharp pain that came over her.
"Okay, I will." Hayden forced herself to ignore the dull pain in her heart and nodded with a smile.
"Give me your cup. Try the coffee I made," Maddox said, reaching out to Hayden.
Hayden didn't hesitate. She smiled and handed him the cup.
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