Chapter 32 Rumors Abound
No sooner had Lauren sat down than murmurs began among the Department Heads.
"Isn't she the representative sent from Chongxin Sales Company for training? What's she doing here? Our sales meetings are confidential by nature; who allowed her in?" the head of Sales Division One, Theodore, spoke up with a furrowed brow.
"Yeah, I don't approve of her attending our meeting either. What if our sales strategies get leaked? That would be a real mess," another Department Head chimed in.
Lauren's head sunk lower upon hearing these comments. She knew she shouldn't have come. Yet it was Noah who had Linda tell her to attend, after confirming repeatedly – she wasn't acting on her own accord.
"Amelia, I don't think this meeting is right for you. How about you get back to your other tasks?" suggested Francis, the benevolent head of Sales Division Four.
Feeling embarrassed yet sincere, Lauren looked at them and said, "I'm sorry, but it was Mr. Martin who asked me to be here. I believe that if Mr. Martin thinks it necessary for me to attend, then I should stay."
Her voice was clear, and her eyes were filled with determination, making it hard for anyone to dispute her words.
Francis, head of another department, chuckled. Through their interactions over the past few days, he had grown to trust Lauren's character. Still, considering the sensitivity of the subject matter, he felt it was better for Lauren, as an ‘"outsider,’" to refrain from such meetings, thinking it was in her best interest.
"Amelia, don't be so stubborn. Think about what I’’ve said. The more you know, the greater the responsibility and obligation. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss," Lauren Francis said, maintaining hiser smile, yet she showed no intention of leaving.
Just then, Linda walked in with Noah.
"We could hear the laughter from down the hall. What's the fun about? Share it with me," Noah strolled in leisurely.
The moment Noah arrived, everyone fell silent and waited for him to take a seat. Then, with a serious tone, Theodore addressed him, "Mr. Martin, I don’t think Amelia should be at this kind of meeting."
Noah's face froze with a stiffened smile, "Is that what this is about?"
Theodore's expression turned sour as Noah's nonchalant demeanor irritated him.
"I think it's important. After all, this concerns sales secrets. So, Mr. Martin, please consider our suggestion seriously."
Lauren stood up, wanting to simplify things. "To all the Department Heads, please hear me out. I signed a confidentiality agreement before joining the Robinson Conglomerate. I won't divulge a single word about the company's affairs to the outside world and I do maintain professional ethics."
Theodore turned to Lauren and said, "It's not about trust, but a matter of principle. You’re technically not one of us, Amelia. If something goes wrong, you could just walk away, leaving us with unimaginable consequences."
"Enough with the arguments. If anything goes wrong, let Quentin handle it. The one who agreed to Lauren's inclusion in the sales seminar is him," Noah skillfully deflected the responsibility onto Quentin.
Lauren was surprised and pleased upon learning that Quentin had approved. Did he really take care of her in that way?
Hearing that Quentin was mentioned by Noah, the Department Heads had nothing more to say, though they were still disgruntled.
Upon observing Lauren's seemingly innocent demeanor, Linda's gaze turned fierce. Amelia had managed to join this important meeting so easily – she was a wolf in sheep's clothing after all, with a far from simple mind.
Amelia's sudden inclusion, despite Noah's clear explanation and assurances, left a bitter taste in the Department Heads' mouths, leading to a hastily concluded meeting.
Although the meeting was brief, Lauren learned quite a bit. The seasoned abilities of the Sales Department heads were indeed not a bluff; if she could learn from them, the benefits would be boundless.
However, because of the morning's incident, the Department Heads were reluctant to engage with Lauren. Even Francis, the head of her department who usually looked out for her, just smiled when he saw her.
Lauren sighed. Having Quentin's favor and Noah's protection - was it a blessing or a curse?
That afternoon, word got around the Sales Department that Noah had fought for Lauren against the other Department Heads. People started looking at Lauren differently, and some gossiped about her behind her back.
"Hey, this Amelia's really got something. Only been here a few days and she's already hooked Mr. Martin," a girl's sharp voice rang out.
"No kidding. She looks so innocent, but who would have thought she was's so capable? I'm totally heartbroken. I've been at the company for two years and I've never even spoken a full sentence to Mr. Martin..." another girl complained.
"Mr. Martin does seem to favor Amelia. This morning, I saw Mr. Martin whispering something to her, and I was got so jealous."
Linda passed by and felt sour hearing their conversation. As Noah's secretary, she had plenty of chances to get close to him, but her charm hadn't made him fall head over heels for her. Instead, Lauren, who was not so unremarkable, had beaten her to the punch.
"Stop spreading rumors. Be careful, or Mr. Martin might fire you all," Linda said angrily.
Seeing Linda upset, they quickly tried to console her,: "Linda, we're not just gossiping; we're speaking out for you. After all, you’’ve been so good to Mr. Martin. We thought that eventually, he'd recognize your worth and you'd become an item."
That comment only added fuel to the fire for Linda, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, though she pretended not to care.
"Ladies, don’t get me wrong. I'm just Mr. Martin’s secretary, and I never meddle in his personal life. But I know him well, and he really dislikes people spreading rumors about him behind his back. I just wanted to warn you in case he finds out," she said.
The others gave a perfunctory nod of thanks, and it was only after Linda left that they showed their contempt.
"Stop pretending, your intentions have been an open book to everyone in the Sales Department for ages."
Lauren was completely oblivious to what her colleagues thought of her. She diligently reviewed documents, focused solely on wrapping up the collaboration swiftly and delivering impeccable results.
At that moment, Lauren spotted Linda passing by and called out to her. "Linda, where did you go for lunch today? Why didn't you ask me to join you?"
Linda turned around with a forced smile and replied, "Sorry, Amelia, I had work to do at noon, and it just so happened I left my phone behind, so I couldn't let you know."
In truth, Linda had been avoiding Lauren and certainly did not want to have lunch with her.
"Oh, no worries. Did you manage to grab something to eat? How about I treat you to some snacks?" Lauren offered cheerfully.
Linda shook her head. "No thanks, I'm trying to cut back on snacks. I appreciate it, though."
Lauren didn't take Linda's coldness to heart. She simply assumed Linda was too tired.
