Chapter 548 If I'm Going Down, I'm Taking You with Me
The Langley Group's executive boardroom buzzed with all the key players.
Long accustomed to their positions of power, their presence was substantially more commanding than the average person's.
Standing before them, Steven showed no signs of intimidation and flashed a confident smile. "Hey everyone, I'm Steven, the new head of marketing from now on. Looking forward to working with all of you," he said.
Patricia introduced him to the group. "Don't be fooled by his youth—she's incredibly capable. Ever since Martin passed away, the company has faced a slew of issues that have hurt our reputation. Andrew from PR has been coming to me with complaints, overwhelmed by the troubles. Now, that's all going to change. We're handing the reins over to Director Steven here, and I'm certain he'll handle these challenges."
The crowd was silent, perplexed. Seeing the lack of response, Patricia began to clap. "From now on, we're all one big family. Let's give a round of applause and welcome our new member."
Confused silence ensued. They all looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Then, a series of crisp claps broke the silence. Liz was the first to join in. "Welcome to the team! I'm Liz, the head of Human Resources. I hope we'll work well together!"
Following her lead, the others began clapping and greeting Steven. After introductions, Alan asked Steven to take his seat as the Director of marketing. Patricia glanced at the clock; it was just past eleven. Clearly, continuing the meeting on time was out of the question. She had Alan order boxed lunches for everyone so they could eat before resuming the meeting.
Following the personnel changes, the mood had lifted considerably, and they even discussed the meeting agenda while eating. Seeing the uplifted spirits, Patricia felt good. She ate her boxed lunch and glanced at James, who stood alone on the balcony, also eating. Since the start, he had been quiet, with only the occasional cough breaking the silence. Yet, she felt his heart was with hers all the same.
After watching James for a while, Patricia stood and walked toward the balcony. Hearing footsteps, James quickly masked up, glanced over his shoulder, and saw Patricia, his eyes briefly lighting up. "What brings you out here?" he asked in a subdued tone.
Patricia moved beside him, her gaze drifting beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass. They were on the top floor of the Langley Group building, looking down upon the entirety of Ivara City, a view that made one feel on top of the world. It felt just like something Martin would do.
Patricia's heart clenched at the thought of Martin. She sniffled and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you!"
James looked puzzled. "Hm?"
Staring out at the scenery, Patricia said sincerely, "Thanks, James. I'd be lost right now if it weren't for your help."
"You're new to managing the company, so it's normal to be unsure," James reassured her. "Don't worry, take it one step at a time! I'll guide you through everything. You're smart; you'll catch on in no time."
A wave of warmth spread through Patricia's heart. It was impossible to say his gesture didn't touch her, but that was where it ended. There would be no more of those past feelings.
"Thank you! I'm so glad to have met you and look forward to learning more from you," Patricia said, expressing her gratitude.
James smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating her words.
Noticing James had been wearing his mask, which hindered his ability to eat, Patricia added, "Go ahead and eat. I just wanted to come by and say thanks." She then picked up her boxed lunch and turned back to the conference room.
James felt a stiffness in his back and his hand twitched slightly. He mustered all his self-control not to look back and took off his mask to continue eating.
Alan watched the exchange silently, sighing to himself.
After everyone had finished eating and the janitorial staff had cleaned the conference room, the meeting officially began.
"This meeting is mainly to discuss the upcoming chip launch event. This new chip, developed by my son, resolves all the issues found in existing models on the market. It's very—"
A commotion erupted outside the conference room.
"Get out of my way. Let me in. I need to see Patricia—"
"I'm here for the meeting. What right do you have to stop me?"
The conference room door was kicked open with a loud bang, revealing the source of the disturbance. The intrusion was anticipated, so everyone inside remained unstartled.
"I'm so sorry, Patricia," the secretary said, clearly distressed, "I couldn't stop them."
"It's okay, you may go," Patricia dismissed her with a wave, her voice calm and understanding.
With the secretary gone, Patricia turned to face the newcomers, Jack and Andrew. Andrew's face was flushed with anger, while Jack managed an impeccable smile. "Patricia, I'm really sorry. I hurried back as soon as I finished what I was working on! Am I still on time?"
Jack's charm was evident, but Patricia was unmoved. She had seen through Jack's facade, recognizing the wolf in sheep's clothing. His instigation of the company-wide strike was no secret to her, despite his daily attendance.
Patricia cut straight to the point. "I'm sorry, you're too late. Associate Director Liz has already taken over your position."
Andrew's anger was palpable, but Jack quickly silenced him with a hand on his arm, chuckling. "Hey, what's going on here? We were just held up. We're a people-first company, aren't we? You wouldn't hold onto a single error and not let go, right?"
Patricia's response was firm and final. "One has to pay for their mistakes. The company is under no obligation to accommodate you. If you disregard the orders of your superiors, then you must face the consequences."
Jack's smile nearly cracked. "According to company policy, at most, we'll receive a warning."
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