The receptionist blurted out, “Celestine is the CEO’s wife!”
I
Her voice rang out loud and clear.
A few employees who hadn’t gotten into the elevator earlier heard it too.
For a few seconds, the whole lobby was plunged into a stunned, deathly silence.
The finance team weren’t idiots.
With that reminder, they instantly recalled how they’d just treated Celestine.
A few faces drained of color.
Merlin’s expression darkened. “What’s with all the shouting? Don’t make a fuss.” He sneered. “Since when has the CEO ever cared about his wife? If he really gave a damn, would he let her work here in finance, keeping her head down as a nobody for this long?”
He made a feeble attempt to save face. While the others nodded outwardly, inwardly, they were anxious.
Some even felt a flicker of contempt for Merlin, who always put on airs.
If it hadn’t been for him, maybe they wouldn’t have targeted Celestine so much in the first place.
Whatever was going on between her/and the CEO, they were still husband and wife. If she whispered a single word to him, getting rid of a few low–level employees like them would be as easy as squashing bugs.
“Alright, let’s go upstairs and see what’s going on. If anything happens, I’ll take the heat,” Merlin said dismissively.
He figured, after all, that even though he’d targeted Celestine back in the day, nothing had ever come of it. In fact, he was about to be promoted to deputy
director.
A minor incident like this hardly seemed worth bothering Mr. Fordham over. He hadn’t even considered telling him about the confrontation with Celestine.
Meanwhile, Celestine strode toward the finance department, Pete keeping.
her side.
On the way, Pete couldn’t stop shaking his head in amazement.
e at
08:07
That commanding, almost intimidating presence she’d just shown–he could hardly believe this was the same little sister he’d known for
years!
Celestine couldn’t help but laugh when she noticed. “Isn’t this better?”
She’d spent years swallowing her pride, and what had it gotten her? Nothing but more pain.
Now that the divorce with Chester was underway, she figured she might as well use the title of Mrs. Fordham for what little it was worth.
At least it had its uses.
She swiped Chester’s nearly maxed–out credit card and took the executive elevator.
“This is great! Honestly, you should always be like this!” Pete said, almost clapping for her.
Celestine had always been gentle, putting all her energy into the kids. Whenever people mistreated her, she usually just let it slide with a smile.
But now? Now things were different.
No more letting people walk all over her.
Put your foot down right away, and at least eighty percent of the trouble disappears.
“I just hope I can keep riding my little sister’s coattails and bask in her glory for a while,” Pete joked with a grin.
Celestine shook her head, half–laughing, half–exasperated.
“What kind of compliment is that?”
“Well, I’ll do my best,” she said.
When the elevator doors opened on the finance floor, Stein was just seeing off
some clients.
He was surprised to see Celestine step out, but quickly composed himself and hurried over to greet her.
“Mrs. Fordham, what brings you here?”
He’d been preparing to wrap up his meeting and personally go downstairs to meet her, hoping to show his sincerity.
But she’d come up herself.
Chapter 304
Celestine still remembered Merlin’s blustering speech downstairs. She also knew Stein had dragged his feet on coming down, using some client business as an
excuse.
“What’s wrong?” Celestine shot him a cold glance. “Chester and I haven’t even finalized our divorce. Am I not allowed to check in on the company?”
Stein’s heart skipped a beat. “Mrs. Fordham, I didn’t mean-”
“You don’t need to explain,” Celestine interrupted. “Since you’re here, do me a favor and show me around the finance department.”
Stein was taken aback. “Mrs. Fordham, you want…?”
After all, Celestine used to work in finance. She hardly needed a tour.
It had been a long time since they’d spoken alone like this–usually, Chester had always been present.
