As soon as Celestine finished speaking, the room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Earlier, when she’d arrived, the finance department manager had already come out to greet her.
Celestine also spotted a few former colleagues she’d once gotten along with. Back when Chester and Joanna were being attacked online, these people had actually spoken up in their defense.
But everything changed after Merlin came back.
Because Celestine needed records spanning several years, nearly half the finance team had to pitch in. While everyone scrambled to dig up the files, Merlin made no effort to hide his sour expression or his disdain.
Pete couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped up and confronted Merlin right then and
there.
But Merlin, puffed up with authority, retaliated by “accidentally” feeding all the painstakingly gathered documents into the shredder.
He declared, self–righteously and with perfect composure, “As a rule, without executive approval, internal files can’t be released to outsiders. The CEO’s wife doesn’t get special privileges either.”
He sounded perfectly reasonable, almost smug.
And then, for good measure, he turned to Celestine, his voice just loud enough for everyone to hear: “Why not just join the company again? Maybe this time you’ll get a position a notch above your old desk job, and then you’d have every right to access these files.”
His words dripped with contempt.
The rest of the staff were frozen in terror, hardly daring to breathe.
Was he out of his mind?
Merlin, meanwhile, was fuming at their weakness. What did these fools know? To him, Celestine–cast aside, yesterday’s news–was just an obstacle o CEO’s quest for true love. His cousin had always doted on Joanna; Merlin might as well help clear the path by getting rid of Celestine.
He was already imagining how grateful his cousin would be once this was over.
1/3
08:08
But before he could bask in his Imagined victory, Celestine slapped him across the face–a sharp, resounding blow.
That was when Stein arrived.
A trembling employee was hauled up to explain what had happened, stammering through the story from start to finish.
Stein’s face turned to stone as he listened.
He never should have let that useless idiot into Fordham Group, not even if his aunt had wept rivers for him.
Merlin, suddenly aware of Stein’s barely contained fury, started to sweat. Surely this wasn’t that big of a deal? The last time he’d put a thirty–million–dollar hole in the company’s accounts, his cousin had stayed cool and handled it. What was there to fear from a washed–up ex–CEO’s wife?
But Stein’s icy gaze made him falter. In the end, Merlin caved.
“Miss Selwyn,” he said, trying to sound contrite, “could you let it go this time? At worst, cancel my year–end bonus. If you’re still not satisfied, dock three months‘ pay–whatever you want.”
That bonus already hurt to lose. He just hoped she’d be reasonable and not push
her luck.
Celestine’s calm eyes flicked from Merlin to Stein. “Stein, what do
you
think?”
Hearing her pass the decision to Stein, Merlin almost laughed out loud. She probably didn’t even know about his family ties to the CEO. As if Stein would ever side against him. No way was he losing his bonus now.
“I don’t think we need to touch his bonus or salary,” Stein said, his voice even.
A triumphant smirk spread across Merlin’s face.
Celestine raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” Stein replied, nodding. “Destroying confidential company documents is a serious breach of duty. If Fordham Group’s employees can’t even handle the basics, then I recommend we let him go–immediately.”
He paused, gaze steady on Merlin.
“Merlin, you’ve been with finance for years. To make such a rookie mistake–what has all our training been for? Get with your colleagues and calculate your final bonus for this quarter. Tomorrow, you don’t need to come in.”
08:08
Chapter 306
Stein’s words were cold and final.
Merlin stood there, utterly stunned, as the world crashed down around him.
