Chapter 25
For fuck’s sake, Camille dumped a pile of useles contracts on my desk and demanded I read them. She was clearly trying to give me more trouble.
“What’s with that look? You’re CEO now, and according to company policy, these are yours to
review!”
She raised her chin and shot me a look of contempt. At that moment, she actually thought she’d gained the upper hand. Or perhaps, she believed these documents would throw me off and mentally exhaust me.
I felt sorry to burst her bubble, but she was overthinking it.
“This file needs to be rewritten. The legal terms are wrong.
“This file has incomplete project planning and unjustified reasons. Redesign it.
“For this, your figures are off. Request financial statements from the finance department. Every single expenditure has its metrics. Don’t just make things up.
“And this…”
Over the past three years, I reviewed countless projects. With just one look, I could spot the issues in her cobbled–together mess.
How dare she hand me a pile of documents that wouldn’t even pass the first round of review? If she’d meant to humiliate me, she was about to dig her own grave.
“W–what do you mean?” Camille’s expression froze, and she soon realized what I was doing.
“Your proposals aren’t bad. They’re just lacking detail. Revise them, and I’ll take another look later.”
Since she wasn’t afraid of the trouble, why should I be? I was better at nitpicking than anyone.
“Max!” she practically spat my name as she gritted her teeth. Her eyes burned with rage as if she wanted to tear me apart.
“Weren’t these your projects? Now that there’s a problem, why are you yelling at me? Even an intern could do better than this.
“And you’re supposed to be the deputy CEO and a Blackthorne University graduate? What a joke,” I said as I leaned back in my chair and gave her a mocking smile.
I wouldn’t say it felt great, but it did take the edge off.
To be honest, I’d never intended to go against her. All I wanted was to get through my final days in peace.
Chapter 25
I offered her kindness, and since she refused to let me go and pressed closer, she’d have to suffer now that our roles were reversed.
Fuming, Camille’s eyes locked on me with murderous intent. But I could see the gears turning in her head. She must have realized that her usual tricks wouldn’t work against me anymore.
“What are you so smug about, Max? Don’t forget that Layton Group belongs to the Layton family, and not to you.
“You’re still a lapdog of the Layton family. Only now, you’re my dad’s instead of mine. Either way, you’re still one!”
She was smart in knowing what she could say to provoke me. Her words were aimed at stirring my resentment toward Benson and sowing discord.
Though that was her plan, it was still laughable.
“That’s fight. I am one, but right now, I’m way above you.
“Have these documents revised and placed on my desk by tomorrow morning. Or else…”
I barely finished the first sentence when Camille laughed. She crossed her arms and shot me a disdainful look. “Or else what? Are you gonna fire me or dock my pay? Hilarious!”
That might have worked on regular employees, but it wouldn’t scare her at all. Still, did she think I was out of options?
Smiling, I said, “If you don’t revise them, I’ll submit these documents to the board tomorrow and show the directors what Ms. Layton, the deputy CEO, is capable of.
“I’m sure the board meeting will be quite a show.”
With those words, the smugness on her face vanished entirely. A cold bitterness took its place.
