Chapter 334
In front of others, Shakira obediently approached the desk. Walter drummed his fingers on the desk and said in a low voice, “Come closer.”
eyes
inadvertently
Shakira was lost for words and had no choice but to walk around the desk and stand by his side. As her drifted upward, they were caught by a photo frame on the desk. Looking closer, she almost gasped in surprise. Shakira thought, ‘Wasn’t it-
In the next moment, a warm hand reached over and firmly held her right hand. Shakira stared at him in disbelief, but Walter pretended not to notice.
Not far away, Charles’s group watched as Shakira stood beside Mr. Lopez, each feeling uneasy, unable to figure out Mr. Lopez’s intentions.
Under the table, he held her hand tightly, yet on the surface, he remained distant and stern. He shot another disdainful look at Charles’s group. “A bunch of fools, not even as good as a young girl.” Everyone felt ashamed, unable to lift their heads after being scolded.
Benton, quick on his feet, was the first to bow. “Mr. Lopez, Mr. Reynolds, we made a serious mistake, almost missing the opportunity to collaborate with them. If only you can calm down, I’m willing to accept punishment. I apologize to Mr. Reynolds and Shakira.”
The entire Marketing Department knew Benton was excellent at flattery. Seeing his move, the other two team leaders imitated him, bowing and apologizing to Shakira and Sean with genuine sincerity. Charles also made his position clear, offering a sincere apology. A group of executives all bowed their heads toward Shakira standing next to Walter, leaving David as the only one still standing up straight.
Walter swept his cold eyes over the bowed heads before settling on David. It was a casual glance but carried a hidden resolve.
David shuddered all over. Though full of frustration, he was unable to resist. He bent down. “I failed to recognize greatness and apologize to Mr. Reynolds and Shakira.”
Seeing the neatly lined-up executives, Sean was awestruck and thought, ‘Walter’s move was harsh. He forced a group of executives to swallow their pride and apologize here, effectively blocking my path for negotiations based on their earlier negligence. Thinking about it, Sean whispered to Cathy, who was looking at him with bright eyes, “See, wasn’t I right? Walter is so sneaky and underhanded.”
Cathy looked at him like he was talking nonsense. “Are you blind”
“What?” Sean was completely baffled. “What the heck? Why are you insulting me?”
“How is Mr. Lopez sneaky? He’s clearly supporting Shakira quietly.”
Sean’s entire worldview was shattered in disbelief. “What?”
Cathy looked at the clueless Sean. “Don’t get it? He’s making them apologize to you openly. Isn’t he standing up Shakira actually? You should play fewer games and read more books like The Bossy CEO Fell For Me. That’ll help you find a partner.” “I think you’re the one who’s wrong,” replied Sean.
Cathy shrugged. “Believe it or not, I bet they are secretly holding hands under the table right now.”
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Chapter 334
Sean was lost for words
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Sean was startled. Imagining that scenario, his whole perspective was shaken. “No, that’s not possible. Shakira isn’t that kind of person.”
He was getting angry when Walter turned around. “Mr. Reynolds are you satisfied with this apology?”
Sean instinctively wanted to complain, but he immediately met Shakira’s intense stare, nearly tying his tongue. “Of course. I’m satisfied. I can feel Mr. Lopez’s sincerity.”
Walter nodded and turned to look at Shakira. “What about you?”
As he asked the question, he subtly pinched her index finger under the table.
His expression was clearly showing a bit of sass. “See, I’ve got your back.”
Shakira sighed helplessly. “Mr. Lopez, I’m quite satisfied.”
“Since you are happy with it. Let’s move on from this,” said Walter.
-3.
Walter stated. “Rewards for achievements and deductions for failures are clear. You, as the leader, have failed in supervision and management, so your quarterly bonuses will be deducted. The deducted amount will be given to Shakira as a bonus once the project is signed.” They were lost for words and thought, ‘Oh my god, the quarterly bonuses of each of us is at least in the six figures. If all that went to Shakira, wouldn’t it be nearly 300 thousand dollars?
They regretted it so much, but without Shakira, it might not have just been losing the bonus.
With that thought, it suddenly didn’t hurt so much.
Walter stared at them. “Do you have any objections to this decision?”
They shook their heads like rattles. “No, no, Mr. Lopez, you make a wise decision.”
“Alright, everyone, get back to work,” said Walter.
Cathy patted Sean on the shoulder. “See, I told you. Not only is he supporting Shakira, but he is also bringing money to her.”
Sean was lost for words and was still completely caught up in what Cathy said about them holding hands under the table.
He suddenly stood up, as if on impulse, and walked toward Walter. “I just remembered there’s something at the office and I’ve got to go. I’ll have my secretary follow up on the collaboration.” Sean suddenly froze. Under the table, Shakira was really holding hands with that guy.
Sean thought, ‘Shakira, why have you become so disheartened? It must be the jerk who led you astray!
Sean was close to a mental breakdown, watching helplessly as his cherished beauty was carelessly taken by someone unworthy.
Shakira sensed something was wrong and quickly pulled her hand back. “I’ll go downstairs too. Let me see you off.”
Without any argument, she pulled Cathy, who had an amused smile and ushered the almost petrified Sean out the door.
After everyone left, Walter at the top showed a barely visible wicked grin.
Brian was confused. He thought, ‘Mr. Lopez was angry when Ms Nelson brought Sean. What is he smiling at now?”
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Chapter 334
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“Warmth” reported that someone had impersonated the core member of their team, leading to Keith being taken by the police. Yvette, feeling uneasy at the company, was soon called over too. Keith insisted that Yvette had convinced him to impersonate. Yvette, both angry and scared, tearfully called her eldest
brother Finn.
After receiving the news, Finn brought the top legal team of the Nelson Group and quickly got Yvette out on bail.
Once in the car, looking at her eldest brother, Finn, who sat apart and gazed out the window with a distant air, Yvette felt an unfamiliar strangeness, like she couldn’t reach him anymore. Though Finn wasn’t as close to her as other brothers, he had always been kind and forgiving to her.
Feeling a rush of anxiety, Yvette bowed her head and began to cry. “Brother, it’s all my fault. I trusted the wrong person.”
Finn suddenly spoke.
Yvette, with tears still on her cheeks, quickly looked up, with her eyes wide open. “Br-brother, what did you say? I don’t understand.”
“When you took Keith to the Lopez Group, you said I had pulled strings to find him for you,” said Finn.
Finn turned around and looked at his gentle and kind sister, who was like a delicate flower in the rain, with unprecedented coldness. “The truth is, I knew nothing about it.”