Chapter 551


    Alivia’s smile deepened with every thought that danced through her mind. She was done getting her


    own hands dirty dealing with Brielle. Why bother when she could manipte others to do her dirty work


    as she had done with Tessa? She just had to sit back and reap the rewards


    Take Sydney, for instance. She was nothing more than a pawn in her game. No matter how much rage


    or frustration bubbled within Sydney, without Max’s heart in her grasp, she was merely y in Alivia’s


    hands.


    Alivia’s gaze skated over Sydney’s face with undisguised contempt. “Keep looking at me with those


    eyes, and believe me, I can have someone gouge them out before you can even blink,”


    she hissed.


    Sydney shivered, fear creeping into her bones, and she quickly looked down. “Ms. Alivia, I’ve done as


    you asked. Can’t you just let me be now?”


    Alivia stood up, patting Sydney’s cheek condescendingly. “Next time I tell you to jump, you ask, ‘How


    high? Your little ns are transparent to me. This building is full of mirrors, Sydney. Take a long look at


    yourself. With that pitiful, sour expression, do you really think Max would spare you a second nce?”


    The scorn in Alivia’s eyes was impossible to miss. Sydney clenched her teeth so hard her gums ached,


    her eyes reddening with suppressed anger. But she was helpless, forced to watch Alivia strut away with


    her designer bag, leaving her to stew in her own turmoil.


    Sydney’s breathing was shaky as she swept the documents from her desk in a fit of rage. She had to


    stay calm. After all, getting Max to forget Brielle quickly was also in her best interest. Only then could


    she climb thedder.


    Upstairs, Max sat staring nkly at the ck rosary beads on his desk, memories of Brielle wearing


    them shing through his mind. He massaged his temples, the headache intensifying, and then his


    phone rang–it was Brielle.


    The rosaryy beside the phone, a stark reminder that she hadn’t taken it with her. He stood, reaching


    for the documents underneath, inadvertently sending the beads ttering to the floor. The sound of the


    phone and the beads mingled as he stooped to pick them up. wrapping them in a tissue.


    After rescheduling all his meetings online, he headed straight back to the Premier Pce. Upon arrival,


    he handed the rosary to Wesley. “Sanitize it.”


    Sydney had touched it, and who knew who else had?


    Wesley knew the significance of the beads. Aware of his boss‘ preference for cleanliness, he quickly


    took the wrapped item and sanitized it thoroughly before returning it.


    Max then ced the rosary inside a box. He did not want to deal with the confrontation that would


    inevitablye from answering Brielle’s call. Instead, he merely sent her a message.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    15-17


    [Focus on your work for now.]


    Brielle received the text while sitting in a boardroom surrounded by the senior executives, many of


    whom had rushed in so hastily that their suits were wrinkled.


    Already in a foul mood, Brielle’s face darkened further at the sight. “The HR department will note the


    names of those absent and prepare their termination papers. I don’t want to see them in thispany


    again.”


    it was the first time so many employees were going to be dismissed at once, many of whom were


    deeply entrenched in thepany. The HR head hesitated, knowing the implications.


    Brielle fixed him with an icy stare, “What, we don’t have recements ready for such argepany?


    If not, perhaps HR should start recruiting online now?”


    “Ms. Haywood,” someone interjected, “letting them go so abruptly will impact thepany.”


    Brielle’s response was chilling as she tossed the document onto the marble table. “Oh really? Please


    enlighten me, does ourpany’s performance have any room to fall further?”


    The room fell silent, the intent behind Brielle’s words clear as crystal. With no further room for decline,


    the fate of each employee rested solely on her current mood. After all, those seated around her held no


    shares, and the representatives sent by Dorsey International had


    veto power.


    Brielle’s gaze swept across each face. “I have an excellent memory. Until we have new hires, I expect


    to see these same faces. I’m not interested in any excuses from those who failed to show up today.


    They’ve had their chance. They just didn’t seize it. One more word out of line, and you can hand over


    your seat to them and take their ce in leaving.“