“After the meeting about thest quarter, your marketing department confidently promised an 80% payment rate, but what happened? Do you know that if this continues, thepany’s cash flow will be tight and could easily break?”


    “Ms Martinez, Ms Knight has only been with us for three days. She doesn’t fully understand these matters yet. Can you…”


    “It shouldn’t be an excuse. If she sits in this position, she must take responsibility for it!” Isabe Martinez interrupted Ava Jones. “If we don’t hold her ountable just because she’s new here, then who will be responsible when your marketing department changes leaders every other day? Who will manage sales and payments for thepany?”


    “But…” Ava Jones tried to speak up again.


    “Ms Martinez, hello!” Harleen interrupted Ava Jones and stood up. “I’ve looked at some reports over the past few days and I agree that our payment rate is a bit low. However, I promise you that starting this quarter our payment rate will rise above 80%.”


    “Anyone can talk big,” Isabe Martinez sneered. “The previous three marketing managers all talked like you did.”


    Before Harleen could respond to herment, Isabe continued speaking. “For now let’s put aside future promises, on behalf of thepany, I’m officially notifying you that all members of the marketing department are having their bonuses andmissions of thest quarter withheld in full! If we still can’t achieve an 80% payment rate by end of this quarter then don’t even think about getting any year-end bonuses!”


    “Ms Martinez! This isn’t fair!” Ava Jones protested loudly.


    “The reason why we didn’t reach our target was because a former manager signed arge order without collecting payments before being fired by thepany, which brought down our overall percentage. But the marketing department has achieved the 80%, why shouldn’t the other colleagues receive their bonuses andmissions?”


    “Rude!” Isabe Martinez responded angrily. “What are you saying? Watch your tone and remember your position!”


    “I’m just telling the truth. If thepany thinks I’m a problem, they can fire me!” Ava Jones replied indignantly.


    “You!” Isabe Martinez’s face darkened. “Do you think thepany won’t dare to fire you?”


    “Ava, calm down first,” Harleen said, then turned to Isabe Martinez. “Ms Martinez, let me understand this situation before we discuss it further. Besides, even if thepany does want to deduct our bonuses andmissions, shouldn’t we have a meeting first and then have an official notice from the marketing department?”


    “What do you mean? Are you saying I don’t have the authority to issue this notice?” Isabe Martinez responded coldly.


    “You’re in charge of the finance department while we’re in the marketing department. What do you think about that?” Harleen’s tone also became colder.


    “Very well!” Isabe Martinez snorted coldly. “You’re quite tough for a new marketing manager! You want thepany to issue an official notice? Good timing then! Mr Patton is back from his business trip and you’ll be able to see it soon!”


    After speaking, she looked at Ava Jones again and said, “Mr Patton asked me to inform you that he wants to see you in his office right away!”


    After finishing her words with another cold snort, Isabe turned around and left.


    “He… he came back so soon?” After Isabe Martinez left, Ava Jones shivered all over her body.


    “Ava, what happened?” Harleen noticed something was wrong with her.


    “Ms Knight, I… I don’t want go into his office…” Ava Jones’ face was slightly pale.


    “Why not?” Harleen asked curiously.


    “Just now I introduced thepany’s affairs to you. There is one thing that I haven’t had a chance to tell you,” Ava Jones took a deep breath and continued. “Our marketing department has already changed three managers this year, and the previous three were alldies. Actually, their work abilities were quite good, but they were dismissed by thepany due to special reasons.”


    “What special reason?” Harleen hesitated for a moment.


    “The Mr Patton that Isabe Martinez just mentioned, named Gerald Patton, he’s thepany’s executive vice president. He has been on a business trip recently and you haven’t met him yet. He is a dirty old man who often harasses female colleagues in thepany, relying on his social connections in Ozin. Several female colleagues in thepany have already fallen victim to him. The previous three managers before you were all fired because they refused to sumb to his sexual harassment. And the reason why Isabe Martinez dares to be so domineering in thepany is because she has sucked up to him!”


    Startled, Harleen asked, “Doesn’t the General Manager care about it?”


    “Ms Rodriguez also has her own difficulties. She is just a professional manager, and Mr Patton doesn’t even consider her.” Ava Jones responded.


    Just at that moment, Ava Jones’ phone rang. She picked it up and her face changed again upon seeing what was on the screen.


    “I got it!” After hanging up the phone, Ava Jones took a deep breath and looked at Harleen. “Gerald Patton asked me to go to his office!”


    “Has he harassed you before?” Harleen frowned slightly.


    Ava Jones nodded and said, “It’s happened two or three times already, where he tried to touch me in his office.”


    “What a jerk!” Harleen said angrily.


    “Here’s the deal. You go see what he wants from you first. If he tries anything funny, message me and I’ll talk to him, okay?” Harleen said.


    “Ms Knight, forget it. I can’t let you get involved in this. You just started at thepany and if you confront him, he won’t back down.” Ava Jones shook her head. “Besides, Isabe Martinez was probably rude to you earlier because she thinks you’re too pretty and is worried that Mr Patton might have feelings for you instead of her. If you cause any more trouble, she’ll definitely convince Mr Patton to fire you!”This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    “Don’t worry about it!” Harleen responded. “You should go first. If it’s work-rted, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you not to show up anyway. Plus, sooner orter I’ll have to deal with him.”


    “Okay… alright then…” Ava Jones nodded slightly before leaving the office.


    Meanwhile on the floor above them in one of therge conference rooms a group of men and women were having a meeting.


    If Billy were there, he would immediately recognize the man sitting at the head of table with a smug expression as the chairman of World Group, Derek Hines.


    SunPark Group used to be owned by one of Ozin’s three major families – the Watkins family. Since those families had fallen into trouble, Derek Hines had gradually acquired all their prime assets ording to Billy’s orders, and SunPark Group was one among them.


    Today was Derek’s first meeting after integrating SunPark Group into his portfolio where he would listen aboutpany operations while also getting acquainted with its management team.


    Sitting next to Derek on his left was a young woman who looked like she wasn’t even thirty yet, reporting work progress using projection equipment.


    Harper Rodriguez, the general manager of SunPark Group, stood tall and elegant in her dark grey suit. Her features were refined and her demeanor exuded confidence and efficiency.


    “Mr Hines, this is the current state of ourpany’s operations.” Harper said as she finished her presentation and turned to Derek with a respectful tone.


    “Hmm, not bad,” Derek nodded slightly. “Please introduce each department head briefly to me so that I can recognize them in the future.”


    “Okay,” Harper Rodriguez nodded.


    Soon after, information about thepany’s management team began to appear on the projection screen.