chapter120

"What do you want us to do?" she asked, her teeth clenched.

"Have him resign as general manager and get out of here, as far as possible," Lydia replied, her voice dripping with contempt.

"You're the one who should leave!" Henry snapped, his eyes practically rolling back in frustration. He looked like he was about to lose it.

Lydia's words hit Rose hard. The anger she'd been holding back suddenly exploded, wiping away any last shred of patience.

"Lydia, you're going too far!"

She had already swallowed her pride to beg for her son, but Lydia wouldn't let up. Did this girl really think she could do whatever she wanted just because she had the Norwood family backing her? Who did she think she was?

Lydia paid no attention to the daggers coming from Rose and Henry's glares. She strolled over to her desk, pulled out a sanitizing wipe, and wiped her hands carefully, like she'd just touched something filthy.

"He's the one who's gone too far. Out of thirty days in a month, he's slacked off for all thirty. What gives someone like him the right to be general manager?"

Henry's face tightened with guilt. She'd just joined the company, so how did she already know what he'd been up to all month?

"And you?" Rose shot back, her eyes blazing. "What makes you think you deserve to be president?"

Lydia just laughed softly. "Because I can turn this company around, get things running like they should, and double our performance."

"Anyone can brag like that."

I'll prove it with real results. So, anyone here collecting a paycheck for nothing should probably just leave while they still can."

Rose scoffed. "And what if my son refuses to resign?"

The general manager position was second only to vice president. Lydia had already fired two receptionists, and now she thought she could fire Rose's son too? She had to be dreaming.

"Then he can spend a few days in a cell and learn a lesson," Lydia said, her tone light, like it was no big deal.

"You-" Rose started, but she was cut off.

"Police business. Please cooperate," a voice called from the doorway. Two

uniformed officers stepped inside.

Rose and Henry froze in shock. Lydia had actually called the police.

Lydia handed over a USB drive with surveillance footage she'd already prepared.

The video made it clear that everything she'd said was true.

Rose's face turned pale. "No, Lydia, how did you even get that?" She felt a wave of dread. The surveillance footage was supposed to be locked down in the security room, and the only people with access were trusted Ragain family employees How had Lydia managed this?

"My office has a camera. Why wouldn't I have access?" Lydia replied, her smile unreadable.

"Mr. Ragain, please come with us," one of the officers said.

"No, I don't want to go! Mom, help me!" Henry cried, panic taking over. He wasn't facing any serious charges, but a few days in detention was definitely on the table.

"Ms. Norwood, this is just a misunderstanding. My son didn't even touch you. You are so nice, can't you just let it go this time?" Rose pleaded, desperation in her voice.

Lydia didn't even glance at her. Instead, she looked straight at the officers. "Please handle this by the book."

"We will," one of them answered.

Henry was dragged away,

screaming and sobbing. Rose, terrified for her son, rushed after him, climbing into the police car The whole company had seen it happen, and the office buzzed with whispers and shock.

Ms. Norwood wasn't someone to mess with.

Everyone knew how unbearable Mr. Ragain was. Not only had she knocked him down a peg, she'd sent him straight to the police station. Nobody had ever pulled off anything like this before.

Jenny, still at her desk, watched as Henry was hauled away, still trying to process what she'd just witnessed.

Ms. Norwood worked fast. Too fast, honestly. The whole thing had played out in less than twenty minutes, and Mr. Ragain was already in the back of a police car.