chapter77

Josef cleared his throat and spoke up, Let me introduce everyone. This is our new company president, Ms. Norwood."

The whole room froze.

The group that had just been gossiping stared at Lydia, completely thrown. "Josef, are you serious? She looks so young. She's really the president?

"Josef, you're not joking, right?"

"Yeah, Josef, if this is a prank, April Fools' was months ago."

Lydia just raised an eyebrow and showed them her employee badge.

Silence hung in the air.

"President?" someone finally managed to say.

Lydia nodded, her gaze sweeping over the office. "Who's the head of the design department?"

A woman who'd been fixing her makeup, tall and curvy in one of LYLX's latest dresses, strutted out with a hint of attitude. "That would be me."

Lydia took in her look, head to toe. "Your foundation is way too thick. It's caking everywhere."

The office fell completely silent.

She glared at Lydia, her anger barely contained. "You..."

Josef jumped in before things escalated. "Marissa, this is our new president, Ms. Norwood."

Which was basically a warning to watch it.

Marissa swallowed back whatever she'd been about to say, her hand clenched around her compact so tightly her knuckles went white. She forced a smile and said, "Thanks for the feedback, Ms. Norwood, but it doesn't look like you wear makeup yourself. Caking happens all the time when you actually put in the effort. If you wore makeup, you'd know."

Lydia smiled, calm as ever. "Caked makeup isn't just a bad look. It can actually harm your skin. For starters, it can make your skin red and irritated. If powder clogs your pores, your skin can't breathe, and that can lead to inflammation. Sometimes it shows up as redness, swelling, or even stinging. Over time, this kind of irritation can make your skin more sensitive and fragile. There's also the risk of breakouts. When your pores are blocked and your skin can't get rid of oil, bacteria builds up and that leads to acne. Even if you don't have breakouts now, caking makes clogged pores worse and you'll probably notice more pimples popping up. And finally, caked makeup can even speed up aging. If your skin isn't getting enough oxygen and nutrients, it can't repair itself properly. That's when wrinkles show up faster. You might want to see a dermatologist when you have the time."

Marissa was left speechless.

Everyone else just gawked.

Lydia added, "And another thing. Your eyeshadow isn't blended evenly, your eyeliner wing is way too long, and your lipstick doesn't match your dress."

Marissa's face went stiff, like she was about to snap.

Lydia had already looked away, addressing the rest of the staff. During work hours,

I expect everyone to stay professional and focus on their jobs. Personal stuff can wait until before or after work."

She turned to Josef. "Take me to the production department."

The design department handled the creative side, designing all the clothes. The production department took care of actually making them, everything from sourcing materials to planning and quality checks. It was one of the most important parts of the company.

As Lydia and Josef stepped out of the design area, a young woman rushed toward them, carrying a tray loaded with coffee. Maybe she didn't expect anyone to be coming out, or maybe she was just in a hurry, but she stumbled and nearly crashed right into Lydia.

In a split second, Lydia reached out and steadied the tray before it could hit the floor. She moved so fast that even Josef, who was standing right there, hardly saw what happened.