Katelyn maintained a serene smile.

“Two.”

The nonchalant response landed like a heavy blow on the hearts of the three women.

They could vividly imagine the retribution Vincent would exact once Katelyn reported them. Given Vincent’s favoritism toward Katelyn, their dismissal would likely be the mildest consequence.

The two women exchanged uneasy glances, each detecting hesitation in the other’s eyes. One of them tentatively pulled at the sleeve of her companion, her gaze filled with uncertainty as she briefly glanced at Katelyn, silently questioning whether they should apologize and retreat.

The woman with short hair, signaling with her eyes, appeared to be the most timid of the trio, something Katelyn had observed.

The woman with long hair clenched her teeth as she glanced at Celia standing next to her. If they surrendered to Katelyn now, Celia would likely take issue with them as well. It seemed wiser to antagonize just one party rather than both.

With Celia’s side providing sufficient support, Vincent would undoubtedly weigh the potential consequences. Celia tightened her fists and took a deep breath.

Katelyn was applying psychological pressure. If they yielded now, they would likely face further intimidation from her in the future.

Confident in her design skills, Celia believed Vincent would want to retain her services.

Katelyn observed them closely, particularly their covert whispers, which only intensified her smile. She masked her feelings and icily stated, “One.”

The three women wavered for a moment but ultimately chose not to apologize.

Katelyn had anticipated this outcome.

? : ?ν.

Though the two women had shown some hesitation, they ultimately aligned with Celia, making themselves her allies.

In that case, Katelyn would not be lenient. As someone in a leadership role, ensuring effective management of her team was crucial. If she couldn’t manage these few individuals, her future at the company would become increasingly challenging.

“Think carefully about your choice today. I will be informing Mr. Adams right away.” Katelyn gave them a significant look.

She suddenly regretted accepting Vincent’s job offer so quickly; otherwise, she wouldn’t be dealing with such bothersome issues.

Katelyn was merely trying to intimidate them and had no real intention of involving Vincent. With Vincent swamped with work daily, she didn’t want to burden him with such minor conflicts.

Katelyn began to turn away, but Celia, begrudgingly watching her leave, shouted, “Do you really think Mr. Adams won’t harbor secret resentment when you turn on us like this? To Mr. Adams, you are just a plaything. Don’t overestimate your importance.”

Celia’s words brimmed with anger and an underlying fear that only she knew.

Everyone in the company feared Vincent. Even a mere frown from him could instill terror in many.

Katelyn faced Celia, her patience wearing thin. Celia spoke through clenched teeth, her voice fierce.

“If Mr. Adams holds us accountable, we will not let you off easily either. If necessary, we will all strike back. No one will come out unscathed.”

Unmoved by the blatant threat, Katelyn remained calm, her demeanor unaffected by their words.

“Looking at you now, I can only think how incredibly foolish you are. Despite knowing Mr. Adams favors me, you still choose to provoke me. Your actions against me and your scheming within the company are clear violations of Mr. Adams’ standards.”

Katelyn paused before altering her tone.

“For you, being dismissed might be the least of your worries. I believe I should report this to Mr. Adams. It would be best if you had trouble finding employment at Granville. If news of this spreads, do you really think any company would want to hire you?”

In contrast, Celia’s threats seemed insignificant. The prospect of being unable to find work at Granville was what truly struck them with fear.

Vincent’s influence was such that he could easily ensure no other company would consider hiring them. Should that happen, they would be left with no means of staying in the city and would be forced to leave. The two female employees, who had previously been resolute, now had their mental defenses completely broken.

.

.

.