Alison, despite her humble beginnings, had always aimed high. She envied girls born into privilege and, during her school years, used every trick in the book to extract money from men. Her vanity grew unchecked, and her demands became ever more extravagant, beyond the means of ordinary men-only someone of Paul’s high stature could satisfy her. With Paul’s downfall, not only would she lose her job, but also her powerful protector. What would she do then?
“Miss Montgomery, I was wrong, please help us. Beg the chairman to spare the vice president. I’ll take all the blame,” Alison pleaded, kneeling and bowing repeatedly.
The others were stunned. Was this the same haughty Alison they knew?
“Pleading with me is useless. You should have known the consequences when you schemed against me and my father. I’m just a minor manager; what can I do for you?”
“No, no, no, you’re the chairman’s granddaughter. He adores you. If you plead for us, it will definitely help,” Alison insisted, kneeling and clutching at her legs.
Aurora helped her to her feet, “Stand up first, then we’ll talk.”
“Have you changed your mind?” Alison asked, hopeful.
Aurora replied coolly, “No one in this world is worth losing your dignity over. I can’t help you with this matter. Please leave.”
She had finally managed to bring Paul down. If she gave him this chance, she might not be so lucky next time. Whether Alison was involved or not, Aurora was determined to remove Paul, a stumbling block in her path. As long as he was there, he would pave the way for Ivy and Zachary. After all her plotting, how could she give her enemies such an opportunity?
Seeing that Aurora was ignoring her and had turned back to her computer, Alison’s anger deepened. “Aurora, you will regret what you did today!” With that, she turned and left. Aurora watched her storm off, noting that the woman still hadn’t learned her lesson. She hoped Alison wouldn’t self-destruct like a moth to a flame!
Around noon, Finnian arrived again. “Manager, your grandfather wants to see you.”
“Alright.”
Even if she didn’t go, Aurora knew what it was about. Everyone knew about Paul and Alison. The video she released was irrefutable evidence; Paul had no chance of a comeback.
“What’s the situation now?” Aurora asked Finnian.
“The evidence is conclusive. All shareholders unanimously voted to dismiss Paul. They want you to take his position,” Finnian revealed, clearly on Aurora’s side.
“What did the other shareholders say?” Aurora asked, not particularly thrilled. The Montgomery Group wasn’t so simple to navigate.
“Some shareholders think you lack experience and need more seasoning, so they want Eric to take over his position.”
“Eric?” Aurora had considered who might replace Paul, but Eric hadn’t crossed her mind. Julian had told her to keep her distance, and Eric’s penetrating gaze was always profound. He was a complex man, well-liked within the company-a stark contrast to Paul. Despite his popularity among the young women at the company, he was notably reserved.
Would he be friend or foe if he took Paul’s position? Even though Aurora had little interest in the position, she now had to secure it to keep it from falling into Eric’s hands.
“We’ve arrived, miss,” said the driver as they reached the office they had visited the day before.
The office was filled with the same people as yesterday, except Eric was there too, standing upright to one side.
“Come and sit,” Grandpa Montgomery beckoned, having Aurora sit by his side.
Paul, already ashen-faced, slumped in his seat, his gaze turning icy as he met Aurora’s eyes.
“Mr. Chairman,” Aurora bowed before sitting down.
“The matter concerning Paul is now common knowledge, and after the board’s investigation, the allegations were confirmed. This has brought our company into disrepute, especially as we are about to collaborate with Luminary. With this scandal, we have lost a significant advantage. The board has decided to revoke Paul’s position. Paul, do you have any objections to this decision?” Grandpa Montgomery asked sternly, sitting upright.
“It’s my fault. I have adversely affected the company. I have no objections to this decision,” Paul said, his face devoid of color.
“Very well. With your departure, the vice president position is temporarily vacant. My intention is for Aurora to take over this position. Aurora, what are your thoughts?”
Grandpa Montgomery looked towards Aurora, who was already briefed by Finnian on the way there and had made up her mind.
“Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps my age might seem too young for this position in your eyes. But age is not the issue; what matters are experience, unique perspective, and problem-solving skills. I have gained experience during my three years in the United States, and I am confident I can handle the role. I hope you will give me this opportunity.”
“Aurora, it’s not that we distrust you, but you are aware of the negative publicity that has only recently been cleared up. While we have clarified matters, it still leaves a somewhat bad impression. The vice president’s role is not a minor one. I think Aurora should gain more experience. Eric has been with the company for three years, and his capabilities are apparent to us all. Personally, I would prefer him to take over,” one board member said.
“You make a valid point. Aurora is still an undergraduate, a young girl. As a vice president, every decision affects the entire company. I urge everyone to consider this carefully,” another added.
“These past few days, Anne has been working from dawn till dusk, always the last to leave, showing a responsible attitude towards her work. She has already improved the office atmosphere significantly in just a few days. I think she’s doing very well, and I am willing to give her a chance,” Sean spoke up for Aurora, and Magnus added, “Indeed, Aurora is intelligent and sharp. I believe she has the strength for this.”
“This…”
“Why don’t we vote between Aurora and Eric to see who gets the most votes? The vice president position will go to the one with the most,” another suggested.
“That sounds good. Let’s decide by a vote,” they agreed.
Finnian walked to the small blackboard to tally the votes, “One vote for Aurora…”