The next morning, Darnell arrived at work unusually punctually, though his vigilance was at an all-time high, fearing that Areli might attack him.
Despite having sent Areli a lengthy message the previous night explaining that he had no ill intentions and that he had misheard about the meteor shower, she didn’t respond. This left him anxious, worried that she might waylay him and strike him down.
Fortunately, his journey to work was uneventful, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
When Darnell cautiously appeared on the eighteenth floor, he immediately spotted Lillian dressed in long sleeves and trousers. She was holding a stack of documents and nodding to several colleagues, thanking them for their concern with a warm smile. There was no trace of yesterday’s turmoil on her.
Darnell was surprised to see her and quickly ran over while whistling. “Lillian, why are you at work? Miss Fanshaw gave you three days off. Why aren’t you resting at home?”
The restroom incident gradually died down with Brian’s dismissal, especially after Roberto ordered everyone not to discuss it under the guise of maintaining the company’s image. Hundreds of employees kept silent about it, but they still encouraged Lillian to move past it quickly.
Darnell didn’t waste words. He knew Lillian wouldn’t have trauma.
Upon seeing Darnell, Lillian immediately smiled brightly and said, “I was just a bit startled yesterday. I’m fine.”
“After a good night’s sleep, I felt completely recovered, so I came to work in Miss Fanshaw’s car today. Thank you for your concern, Darnell.”
“I also want to thank you for your help yesterday.”
She looked charmingly at him. “If it weren’t for your assistance, I wouldn’t have escaped so easily.”
“Acknowledge my help now?” Darnell didn’t hold back. “I’ve saved you twice now. Shouldn’t you show some appreciation? Any rewards? Money? Yourself?”
Lillian slapped away his extended hand. This man never played by the rules and often infuriated people. “Act your age! You’re about to become the team leader of the sales department, yet you still act so frivolously. I initially wanted to treat you to a meal, but now I’ve changed my mind. No reward.”
She huffed adorably. “Come on, I’ll take you to the sales department. Miss Fanshaw asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Darnell looked despondent. “Lillian, I saved you yesterday and even kept you warm with my body. Now you’re turning against me?”
“Get lost!” Lillian glared at him. She could now understand Areli’s frustration. This guy was a handful. Whenever she tried to remember his good deeds, all she could recall were his misdeeds. After throwing out one word, she swayed her hips towards the sales department. “Hurry up. You’ll get docked pay if you’re late.”
Hearing this, Darnell hurried after her.
Three minutes later, Darnell appeared in the sales department on the seventeenth floor, a thousand-square-meter space with nearly two hundred employees.
The place was divided into twenty sections, each with its own name, Eagle Team and Elite Team, etc. Darnell was stunned.
Lillian noticed his confusion and explained, “Mr. Izzard had a penchant for a competitive culture and has always divided us into teams.”
“We have quarterly assessments. The team with the poorest performance gets dismissed entirely every year.”
“The headquarters appreciates this model and supports his work because he’s quite capable.”
Darnell’s eyes lit up. “Great! If he kicks me out of the sales department early, I can return to the assistant department and spend more time with you, Lillian.”
“Don’t get any funny ideas.” Lillian huffed again. “Miss Fanshaw said if you fail the sales department’s assessment, you’ll be sent to manage a warehouse in Northmoor.”
She added, “It’s written in your agreement.”
Northmoor was Whiteville’s slum area, worlds apart from the city center where their branch office was located.
Darnell slapped his forehead in regret, thinking he’d been outmaneuvered.
However, he decided to keep his distance for now to avoid further provoking Areli.
“Miss Fanshaw has already informed Mr. Izzard that given your performance the day before yesterday, you’ll join one of the teams as a team leader.”
Lillian grew more serious as she advised Darnell, “The salary and commission are good, but Mr. Izzard is Mr. Gower’s man. Be cautious.”
“Although you secured a big order the day before yesterday, you’ve also offended Mr. Gower. So Mr. Izzard won’t make things easy for you. Stay sharp.”
Darnell smiled wryly, “Seems like Miss Fanshaw wants to put me through the wringer.”
Mr. Izzard being Roberto’s man meant tough times ahead, but at least Darnell was directly under Miss Fanshaw’s management and had some backing.
Without much complaint, Darnell took out his phone and sent a message. Soon after, he received an email containing Eliezer’s information. After skimming through it, he grinned slyly.
As they walked down the corridor, many curious eyes followed Darnell. People whispered about him as if trying to uncover his background.
Darnell greeted them with friendly smiles but received little response. Clearly, they saw him as a competitor.
Just then, a door opened from the only enclosed office in the middle of the hall. A portly man emerged.
The man had a beer belly and a bald head but stood tall with prominent features. However, his fatigued face made him look like someone drained by indulgence.
It was Eliezer, the head of the sales department.
Recalling their confrontation yesterday gave Darnell another headache.
“Miss Snow,” Eliezer forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Feeling better? Back at work so soon? Seems like Mr. Towne didn’t do much to you.”
“Thank you for your concern.” Lillian ignored his veiled hostility and pulled Darnell forward. “This is Darnell Halford. You’ve met before.”
“Miss Fanshaw thinks he has potential and since we have enough staff in the assistant department right now, he’s here for some training.”
She continued earnestly, “He’s shown good business acumen by helping secure a big order right after joining the company.”
Darnell politely greeted, extending his hand, “Hello, Mr. Izzard.”
“Miss Fanshaw treats this place like what?” Eliezer didn’t shake hands but looked disdainful. “Hiring a man like him, doesn’t she want to ruin the company?”
He glanced at Darnell dismissively as he continued to taunt, “What did he contribute? He’s just an interpreter. As for the big deal with the Spades Tribe, the real credit goes to Mr. Gower and my team.”
“If Mr. Gower hadn’t brought in the clients or if my team hadn’t worked hard, we wouldn’t have secured the five-million-dollar order.”
“So there’s nothing worth bragging about.” He waved dismissively. “Take him back. We don’t need such a person here.”
His gaze towards Darnell and Lillian held resentment. They were responsible for Brian losing his job.
Seeing Eliezer acting high-and-mighty made Darnell laugh inwardly. This guy had praised him just yesterday for securing the big order with the Spades Tribe but now showed hostility, clearly seeking revenge for Roberto and Brian.
Lillian felt awkward. “Mr. Izzard, it’s Miss Fanshaw’s decision, and the sales department now is short-handed. A new member could help.”
Eliezer widened his eyes. “Didn’t you hear me? I said no! Even if Miss Fanshaw comes, I won’t change my mind.”
“What does she think the sales department is? A trash bin?”
Unfazed by his snide remark, Darnell responded cheerfully, “Birds of a feather flock together. Of course, trash like me should stay with you, Mr. Izzard.”
Indirectly calling Eliezer trash made his face darken. He instinctively slapped towards Darnell, snapping, “You’ve got some nerve!”
Eliezer had practiced martial arts briefly, and his slap carried force.
Lillian almost screamed. Just then, Darnell caught Eliezer’s palm firmly without budging an inch.
Eliezer struggled desperately but couldn’t free himself from Darnell’s grip. Instead, he felt immense pain surging through, sweat beading on his forehead.
Before he could scream out of pain, Darnell released him, saying calmly, “Mr. Izzard, let’s not resort to violence. It’s embarrassing.”
Eliezer fumed furiously, shaking his hand. “How dare you touch me? I’ll call security!”
“If you call security, I’ll have you fired.”
Darnell chuckled, “I’m close with Princess Laurel from the Spades Tribe. I’ll have her accuse you to Miss Fanshaw and the headquarters of sexually harassing her the day before yesterday.”
Thinking back on Areli’s tactics earlier, Darnell found inspiration. And it worked.
Eliezer froze, staring incredulously at Darnell. “You… What nonsense are you spouting? I’ll sue you for defamation!”
Darnell shrugged nonchalantly, his smile infuriatingly casual. “It’s Princess Laurel who’s complaining about you, not me. You can defend yourself.”
“But do you think the company will believe an insignificant director like you or a princess with a black card?”
“Even without evidence, they’ll fire you just to avoid any negative impact.”
“Y-You’re shameless!”
Eliezer’s face was full of anger. “You’re a bastard!”
He knew that Laurel had a good relationship with Darnell and had explicitly supported him that day. Given the language barrier and the fact that Darnell was the sole point of contact with Laurel, if he played dirty, Eliezer would be doomed. Even if the company didn’t drive him away, they would sideline him. Compared to the African market, Eliezer was nothing.
However, seeing Darnell’s expression, Eliezer couldn’t back down. He was so angry that he shouted desperately, “You’re a jerk! I won’t be intimidated by you.”
“Are you talking about qualities? You’re no better than me.”
Darnell sneered, “You scalded the parrot to death with boiling water at the age of five and set fire to your neighbor’s house at eight.”
“At eleven, you spied on women bathing.”
“At eighteen, you dated four girls at the same time, causing two girls to have abortions for you.”
“At twenty-six, you deceived three wealthy women out of twenty million. To avoid debts, you changed your name to Eliezer Izzard.”
“A scum like you, are you qualified to lecture me?”
Eliezer’s body jolted, and he was shocked as if he had been struck by lightning, looking at Darnell in disbelief. “Nonsense!”
At the same time, cold sweat poured down his back. How did this bastard know so many of his unknown pasts?