Chapter 14 A Rat
Over ten minutes later, Eric hung up the phone. Then, he looked at the crowd surrounding him.
“She lied, didn’t she?” Esme asked.
While working on the project with Maxwell Electronics, she had put in significant effort and was only able to connect with the company’s vice president. Esme believed Athena was merely someone Byron favored and didn’t think she had the capability to reach someone as influential as Brad.
Eric shook his head in confusion. “No… Maxwell Electronics has officially adopted our proposal.”
There was a brief silence before the group erupted in cheers, celebrating their success.
“Wait a moment. Something doesn’t add up. Wasn’t Athena accused of tampering with our data? Then why would she help us reclaim the deal?” Esme questioned, bringing everyone back to reality.
“It’s simple. I heard Mr. Crawford is planning to take legal action against her. She must be worried about the consequences,” Dylan Jackson, Eric’s assistant, sneered. “Now that she no longer has his backing, of course, she wouldn’t dare sabotage the deal.”
“That makes sense…” Esme nodded in agreement.
“Eric, what should we do now?” Dylan asked. “She’s still in the meeting room.”
With the contract secured, Eric’s mood was significantly improved. “She probably expects an apology from me,” he said, amused.
“No way. The data discrepancy happened because of her!” Dylan protested.
“Exactly!” Esme added.
The rest of the team also voiced their agreement. The sales department prided itself on teamwork and standing up for one another, and they weren’t about to let Athena undermine Eric.
Together, they marched into the meeting room.
“Have you checked everything?” Athena asked, not looking up from her phone.
Eric nodded. “Miss Newton, it appears you have resolved the issue.”
Athena paused and glanced at him. “What issue did I cause?”
“Don’t think we’ve forgotten about the data discrepancy!” Dylan said firmly.
Others chimed in, echoing his sentiment.
Instead of reacting with anger, Athena simply smiled. “You all are very united.”
“Of course! Our department stands together!” Esme declared proudly.
“Good.” Athena tapped on the table. “Take a seat. I made some minor modifications to the proposal.”
“Who gave you the authority to change our plan?” Esme snapped.
The project had been a labor of love for the entire team, especially Esme. She couldn’t accept Athena altering their work without consultation.
“I had to. Mr. Maxwell found my adjustments more aligned with his company’s needs,” Athena explained calmly.
Esme hesitated, unable to refute the claim.
“I appreciate your team spirit,” Athena continued, her tone composed yet firm. “But in a corporate environment, the company’s interests come first. There are four hours until our meeting at Maxwell Electronics. Do you want to spend that time arguing with me?”
The room fell silent. Eventually, everyone took their seats.
Athena wasted no time getting to the point. As she presented the revised proposal, she explained the reasoning behind each modification.
Initially, the sales team remained skeptical. They had assumed Athena was merely an assistant who had relied on Byron’s influence. After all, they were graduates from top universities and considered themselves the best in their field.
However, as the presentation progressed, their skepticism faded. One by one, they sat up straight, their expressions shifting to serious contemplation.
By the time Athena finished, they were actively engaging, asking thoughtful questions about the modifications.
During the session, the sandwiches and coffee she had pre-ordered arrived, but they had no time for a break. They continued discussing the project while eating.
By one o’clock in the afternoon, the meeting concluded.
“It’s almost time. Mr. Lane, get ready to accompany me,” Athena instructed as she packed up her laptop.
Dylan frowned. “You’re coming too?”
“Of course.” Athena met his gaze with confidence.
Despite her composed demeanor, Dylan felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
“Eric, is this really necessary? Shouldn’t we handle the contract signing ourselves?” Esme interjected.
Athena remained unfazed. “The data discrepancy was caused by someone from within your team. I won’t allow you to present the plan alone.”
Her blunt statement left the room in stunned silence.
“That’s absurd!” Dylan exclaimed, visibly irritated.
Eric, however, had gained newfound respect for Athena. During the meeting, he had realized she wasn’t just competent—she was meticulous. Every change she made to the proposal was subtle yet impactful, enhancing the plan’s effectiveness.
“Since Miss Newton was able to secure Mr. Maxwell’s approval, it would be unwise to exclude her from the contract signing,” Eric stated.
“Eric, do you really believe there’s a traitor among us?” Esme asked, shocked.
Athena didn’t bother getting involved in their internal debate. “See you in the garage in fifteen minutes.”
Without waiting for a response, she left the room, exuding an air of confidence.
Since she no longer had an office, Athena had nowhere to stay in the building. She went downstairs to a nearby convenience store, purchasing a bottle of water. Taking out a small pillbox, she swallowed her daily supplements—folic acid, multivitamins, and calcium tablets.
Lately, she had been struggling with her appetite. The sandwich she had ordered at noon should have been her favorite, but the smell of the salmon had made her nauseous.
“Miss Newton?”
Athena turned and saw Liam and several colleagues from the Office of the President approaching her.
She quickly put away the pillbox and smiled. “Is something wrong?”
“Are you feeling unwell?” Liam asked, concerned. “You’re taking medication.”
“Just mild anemia,” Athena responded calmly. “The doctor prescribed some vitamins and supplements. What brings you here?”
“Miss Holland has been struggling with her tasks, so we’ve been busy fixing her mistakes. This is our first chance to grab lunch,” one of the employees sighed.
“She’s still new. She’ll improve,” Athena reassured them.
“Let’s not talk about her. Miss Newton, I heard you helped the sales department secure the deal!” another colleague said excitedly.
Athena nodded. “I’ll be heading to Maxwell Electronics soon to finalize the contract.”
“That’s amazing!” Liam gave her a thumbs-up.
After exchanging a few more words, Athena quietly paid for their purchases before leaving the store. She felt indebted to them. They had always treated her well, and her sudden departure from the company had undoubtedly caused them additional work.
Later, when Liam and his colleagues reached the checkout, they were surprised to learn Athena had covered their expenses. Touched by her kindness, they couldn’t stop talking about it when they returned to the office.
Byron, stepping out of his office, overheard their conversation.
“Miss Newton never liked bitter pills. She must be struggling to take those supplements,” one of them commented. “I should buy her some candy!”
At the sight of Byron, Liam immediately straightened up. “Mr. Crawford.”
The rest of the team also quickly stood at attention. “Mr. Crawford…”