Chapter 151 Too Arrogant
David stood frozen, stunned by Athena’s calm retort.
But his pride quickly surged back, flaring into anger. “Isn’t it the truth?” he shouted, voice echoing through the conference room. “Everyone in the Crawford Group and Imbe Group knows about your relationship with Mr. Crawford!”
His face turned crimson, and a vein pulsed at his temple.
Athena kept her gaze fixed on him, unflinching.
“Calm down,” she said, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. “No need to shout. I’m just trying to understand what you meant earlier.” She tilted her head slightly. “What exactly did you mean by climbing into a man’s bed?”
David’s face burned even brighter, but a flicker of guilt flicked through his eyes.
“You know exactly what I meant,” he snapped.
Athena didn’t blink. “I’m asking because I genuinely don’t.”
“You—” David stammered, pointing a trembling finger at her. He knew he was being baited but couldn’t stop himself. With so many people watching, he felt cornered and humiliated.
He slammed the table. “Fine! I meant you sleep with powerful men to get what you want!”
Gasps rippled through the room. Chairs shifted. Murmurs rose.
Byron’s face had darkened completely, his jaw clenched so tight it looked carved from stone.
“Very good,” Athena said softly.
She lifted her phone, screen still glowing, and calmly waved it in David’s direction. “That entire exchange? I recorded it. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer very soon.”
There was a beat of stunned silence.
“Lawyer?” one of the Crawford Group’s men asked with forced levity. “Miss Newton, isn’t that a bit… excessive?”
Athena lowered her phone, her expression cold. “You weren’t the one being publicly insulted. So I suggest you don’t tell me what is or isn’t serious.”
David turned to Byron for help. “Mr. Crawford!”
“Enough,” Byron said, his voice low but commanding.
The room instantly fell silent.
“If you heard what happened at the factory yesterday, then you should also have heard Erik’s public endorsement of Miss Newton,” he said.
The mention of Erik brought a fresh wave of discomfort across the room.
Of course they’d heard. Erik had posted a photo of himself and Athena on his social media, praising her talents and potential. But Erik had a reputation—playboy, unpredictable, notorious for juggling multiple women at once. To some in the room, the endorsement only fueled the gossip.
And Athena knew exactly what they were thinking.
“You all amuse me,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Several people turned, frowning.
“There are so many unresolved issues with the new company—no confirmed site, no departmental structure, no clear development strategy. Yet none of you are talking about that. All you care about is fighting for the title of president.” She scanned the room with cool detachment. “With all due respect, even if I’m not made president, very few of you are qualified for it.”
The room erupted.
“You!”
“How can you speak to us like that?!”
“You’re too arrogant!”
Athena didn’t flinch. She simply returned to reviewing her documents, as though their voices no longer existed.
A few executives—those who hadn’t spoken much—exchanged glances. Some of them looked at Athena with something bordering on admiration.
The morning meeting ended in tension and raised voices.
Back in Byron’s office, he watched Athena in silence for a moment. She sat on the sofa, typing something quickly on her phone.
“Are you angry?” he asked.
She didn’t look up. “No,” she replied coolly.
Byron leaned over slightly and glanced at her screen.
She was chatting with a lawyer.
So she hadn’t been bluffing at all.
Two days later.
While Athena was organizing meeting files at her desk, her phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number.
She glanced at it, then hit decline.
It rang again. Then a third time.
She ignored both.
A few minutes later, Liam knocked lightly on her office door and stepped inside.
“Miss Newton, Mr. Zucker from the Crawford Group is asking to speak with you.”
Athena raised an eyebrow. “He’s calling you?”
Liam gave a helpless smile and held up his phone. “Seems like he couldn’t get through to you.”
Athena looked mildly amused. “Tell him if he has something to say, he can call me directly.”
“Got it.”
Liam turned to leave, but paused briefly, looking over his shoulder.
“Also… Miss Newton, you were incredible in that meeting.”
Athena smiled faintly, but said nothing as she returned to her work.