Chapter 87 A Childish Argument
Athena stood calmly, her eyes scanning the room filled with Imbe Group employees. The whispers had already started, spreading like wildfire. She could feel the weight of their gazes, their judgments wrapped in thinly veiled words. They were all too aware of who Lisha’s cousin was, and Lisha’s remark had been like a bomb dropped right in the middle of the room, leaving a trail of tension in the air.
“Substitute? What substitute?” one voice sneered. “Miss Newton’s outfit is indeed very expensive. Just those pearl earrings alone cost six figures!”
Another voice chimed in, “Tsk tsk, you call yourself a professional woman? More like a professional bed climber!”
Laughter spread through the group, dripping with disdain. “Yeah, what could she do without Mr. Crawford?”
“And Mr. Crawford is engaged,” someone added with a sly grin. “Why are you still sticking to him? Shameless.”
Athena remained unmoved, her face a mask of composure as the voices echoed around her. She had heard worse, and she had learned long ago not to let such remarks rattle her. Still, the words stung, and she couldn’t ignore the subtle sense of satisfaction in Lisha’s voice. It was clear that Lisha had set her sights on provoking Athena, to see if she would break under the pressure.
Athena glanced over her shoulder, her gaze sweeping across the room to meet the eyes of the employees who had been speaking behind her. The moment their eyes met, those who had been gossiping immediately lowered their heads, pretending to be busy with their phones or paperwork. The shift in atmosphere was immediate. The room, which had once buzzed with whispers, now felt stiflingly quiet.
She couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Athena had always been good at playing the game. She wasn’t one to back down from confrontation, especially when it came from someone as small-minded as Lisha.
“You have such great power, Miss Newton,” Lisha sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Athena turned slowly to face her, her expression unreadable. She didn’t answer immediately, allowing the silence to stretch out just long enough to make Lisha uncomfortable. The tension between them was palpable, but Athena knew better than to let herself be provoked. Instead, she calmly straightened her jacket and adjusted the pearl earrings that had been the subject of so much gossip.
“I don’t need power to do my job,” Athena said, her voice steady and controlled. “But you, Lisha, seem to need a lot of attention to make yourself feel important. How tiring that must be.”
Lisha’s face flushed with anger, but Athena didn’t give her the satisfaction of a prolonged reaction. She turned back to the group, addressing the rest of the room as if nothing had happened.
“Now, if we’re all done here,” Athena continued, her tone businesslike, “I think it’s time we get back to work. The deal isn’t going to close itself.”
The employees, sensing the change in tone, quickly nodded and went back to their tasks, no longer daring to challenge her authority. Lisha, however, stood there, fuming, unable to come up with a retort that would put Athena in her place.
As Athena walked away, she couldn’t help but feel a small surge of satisfaction. It was one thing to deal with clients and business negotiations; it was another to handle people like Lisha. In the end, Athena had learned that power wasn’t just about position—it was about control, self-assurance, and the ability to remain unshaken in the face of petty attacks.
And with that, she moved forward, leaving behind the whispers and the stares, knowing she had already won the battle.