?Chapter 1048:

    Brenna nodded and stepped out of the elevator. Down the hallway, Lorna had just finished cleaning the office and was preparing to leave, a cup of water in hand. Brenna called out, “Lorna, can youe to my officeter?”

    Lorna nodded. Within a minute, she entered Brenna’s office and gently closed the door, offering a warm smile. “Ms. Harper, do you need something?”

    Brenna motioned for her to sit. “It’s be clear I don’t know much about what’s happening in thispany. When you have a moment, I’d like you to keep an ear out for me—anything about the CEO, managers, or even staff feuds. Let me know if you hear anything worth sharing.”

    Lorna’s eyes brightened. “Absolutely! I pick up plenty of gossip. How else would I know so much about Shirie? Did you just hear something interesting, Ms. Harper?”

    Noticing Lorna’s enthusiasm, Brenna felt certain she’d chosen the right person for the job. “I want to know who leaked the news about Gracie going broke and her father’s passing.”

    Lorna’s eyes widened. “Oh, that? I actually know who did it. One day, I was downstairs grabbing lunch for you and overheard ni chatting with the manager. She said Mr. Mitchell had a fight with Gracie and used her of revealing her own tragic story to everyone. At first I thought the secretaries had spread it, but…

    “It turned out Gracie had done it herself. I really don’t understand why. It seems she is not afraid that her creditors will find her here.”

    After a pause, she continued, “ni also mentioned that Mr. Mitchell lost his temper that day. He chewed out the secretaries and cut their pay in half for the month. ni keptining about how unfair it was. Gracie let the secret slip herself, and that had nothing to do with the secretaries. They were just doing their jobs but got med for the matter.”

    Lorna had truly impressed Brenna by providing every piece of information she needed.

    “What’s your monthly sry now?” Brenna asked, picking up the phone to summon Joe upstairs.

    Lorna looked woeful. “I barely bring home twelve thousand each month. That’s the lowest pay in the building—even interns earn more than I do.”

    As a secretary, she was tied to routine paperwork and schedules. If she had been an engineer, her starting sry would have been thirty thousand, plus bonuses andmissions.

    A hopeful feeling crept over Lorna—she was certain Brenna would offer a raise.

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    “I will raise your sry to twenty thousand a month,” Brenna announced with a smile.

    Lorna’s face lit up with gratitude. “Ms. Harper, thank you! You really are wonderful!” She left in a cheerful mood. An eightthousanddor increase felt like a miracle. Though still below what engineers made, she now earned as much as ni, who had spent over ten years with thepany.

    Before long, Joe arrived carrying hisptop.

    Lorna returned with a pot of coffee and two cups, ready to leave. Brenna stopped her.

    “Remember those two bags of coffee beans we receivedst week? Take one up to Mr. Mitchell. While you’re there, see what Gracie is doing.”

    Lorna hesitated. “Ms. Harper, each bag of those coffee beans is worth more than a hundred thousand. They’re nearly impossible to find, and once they’re gone, we won’t get another shipment until next year. We don’t even have enough for ourselves. Are you sure you want to give one away?”

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