?Chapter 177:

    The abrupt noise from behind took the two women by surprise. They turned around, their faces draining of color at the sight of Katelyn.

    What could be more embarrassing than being caught badmouthing someone, only for that person to overhear?

    Katelyn looked at them with a cold expression. One woman had short, meticulously styled curly hair, while the other had long hair with subtle makeup. One of them wore so much perfume that it made Katelyn feel a bit itchy.

    “If you have issues with me, why note to me and address them directly? Why talk behind my back?” Katelyn had once interned at the Bailey Group for a while, so she had a good idea of how rough things could be at the workce.

    When she arrived, she already had a vague sense of the kind of situation she would face. She had never intended to just endure it. Why cover her ears when she could silence the attackers’ mouths instead?

    Clearly, Katelyn’s words signaled that she had overheard their entire conversation.

    At first, the two women felt embarrassed and guilty, but then they remembered their own confidence. They even ced their hands on their waists and stared at Katelyn with cold looks.

    “Did we say anything untrue? You got these things by sleeping with Mr. Adams. So what if you can design? Who are you to take over Celia’s rightful position?” Once again, they brought up Celia, defending her.

    Katelyn reflected on their words. Following the previous department head’s death, it seemed likely that Celia was expected to be the next head.

    “No matter the role, it’s filled by those who arepetent. If Celia hasn’t reached the position of department head after all these years, it must mean she’s not as capable as the previous one. On the other hand, Ipeted with the former department head and surpassed her. Why would you think someone less capable than her could outperform me?”

    Katelyn’s logic was sound and direct, leaving the two women speechless.

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    The corporate environment was darker than Katelyn had realized. Often, entire departments would conspire to bully neers.

    With her sudden entry, Katelyn had be the target of the entire design department. She felt fortunate that her office wasn’t located within the design department, or she couldn’t imagine the extent of the hostility she would face.

    The woman with short hair fixed Katelyn with a re but couldn’t manage toe up with anything to say. The woman with long hair smiled with disgust.

    “What’s the point of all this talk? It doesn’t change the fact that you got ahead by getting into Mr. Adams’ bed. Thispany has been around for many years, and no one has ever done what you did. You’re only here because of who you know. Everyone else has to climb thedder step by step. How did you get lucky enough to be a manager?”

    It seemed less like she was defending Celia now, and more like she was voicing her own grievances. Katelyn casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, unfazed by the usation.

    “Your position isn’t determined by how long you’ve been here or by waiting your turn, but by your abilities. If you’re not outstanding enough, you won’t get promoted, even if you stay here for twenty years.”

    She was frustrated that instead of improving themselves, they spent their time maligning others. This was precisely the kind of behavior Katelyn despised and one of the reasons she was maintaining her arrangement with Vincent.

    Once again, her pointed words left them speechless. Losing patience for further argument, Katelyn fixed them with a cold stare.

    “Apologize to me!” The sudden emphasis and cold tone startled the two.

    Meanwhile, Katelyn’s sudden burst of icy aura was, to some extent, as chilling as Vincent’s, making them tremble with fear. They didn’t even dare to look into her eyes and instead looked away in panic.

    Katelyn’s expression grew colder. “This is yourst chance. Are you going to apologize, or not?”

    The woman with long hair said angrily and stubbornly, “Why should we apologize? We haven’t said anything untrue. Haven’t you achieved what you have by seducing Mr. Adams? You’re still involved with your ex-husband, and now you’re trying to seduce Mr. Adams. A tramp like you doesn’t belong here at all!”

    Katelyn’s smile was extremely cold.

    “In that case, I guess I’ll just have to discuss this with Mr. Adams.”

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