CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: FINALLY MEETING FACE TO FACE

R&D Department.

Jonah Rivers diligently accompanied Tanya Sinclair around the R&D department, updating her on the current situation.

Tanya observed without showing any emotion, and by the end of the tour, she had already grasped the situation.

The team she had painstakingly assembled years ago had mostly left, and those who stayed were marginalized.

"Special Assistant Rivers, who is the acting head of the R&D department now?"

Vincent Hawthorne had mentioned that her positions as the R&D manager and Chief Medical Officer were retained.

"It’s Cindy Lynn, Secretary Lynn is acting as the manager," Jonah answered truthfully. As he mentioned Cindy Lynn, Tanya could discern sympathy towards her from Jonah’s eyes.

She understood in her heart.

It seemed that the affair between Cindy Lynn and Vincent Hawthorne was an open secret within the company.

"Alright." Tanya smiled calmly and asked Jonah, "Special Assistant Rivers, could you please take me to my office now?"

She remembered there were still some important documents in the safe in her office.

Before Jonah could respond, an angry voice burst out from the front.

"Nina, what are you doing? This is Manager Sinclair’s office, get these things out of here!"

Tanya was slightly taken aback.

She recognized that voice very well; it belonged to her junior schoolmate Serena Holloway from college!

Back in school, Serena was her devoted follower, and later she followed Tanya to Zenith Group.

Serena had been involved in nearly every project Tanya managed and contributed significantly.

Tanya never expected that after five years, Serena would still be around; with her abilities, many companies would want to recruit her...

"Special Assistant Rivers, could you take me to see what’s going on?" Tanya was a bit anxious.

Serena’s voice came from Tanya’s former office.

Following Jonah, Tanya reached her office, and just as she got to the doorway, a pile of miscellaneous items was thrown out by Serena, one of which was a work badge that landed at Tanya’s feet.

She glanced down at it, and clearly inscribed on the badge was the position and name—R&D Manager, Cindy Lynn.

Tanya closed her eyes, suppressing the surge of anger and disappointment.

Vincent Hawthorne was actually planning to give her position in the company to Cindy Lynn!

"Serena Holloway, it seems you don’t want to stay with the company anymore, daring to throw out Manager Lynn’s things!" Nina shrieked.

Serena wasn’t good at arguing, and her face flushed red with anger.

"The name and photo of R&D Manager Tanya Sinclair are still on the company website, so where does this supposed Manager Lynn come from? This is Ms. Tanya’s office, no one is allowed to touch anything!"

Tanya looked at Serena defending her and felt a moment of emotional gratitude.

She had thought everyone had forgotten about her...

Nina derisively said, "A week ago, President Hawthorne drafted a document to officially promote Cindy from acting manager! The formal documents will arrive this afternoon!"

She strode over in her high heels, sizing up Serena with disdain, "Serena Holloway, no matter how much you suck up to that living corpse Tanya Sinclair, she won’t be able to see it. However..."

Nina jabbed Serena’s shoulder with her index finger, her heavily made-up face filled with arrogance, "In Zenith Group, if you offend our Cindy, you’ll have to pack up and get out by tomorrow!"

Serena clenched her fists tightly, pulled off her badge, ready to retort, when suddenly a familiar cold voice came from behind.

"Oh? I wasn’t aware that Secretary Lynn had such influence?"

Serena’s whole body trembled violently. She turned abruptly and saw Tanya Sinclair, wearing sunglasses, walking in slowly, her eyes widened, and tears welled up.

"Ms. Tanya!" Serena excitedly threw herself at Tanya, hugging her tightly, her voice tinged with tears, "I just knew you would come back!"

Tanya gently patted her back with warmth, "Thank you, Serena, for waiting for me so long."

Serena calmed down and noticed something different about Tanya.

"Ms. Tanya, what happened to your eyes?" she asked nervously.

Tanya gently explained, "I’m currently blind, but the doctors say it won’t be long before I recover, so don’t worry."

Nina had only joined the company in the past two years, she hadn’t seen Tanya before, but seeing Serena’s reaction and noticing Jonah Rivers, Vincent Hawthorne’s senior assistant, accompanying Tanya...

There was no doubt that this woman was Tanya Sinclair, who had been a living corpse for five years!

Confirming Tanya’s identity, Nina scrutinized her from head to toe, her eyes filled with unabashed disdain and hostility.

Tanya didn’t mind.

It was clear that Nina was one of Cindy Lynn’s people, so disliking her was only natural.

Nina strutted forward, "Ms. Sinclair, seeing in person does not compare to hearing the reputation..."

Tanya raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Ms. Sinclair? Since seven years ago, everyone in the company has called me Manager Sinclair, or Mrs. Hawthorne. Are you not acknowledging my position as manager, or do you not regard me as Mrs. Hawthorne?"

As she spoke, she maintained a gentle smile, but her words carried an edge, leaving Nina embarrassed.

Just then, a woman walking up from behind caught her eye, and Nina’s eyes lit up as she waved, "Cindy!".

Tanya slowly turned around, catching sight of Cindy Lynn approaching through her sunglasses.

Finally... they meet face to face.

Cindy Lynn wore a smart white business outfit today, her makeup was soft and clean, her chestnut-colored long curly hair seemed meticulously styled.

"Ms. Tanya." Cindy Lynn stopped in front of Tanya, offering a sweet and generous smile, "I just heard from President Hawthorne that you came to the company, I feared Special Assistant Rivers, being a man, might not be attentive enough, so I came to see if I could help with anything."

Tanya couldn’t help but chuckle coldly internally.

She spoke as though she, Cindy Lynn, were the lady of the company, and Tanya was merely a visiting guest.

Nina affectionately linked arms with Cindy Lynn, taking the opportunity to complain.

"Cindy, I just moved your things into the office, and Serena Holloway started causing trouble, questioning President Hawthorne’s appointment!"

Colleagues from the R&D department had already gathered around to watch.

Cindy Lynn seemed a bit helpless.

"Nina, thank you for helping me move my things, but the manager’s position originally belonged to Ms. Tanya." Cindy Lynn apologized with a glance at Tanya, "Ms. Tanya, you woke up too suddenly, I haven’t had the chance to explain."

Tanya observed Cindy Lynn’s performance coldly behind her sunglasses.

The more she behaved humbly and selflessly, the more others around her would feel sorry for her and willingly defend her.

Sure enough, Nina was immediately used as a tool, glaring at Tanya with hostility, "Mrs. Hawthorne, you were in a coma for five years, the R&D manager position couldn’t just remain empty waiting for you. Besides, over the years as acting manager, Cindy has completed several new drug developments, all well-received in the market. Frankly, Cindy deserves to be the R&D manager!"

Cindy Lynn interjected to stop her, "Nina, that’s enough."

The more Cindy intervened, the more determined Nina was to defend her.

She straightened her neck and loudly proclaimed, "Mrs. Hawthorne, if you don’t believe it, you can ask the other colleagues in the R&D department, everyone acknowledges Cindy’s competence and agrees she should be manager! You can’t just bully us regular employees because of your status as Mrs. Hawthorne, can you?"

Tanya heard the voices of agreement behind her from the R&D employees.

She wasn’t surprised.

If even the close associates of Vincent Hawthorne, who usually looked down on others, could regard Cindy Lynn with respect, it proved her talents in winning people over were extraordinary.

Serena panicked, "Nina, stop spewing nonsense and stirring things up here!"

She knew Ms. Tanya’s personality, even in college, she was not one to fight or compete; though a genius, she was not arrogant and was easygoing!

Sometimes, she would rather wrong herself than trouble others, truly a good-hearted person!

Serena worriedly furrowed her brow; with so many people siding with Cindy Lynn, Ms. Tanya was probably going to be morally compelled to back down...

Tanya curled her lips and spoke, "If that’s the case, I’ll make my stance clear today."

Serena was helpless.

She almost predicted what Tanya would say next; she would surely say that she wouldn’t compete with Cindy Lynn for the manager position...

"This office, and the position of R&D manager." Tanya’s voice was cold and steady, each word clear and firm, "I will not give up!"