Nine months too late: After divorce

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Sylvie and Astrid went to the company the next morning together as planned. Astrid had been charged with the responsibility of showing her to her office.

It was Sylvie's first time stepping foot in Astréa Label, and the company was a sight to behold. Sylvie was astonished and couldn't stop admiring the place as Astrid led her through.

They finally reached her office, but it was far from what Sylvie had expected. it turned out to be an open-space office with other low ranking staff in it. And it was actually in the production department. This wasn't going to be her office, was it?

The workers turned serious as soon as they saw Astrid, a young woman in suit walked up to them.

"Ma'am," she dipped her head at Astrid.

"Hi, Tamsin.

. This is is Sylvie Price." She glanced at Sylvie. "She'll be working with us from now on. You're to keep an eye on her, ensure she's productive and good." Sylvie sensed her stomach twist, sending bile to her throat.

This is Sylvie Price.

Was she for real? She wasn't introducing her as a Cheng? They were really going to hide her identity even there at the company?

The woman bobbed her head, then shifted her gaze to Sylvie.

"My name is Ms. Tamsin. I'm in charge of this department where more of the productions take place. There are other production departments in the company, but this is the biggest. Over here, you're to heed my instructions if we're to work together." The woman sounded so strict and serious. Sylvie struggled to listen past the million voices in her head.

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Sylvie went after her.

"That'll be all, then. Show her to desk." Astrid said. And with a smile, she turned around, heading to the door.

Ex- The The part

"Éx-Excuse me."

of her that had become introverted screamed at her not to bring it up, but she managed to.

Astrid stopped walking, appearing disturbed as she looked back at her. Sylvie glanced back at the others in the room, wanting to make sure they were out of earshot.

"I uh... I thought I was going to have my own office. When-"

"Well, this is your own office, Sylvie," Astrid scoffed, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

Sylvie lowered her gaze, hiding her shaky hands by keeping them wrapped around the strap of her bag.

"Okay. But I thought-" thought what? Th

you'd be getting a nice cozy office where you get to be alone and people only come in upon request?" Astrid let out a haughty laugh. "Well, quit dreaming, girl. You should be lucky we even let you work here at all. This is the only office you'll be getting from us. So, suck it

Kiss

Sylvie didn't really have an issue with working with the rest of the low-ranking stuff. Her only problem was having to be around people all the time. She had grown introverted and always appreciated her personal space. Here, she'd have to deal with the eyes of over nine staff watching her all the time. She couldn't have any personal moment if she wanted to.

Astrid turned and walked away, leaving her to her thoughts. For a long time, Sylvie remained standing, thinking of a possible

way out.

"Well,

what're you standing there for?" Ms. Tasmin called out from behind. "Come over and get settled in. We have a lot to do."

Sylvie was given a desk in the corner of the room. She didn't have enough time to settle into the environment before Stella assigned a task to her, wanting to see how good she was.

The woman turned out to be strict and rude, not just to her, but to every other person present in the office. She acted like she was the best of them all and could never be pleased.

Later in the day, they went into the designing room to work on a dress. Ms. Tasmin continued yelling at the staff and complained about almost every single thing they did. Sylvie quietly watched and noticed the woman was actually doing something wrong. There was a particular design she was trying to input in the dress, but instead of using a Velcro which was the appropriate material to use, the woman was trying to use bonding. How couldn't she see it?

"Um... Excuse me, Ms. Tasmin." She held out her hand.

The woman turned to her, appearing disturbed. "Yes?"

Sylvie hesitated, going over the words in her head. She wouldn't pick offense would she?

"I um... I think Velcro would be better for the design in place bonding."

I

Ms. Tasmin scoffed. "What makes you say that?" Her voice dropped with disdain.

Sylvie went ahead to I to explain her reason. Some of the people nodded in agreement. It was possible they'd also thought the same but couldn't stand up to the woman.

"Really?"

'Tasmin's eyes narrowed when Sylvie finished. "So, it's your first day here, you think you can make decisions already? You suddenly think you're better than me?" Sylvie furrowed her brows.

"Who exactly do you think you are, huh? So you think I'd be the manager of this department if I wasn't competent?" Her voice grew heavier.

Sylvie

tried to explain. "I... I don't think you aren't competent. I just thought you-"

"Well, I didn't ask for your opinion!" The room fell silent. "I'm familiar with your type," her lips curled into a smirk. "People like you who always want to make a good first impression and take all the attention for yourselves. Well, not here. This should be the last time you interrupt me, rudely." She went back to work.

Sylvie was stunned. She hadn't even interrupted the woman. Why couldn't she just take a simple correction?

She clenched her hands beside her. Each time she made an attempt to come out of her shell, something happened, pulling

her back in.

214

"Excuse me, Ms. Tasmin." It was a young man.

Someone walked into the room, interrupting them.

"Oh, Anthony! I have told you and your crew. I do not like to be bothered when I'm in production." The woman grumbled, rolling her eyes.

5

I know, I'm sorry. But Mr. Cheng just arrived, and he asked me to get the new lady - Sylvie."

Tasmin's expression shifted, her eyes moving to Sylvie. Mr. Cheng hardly ever came to the company. The staff were mostly frightened of his presence, but more importantly, why was he calling for someone like Sylvie? Sylvie was curious as well as she followed the man to the office where her grandfather waited.

Was he there to check how she was coping? But Mr. Cheng didn't strike her as the type that would care that much.

Her curiosity increased when she stepped into the office and found Astrid, June and Evie there as well. Mr. Cheng was the only one sitting, while the others stood in front of him, glancing at the door when they heard it open. Okay... Something was definitely going on. What was wrong?This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"Good day, sir." Sylvie dipped I her

She hadn't gotten

rhead.

used to calling him 'grandpa' yet. How could she, when he's never made her feel like his grandchild Mr. Cheng didn't look pleased at all. His patience seemed to be hanging on a small thread. there.

He went right into the reason he was

"Our office in Oasis has been closed down."

The faces of everyone paled in the room. Neither of the sisters had any knowledge. Like Sylvie, they were in their offices when Mr. Cheng sent for them.

"I received the information a while ago. According to them, they found some fault in the contract we signed and are trying to investigate it."

"What?" Astrid shrieked. "H-How can that be?"

"Is that even possible? I'm sure the contract was clear!" June flinched.

"Maybe we

we should let them investigate it. Our hands are clean. So, I'm sure they'll release it back to us when they're done." Evie added with a shrug. Sylvie was silent, her heart hammering in her chest.

Oasis... Kage's s skyscraper.

"Or maybe, they won't." Astrid said in a sterner face. "Not when it's intentional."

June turned to her. "Intentional? What do you mean intentional?"

"It's her fault!" Astrid pointed at Sylvie. "Do you think it's a coincidence that this is happening after last night? It's pretty obvious that Kage has something to do with this. It's his way of getting back at her. He must've found out she's part of our family!" Astrid confirmed Sylvie's fear-the very reason her heart had been pounding in her chest. Shit!" June cursed, fisting her hand.

BA2 82%u

117

"This was exactly why I didn't want her showing her stupid self to him. I knew something like this might happen."

Mr. Cheng's eyes turned cold as they regarded Sylvie. "I had the same suspicions on my way here. I warned you, didn't I, Sylvie? I warned you not to bring harm to my company."

But Sylvie remained silent. How was it even her fault? It wasn't like she had asked Kage to shut it down herself. Why does she get blamed for everything?

However, those were complaints Sylvie could never get out herself.

"You must fix this," Mr. Cheng said, rising from his seat. "I don't care what you have to do, but in twenty four hours, I need our office reopened. God! This is bad publicity! I can't even remember the last time something like this happened. Do you have any idea how it bad it'll get if word of this spreads out?"

Sylvie lowered her gaze, feeling the weight of her grandfather's glare on her.

"Fix this, Sylvie. In twenty-four hours. Else, you can pack your bags and get ready to fly back to Australia." He added.

Sylvie's breath caught in her throat. What? Was he being