Chapter 98: Chapter 98

Chapter 98:

Eileen’s role as the CEO’s special assistant was officially terminated, and she was reassigned as a front-line employee within Apex Group, assigned to report to the “Dress Special Group” of Vicin Mall the following Monday.

Vicin Mall was a major retail success under the Apex Group. It generated annual revenues in the tens of millions.

It had been established after Eileen had joined Apex Group, and she had been integral to its affiliations and market expansions.

She had witnessed the mall’s rise to prominence firsthand.

Eileen was surprised that she wasn’t dismissed but was reassigned as service staff.

As she held her phone, she found it hard to define how she felt at the moment.

Located on the eastern outskirts of the city, Vicin Mall was a considerable distance from both Apex Group and her home. Commuting by public transport would take her at least two hours.

Describing Bryan’s actions as heartless didn’t quite fit since he hadn’t fired her; yet calling him merciful seemed off too, given the burdensome nature of her new role.

Eileen sighed deeply and leaned against the bus window, attempting to rest.

Though she wasn’t scheduled to start until Monday, Apex Group’s protocol required her to complete a comprehensive job handover over the weekend.

Since Raymond had not fully earned Bryan’s trust, part of her responsibilities was transitioned to Karla.

The remainder she was to hand over directly to Bryan.

Arriving at the company by nine in the morning, she first went to the office to prepare a transfer report on the computer.

Following that, she compiled a form detailing some significant ongoing projects for record-keeping.

Once it was completed, Karla arrived, and Eileen sent the documents to her email.

“I’ve organized all the important materials and noted them down to send to you. There are also two major ongoing projects I need to discuss with you in detail,” Eileen explained to Karla as they sat together in the office, conversing in hushed tones.

An hour later, Eileen closed her files and said, “That covers everything that needs to be handed over. If you find yourself struggling to recall any details, feel free to call me.”

“Eileen, what position have they transferred you to?” Karla asked. “Is it a manager or general manager of a branch company?”

Given Eileen’s qualifications, it would have been entirely possible for her to secure a top role in a branch company.

Such transfers were usually routine, but her situation was completely different.

“It’s neither; the company’s transfers are always confidential in nature, so it’s better not to ask,” Eileen said, smiling faintly as she handed Karla some documents. “Take care of these; I’m going to report to Mr. Dawson now.”

Upon hearing that, Karla refrained from asking further and said, “I just saw Mr. Dawson come in with Miss Warren. Be careful.”

Vivian was here too?

Eileen smiled at Karla and then went to knock on the office door.

“Come in,” came the man’s low and magnetic voice from within.

Eileen pushed the door open and immediately noticed Vivian beside Bryan, leaning slightly against him.

Bryan was engrossed in a document, and opposite him stood a man Eileen did not recognize, though she guessed the man was the new assistant, Raymond.

She nodded at the man in response.

“Hello,” Raymond greeted her politely, then tactfully added, “I’ll be leaving now.”

After Bryan acknowledged him, Raymond exited, and Eileen placed a document on the table. “Mr. Dawson, I’ve finished the reform plan for the planning department that you requested. Whether you accept it or not, I’ve brought it to you. Additionally, there’s…”

She reported her work formally, while Bryan flipped through the document she had provided, reviewing it page by page.

She continued, “There is also the latest project—the counterparty company’s opinion on our quotation. This… it’s confidential.” She glanced at Vivian.

She wasn’t trying to be intentional, merely following procedure.

Bryan, ever a stickler for rules, turned his head towards Vivian and said, “You can leave now.”

Vivian, clearly thinking Eileen had done this on purpose, huffed but departed since Bryan had instructed her to.

This was the last piece of work Eileen needed to report, and it took her only ten minutes to finish.

But she did not leave immediately; instead, she looked directly at Bryan and said, “Mr. Dawson, thank you for your care over these three years. I’ll leave now.”

Bryan’s tall figure was relaxed against the chair, his profile tense, betraying nothing of his thoughts. He nodded without looking.

As Eileen turned to leave, Bryan’s gaze lingered on her retreating form, noting the firmness of her steps.

Her face had been composed and devoid of any sign of grievance or reluctance just now. It seemed out of place for someone who had just been demoted.

Bryan creased his brow, and his jaw tightened as agitation surged within him. He grabbed a cigarette and strode to the window to light it.

It took a few tries to light the cigarette, and when he finally got it lit, he choked on the first inhale, an uncharacteristic slip that made him seem almost vulnerable.

Outside the door, Vivian lingered, waiting to confront Eileen.

“Eileen, where have you been transferred to?” Vivian asked.

The HR department had kept matters confidential. Given Eileen’s identity, they would certainly not reveal any details about her transfer.

“You’re not part of the company, and even if you are, as per company rules, changes in employment status are confidential,” Eileen responded without giving anything away.

Vivian scoffed, “You remember Mrs. Dawson’s birthday party, right? You must’ve been so happy that she refused to acknowledge me!”

Eileen faced Vivian with a calm demeanor. “Miss Warren, flaunting your proximity to Mr. Dawson doesn’t impress me. I know his grandmother can’t stop you from seeing him; trying to provoke me with that is pointless.”

Eileen’s words quenched Vivian’s fiery demeanor, leaving her grinding her teeth in frustration.

Eileen continued, “Miss Warren, although I’m not from an illustrious background, I won’t be intimidated by you. It’s unlikely that your words will reduce me to tears. I would advise you, if you don’t want to end up hurt, it’s better for us to interact less.”

She gave Vivian her heartfelt advice, refusing to engage in petty quarrels.

After delivering her words, she walked past Vivian, and Vivian stood frozen, feeling furious. A sense of helplessness overwhelmed her. Was she really powerless against Eileen?

Pondering her next step, Vivian felt compelled to call Kian. “Kian, Bryan didn’t fire Eileen; he just transferred her!”

“Vivian, you need to stop fixating on Eileen. Your main goal should be to solidify your relationship with Bryan and gain his grandmother’s approval as soon as possible,” Kian said. He had given her this advice time and time again.

Even so, Vivian had ignored his advice, repeatedly indulging in her obsession with Eileen.

Kian added, “Now, Bryan is with you day and night. Everyone sees you as a couple, and Eileen is merely known as Bryan’s former mistress. Don’t you think comparing yourself to her diminishes your own stature?”

Confronted with Kian’s persistent advice, Vivian had only one retort: Eileen didn’t see them as a couple!

She and Bryan weren’t married yet; they weren’t officially a couple.

How could Eileen still be allowed to remain in the Apex Group? This gnawed at Vivian, sowing seeds of insecurity.

“Kian, I need to find out where Eileen has been transferred to,” Vivian said.

On the other end of the line, Kian sighed. “Alright, I’ll see what I can find out about Eileen’s new position, but you need to focus on building a stable relationship with Bryan.”

As the late autumn chill set in, the mornings grew particularly cold.

Wrapped in a cashmere coat, Eileen left her apartment, grabbed breakfast, and joined the throng of commuters on the bus.

After transferring buses, it took her nearly another hour to reach Vicin Mall.

She ascended to the eighth floor and introduced herself to the Dress Special Group, Apex Group’s in-house dress brand known for its unique designs.

Then, she presented her transfer notice to the store manager, Charli Rivera.

“Eileen Curtis, right?” Charli read her information. “You were transferred from headquarters?”

The store manager’s tone was surprised; no detailed background had been shared about Eileen’s role at Apex Group’s headquarters, but moving from an office job to the front line clearly suggested a demotion.

“Yes,” Eileen replied.

Charli then called over two women, both in their twenties and well-presented, yet their presence somewhat paled in comparison to Eileen’s refined demeanor.

“They are Aniya Baker and Essie Hopkins, both service staff here. You can learn from them. Primary duties include greeting customers, taking measurements, and similar tasks.”

Charli introduced them briefly before rushing off to a meeting with a file in hand.

Eileen knew this routine well; every Monday morning, store managers would gather for a meeting—an initiative she had once set in motion.

Aniya and Essie weren’t as forthcoming as Charli. As soon as Charli departed, they went about their duties without talking to Eileen.

Since Eileen had already familiarized herself with the workflow and the workplace rules before, she didn’t mind that.

Once she found tasks that needed to be finished, she got to work immediately.

This didn’t go unnoticed by Aniya, who whispered to Essie, “Look, the newcomer is quite sharp.”

“What’s the use of that?” Essie responded dismissively. “She’s new! Can she really compete with us for the managerial role?”

“There are store rules,” Aniya said. “The outgoing manager recommends their successor. It’s not about seniority; it’s about capability. And remember, she’s not an intern; she has been transferred here. What if she is chosen to be the manager?”

Essie frowned deeply, then turned to Eileen and demanded, “What’s your name?”

“Eileen Curtis,” Eileen replied, standing up and facing Essie with a composed demeanor.

Essie gestured towards the door. “There’s a mop in there. Go wash it and mop the floor. We’ll handle everything else.”

Tasking newcomers with mopping, a rather exhausting job, was commonplace in the workplace.

Eileen didn’t protest. She fetched the mop and headed to the supply closet.

The basic salary here was a mere six thousand, a contrast to her previous earnings.

To augment her income, she would have to rely on commissions, creating a cutthroat atmosphere between her and her colleagues.

This intense competition meant that if one’s sales were the lowest for three months, one would risk dismissal.

With established employees holding onto their clientele, Eileen faced an uphill battle.

If she were to be the worst in terms of performance for three months, she would face the risk of getting fired.

With that in mind, she washed the mop and prepared to go back, but then she bumped into someone.

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