Chapter 443

Chapter 443:

Outside the door, Maxine let out a sigh of relief. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why Hector made her so uneasy.

Her assistant was still fuming. “Maxine, what did Hector mean by that? Was he saying you shouldn’t fall for him? It’s hilarious—he’s so much older! How could you even think of falling for him?”

“That’s enough. It’s over,” Maxine whispered.

After all, Hector was a friend of Madisyn’s father. Badmouthing him was not an option.

Madisyn turned to Maxine and said, “You’d better avoid meals with him if you can.”

Maxine was taken aback. “Miss Johns… Alright. I understand.”

Back at the office, Madisyn tackled some business tasks before diving into reports about the Johns Group’s branch in Ansport. Among the headlines, one stood out: “Oh my gosh! The food at the branch is awful. I don’t get it—this is Ansport, after all. Why is the food terrible?”

Madisyn continued scrolling and found several similar complaints.

Her phone buzzed, and she answered it.

“Hey, are you busy?” It was Andrew. His voice was warm and soothing.

“Not anymore. I’m about to grab a bite. Want to join me?”

Without hesitation, Andrew agreed. “Of course.”

Madisyn smiled, feeling grateful for his company no matter what she was doing.

Andrew arrived to pick her up, asking where she wanted to eat. Madisyn replied, “The Johns Group.”

Without a second thought, Andrew accompanied her to the Johns Group’s branch in Ansport.

At the Johns Group’s branch, Madisyn, sporting an Edge Entertainment name badge, glided into the canteen. The canteen spanned an entire floor, its opulent decor rivaling that of a five-star hotel. The space was filled with diners, though murmurs of dissatisfaction drifted through the air.

It was set up as a buffet. As Madisyn surveyed the area, she overheard a heated exchange between an employee and a chef.

“Do you even wash these vegetables? There’s a worm in mine!” the employee fumed, his face flushed with frustration. “This is a recurring issue!”

The chef barely flinched. Rolling his eyes, he responded with a hint of annoyance, “Worms are normal; it means the vegetables are fresh and free of pesticides. You should be grateful! If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to eat elsewhere!”

The employee, visibly furious, barked, “I’m getting paid to cook here! Is this how you handle your job? I’m going to file a complaint!” The chef, oozing arrogance, dismissed him with a casual shrug. “Whatever.”

The other employees seemed unsurprised by the chef’s demeanor and remained silent, offering no support to the aggrieved employee.

“Let me have a look,” Madisyn decided to step in. She examined the plate and confirmed the presence of a worm, but it wasn’t from the vegetables—it was a sign of a filthy kitchen.

“Can I see the kitchen?” she asked the chef.

The chef didn’t even glance at her. “If you don’t like the food here, just get out!” His arrogance was infuriating.

Madisyn frowned, but the employee beside her sighed in resignation. “Well, forget it. I’ll make a complaint. These people have a backer and are incredibly arrogant.” Noting the employee’s insider knowledge, Madisyn took a seat beside him. “Who’s behind them?”

Though Madisyn and Andrew were strangers, the employee, taken by their appearances, responded, “Are you new here? Everyone knows the vice financial director backs the kitchen team. Complaints are pointless. They’re not concerned about us—they’ve likely made a fortune from it.”

“Have you reported this to the headquarters?” Madisyn asked.

“There was a report made before. Someone from headquarters came for a surprise inspection, but the chefs had already been tipped off and cleaned up overnight. No issues were found, and the reporter was fired while the chefs continued to act innocent. We’re just employees trying to keep our jobs.”

Madisyn felt a wave of anger and sadness. She hadn’t expected such corruption within the Johns Group. “Don’t worry; things will improve soon,” she said softly.

The employee, seeing the resolute expression on Madisyn’s face, smiled and said, “I can tell you’re not happy with this either, but we’re just regular employees, and finding a job these days is tough. It’s more important for us to keep our positions.”

“Understood,” Madisyn replied, grateful for his honesty. No longer in the mood for a meal, Madisyn left the table with Andrew.

Although the chefs had barred their entry, they managed to sneak into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Madisyn was stunned. No one would have guessed that such a filthy kitchen hid behind the gleaming canteen!

After documenting the evidence, they left quietly.

“Are you shocked?” Madisyn asked Andrew, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Andrew gently touched her face. “It’s common for companies to have issues like this. The key is to identify and address them swiftly.”

“Okay,” Madisyn replied, determined to make a difference.

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