“Mr. Wilson, we need to make this clear with Mr. Xander today!”

She turned the attention back to Mr. Wilson.

The other employees started whispering among themselves. Mr. Wilson was terrified of making Henry angry and causing a major loss to the company, so he just wanted to salvage the situation.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “Enough, Ninian! Regardless of whether this is a misunderstanding or not, Mr. Xander’s still angry because of you. That’s an undeniable fact. You’ll be handing the project with Grand World to Joy today.

“Then, report to HR. You’ll get your salary deducted, and you’ll start over from the bottom again!”

When she saw that she had removed herself entirely from the situation, Joy sighed in relief before whispering into my ear, “See that? I’m a senior employee in the company, and I can turn you into the scapegoat whenever I want. Don’t even think about getting someone to speak up for you. It’s your fault for being so unlucky. You just had to mess with Mr. Xander.”

Despite her provocation, I did not panic. Instead, I laughed.

The company had been following up on a project with Grand World for half a year, but I got that project with the help of my best friend.

It was because I kept whining to her about how the commission from my company was too low, and I sweet-talked her into it. That was why she had given me the project while rolling her eyes at me.

How dare Mr. Wilson get someone else to take over? I just hoped that the company would not suffer another major loss so soon.

“Mr. Xander, are you pleased with this outcome?” Mr. Wilson rubbed his hands as he looked at Henry uneasily.

Joy quickly picked up her glass of wine and put on a fawning smile. “I overreacted just now and offended you, Mr. Xander, but I’ve always said whatever comes to the top of my head and am overprotective of my subordinates. Let me toast to you.”

Then, graciously, she drank the wine while Mr. Wilson spoke up on her behalf. “That’s right! Mr. Xander, don’t let this girl affect our friendship!”

I was getting fed up listening to this.

In any case, they were going to keep smearing my reputation, so I decided to just sit down and start eating.

“Ninian!”

When Joy saw that I still had the gall to sit down and eat, she got worked up and shoved me. “Don’t you have any manners at all? Hurry and apologize to Mr. Xander!”

Then, she smiled at Henry.

“Please don’t mind her, Mr. Xander. Ninian came from the countryside and is ignorant about the world. I think she only did what she did because she wants a better life. After all, when a person is poor, they’d cross any moral line to get rich.”

Henry listened to Joy as she called me poor and questioned my morals. His hand froze on his glass.

“You seem to understand your subordinate’s family background really well, Miss Clark,” Henry said slowly. His voice was devoid of emotion.

Thinking that things could still change for the better, Joy nodded. “Of course! When she just joined us, she said that she came from the mountains. Girls like that have it hard when they work in the city. They’re easily tempted by all the glamor around them and want to take shortcuts.

“She’s the only one who gets harassed during every social event, not the other employees! Why else would that be?

“There’s always a reason behind why something happens, right? If she didn’t dress so scantily, why would someone harass her?

“Mr. Xander, as her superior, I’m to blame for her questionable behavior and scheming nature, but I promise you that as long as you work with us, we’ll be clear and transparent with you and won’t make a mess of things.”

“Questionable behavior and scheming nature? Ninian?” Henry repeated the words, and his smile turned colder.

“That’s right.” Joy sighed and pretended to find the situation regrettable. “Even though it’s shameful for us to mention such scandalous behavior, I wouldn’t dare hide it from you.”

Smack!

Henry slammed his glass heavily on the table before glaring at Joy like she was already dead to him.

“You’re spreading lies about my sister trying to climb the social ladder by seducing others, and you’re doing it right in front of my face!

“Is this how your company works, Miss Clark?”