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Chapter_133
Whitney’s gaze remained unwavering, her expression a study in calm as the storm within her grew more intense. She had endured enough of Castor’s petty attempts to undermine her, and now it was time for the tables to turn.
“Castor, like you said, ‘used to.’ Are you just trying to remind everyone that Elaine is no longer with the company?” Whitney’s voice was smooth, yet laced with a subtle challenge that caught him off guard.
The remark landed squarely, and Castor’s face darkened. His response, however, came swiftly, coated in a forced politeness that barely masked his irritation. “You…” he began, his voice icy. “This booth is full, Whitney. Perhaps you should find another spot.”
Whitney didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted slightly as she met his glare. “If you say this booth is reserved for the VP, and you’re not on that level, then maybe you should find another seat,” she retorted, her words direct and final, closing any room for argument.
Castor’s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he silently seethed. After a beat of silent fury, he gestured to his entourage, clearly frustrated. They all moved to another booth, the air thick with his irritation.
Whitney’s sharp eyes swept across the room, scanning the executives who were still lingering nearby, observing the encounter. Her focus shifted to Castor’s inner circle, noting who seemed aligned with him and who might be neutral. She knew the dynamics here were crucial for her next steps.
From the booth next to hers, Castor’s secretary couldn’t hold back her spiteful comments. “Word on the street is that Whitney’s the mistress who climbed to the top. She elbowed Elaine out, and now she’s trying to overshadow Castor.”
Another employee, clearly confused, asked, “Mistress who climbed to the top?”
The secretary wasted no time, eager to gossip. “Haven’t you heard? Elaine had been engaged to the CEO for years, and Whitney just waltzed in, taking her place. Now she’s even trying to snatch Elaine’s job.”
The gossip spread like wildfire, and Whitney could hear the murmurs as they grew louder around her. “That’s outrageous.” “Her? Trying to be the VP? She doesn’t have half of Elaine’s talent.”
The lies stung, but Whitney didn’t let them show. She remained composed, her mind working to process the damage being done by these rumors. The soundproofing between booths was poor, and every word that reached her only fueled the fire of determination inside her.
Harper, noticing the tension rising, leaned in with a suggestion. “Ms. Whitney, maybe we should go over there and give them a piece of our mind?”
Whitney clenched her fists but kept her expression unchanged, silently slipping her voice recorder into her pocket. She shook her head. “Patience, Harper.”
Instead of reacting immediately, Whitney ordered two light dishes, but they never arrived.
After an interminable wait, Harper returned, her agitation evident. “The restaurant manager said there was a mix-up. They served our food to Castor’s booth.”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed as she processed the deliberate slight. “Such a precise mistake?”
Harper, clearly frustrated, muttered, “I bet Castor’s got the restaurant manager in his pocket, trying to make you look bad. With the CEO away, they’re…”
Whitney, unfazed by the petty maneuver, stood and brushed it off. “No matter. We’ll just order delivery.”
Back in her office, Whitney wasted no time. She dove into the files on Castor, her focus sharpening as the weight of the day’s events pressed upon her. She picked up the phone. “Hey, Tiana, can you dig up some dirt for me?”
The hours passed slowly, each minute dragging on as she waited. It was clear the executives were actively sidelining her, leaving her out of the loop. The silence in her office was deafening. Harper’s anxiety only grew. “What if the CEO asks about this tomorrow? Ms. Whitney hasn’t been able to integrate into the workflow here at all.”
Whitney remained unshaken, coolly flipping through the plans for the new five-star hotel project. “Is it three o’clock already? Isn’t it time for the new project meeting?”
“Yes, but Castor hasn’t notified you. He’s clearly not taking you seriously,” Harper pointed out, her frustration now evident.
Whitney stood, just as Tiana’s information came through. A sly smile curved her lips. “If Castor won’t notify me, I’ll just attend the meeting myself. Which floor is it on?”
With renewed purpose, Whitney made her way to the 48th floor, where the meeting on the hotel project was taking place. As she approached the conference room, she noticed Castor in the hallway, speaking on the phone, a smug grin plastered across his face.
“Elaine, I’ve had Whitney on ice all day,” he boasted, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “She was the laughingstock at lunch, and I’ve spread the news about her affair. Even if she stays at United Realty, no one will work with her. As for the project meeting…” He chuckled, clearly feeling triumphant.
Elaine’s cold laughter echoed through the phone. “Make sure she doesn’t attend. Tell the CEO she’s clueless about real estate. He won’t blame you. He’ll see her as an obstacle. The worse her reputation, the better. The sooner I return, the better for you. Go ahead and do it.”
Castor’s satisfaction surged as he soaked in Elaine’s approval.
With that, he returned to the meeting room, still grinning. “Let’s start the hotel project meeting.”
But one of the managers hesitated, his voice filled with doubt. “The hotel project is significant. Not inviting Whitney might…”
“What’s the point of inviting her if she doesn’t understand? A pregnant woman coming to listen to gibberish? We can’t let her jeopardize a hundred-billion-dollar project!” Castor sneered, dismissing any further opposition with a wave.
Just as he spoke, the door to the conference room swung open, and Whitney entered. Her presence was commanding, her business attire sleek and professional, and her smile calm and confident. “Has the meeting started? I hope I’m not late, Castor. I’m actually quite curious to hear your ‘gibberish.’”
For a moment, Castor froze. Her confidence was unshakable, and his own arrogance faltered in the face of her calm resolve.
Bolstered by Elaine’s earlier encouragement, Castor sneered, “Whitney, this is a major project the CEO cares deeply about. I hear you’re in the jewelry business. Now, you’re trying to chair a real estate meeting? Doesn’t seem quite right, does it?”
The executives exchanged uneasy glances, whispering under their breath. “It’s apples and oranges.” “She wants to chair the meeting just for show, treating a huge project like child’s play!”
Castor, feeling secure in his position, mocked her further. “It seems everyone disagrees with you joining the meeting. If you’re so keen on staying, why don’t you just listen from the corner?”
Relegating her to the corner was the ultimate insult, a tactic meant to push Whitney aside and belittle her. Harper clenched her fists, her anger rising at the unfair treatment.
But Whitney remained unfazed. She strode to Castor’s seat, her movements poised and deliberate. Glancing at the nameplate, she flashed a smile. “This is the VP’s seat. Castor, get up.”
Without waiting for a response, she unceremoniously pushed him out of the chair.
Castor, stunned and furious, scrambled up, his face reddening with rage. “Whitney, you…”
“What were you planning to do to a pregnant woman?” Whitney’s cold gaze cut through him like a blade, stopping him dead in his tracks.
His face paled as the gravity of the situation settled in. With the CEO’s child growing inside Whitney, Castor had no choice but to sit down, his frustration simmering.
Whitney addressed the room with unshakable authority. “Let’s proceed with the meeting. Continue your discussion.”
The executives exchanged uncertain glances, the tension in the room palpable. But Castor, now relegated to the side, was determined to provoke her further.
“We were discussing whether to go with a circular design or a twin-tower structure for the hotel group,” Castor said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Since the land hasn’t been allocated, it might take up half the city’s area. Perhaps you’d like to share your thoughts?”
Whitney arched an eyebrow, unfazed by his challenge. She opened the project portfolio and began to speak with confidence. “A hotel empire that spans half the city? Circular and twin-tower designs are too restrictive! We need a luxury hotel district—grand in scale, focused on both comfort and spatial efficiency. We should take inspiration from the Sailsky Dubai Hotel playbook…”
Her words held the room in silence, each executive’s expression shifting as they listened to her proposal.
One manager, impressed, couldn’t help but speak up. “Whitney, you seem quite knowledgeable on the subject.”
Castor, still seething, sneered. “Knowledgeable? Anyone can speak in generalities.” He wanted to catch Whitney out, expose her as a fraud. “If Whitney is so capable, let’s see her get into the nitty-gritty on stage!”
“Sure,” Whitney replied coolly, accepting the challenge.
She handed a USB drive to Harper, who quickly left the room. Moments later, Harper returned with the footage, and Whitney made her way to the podium. As she inserted the drive, the large screen flickered to life.
An explicit video blared to life, loud and clear, showing Castor on a lounge sofa with two women—neither of whom was his wife.
Castor’s face drained of color. “Turn it off! Who put this on? Turn it off!”
The room fell into stunned silence as the scandal unfolded before them. Whitney stood at the podium, her face unreadable, as the chaos of the moment swept over Castor.
