Chapter 4

What should I do? I'd already figured it out on the way home.

I looked at my grandpa, my eyes unwavering. "Grandpa, I want to work at James Group."

My grandpa didn't look surprised. He stared at me. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," I replied.

"James Group isn't like fooling around outside. The situation's complicated there."

"I'm not scared."

"Alright," my grandpa nodded, then pulled a file from under the coffee table and handed it to me. "This is the Stellar Project that James Group will kick off next quarter. Take a look.

"I'll give you three months. If you can make this project a success, you'll earn yourself a seat on the board."

I took the file and flipped it open. My heart sank.

The Stellar Project. I'd heard about it before. It was a new initiative under James Group, aimed at developing high-end perfumes.

But thanks to technical setbacks and a lack of funding, it had been stuck in limbo for ages.

Honestly, it was a total mess.

My grandpa was throwing me into the deep end with this project. But it was also my chance to prove myself.

If I could turn this mess around, my place in the company would be set.

But if I failed, then I'd end up as another spoiled heiress, wasting my days away with nothing to show for it.

I closed the file, looked at my grandpa, and nodded seriously. "Alright, Grandpa. I'll take it."

My grandpa smiled, clearly pleased. "That's my granddaughter. You've got guts."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But guts alone aren't enough. Tomorrow, show up at the office. I've set you up as the Marketing Director."

Marketing Director? I was taken aback. "Grandpa, isn't that a bit much for me?"

Sure, I had my own perfume brand, but that was a little side project.

James Group was one of the biggest players in the industry, and the Marketing Director role was absolutely crucial.

Me, a frail rookie who got back from abroad, parachuting straight into such a high position? No way anyone would take me seriously.

"Not at all," my grandpa said, waving his hand, making it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer. "You're the James family heir.

"This position will be yours sooner or later. I'm letting you get used to it early.

"As for earning respect," my grandpa gave a cold chuckle, his eyes flashing with authority. "Does my granddaughter need to bow to anyone?

"If anyone's got a problem, let them come to me."

I looked at my grandpa, and a warm feeling spread through my chest.

I knew he was backing me up.

He was letting everyone know that Sophia was back. I wasn't the weakling people used to push around anymore. I was the rightful heir to James Group.

I took a deep breath, clutching the file tightly. "Grandpa, don't worry. I won't let you down."

*****

The next morning, I got up early. I put on a sharp business suit, kept my makeup light, and arrived at the James Group building right on the dot. I was ready to face whatever was coming my way.

The receptionist was clearly stunned for a moment when she saw me. "Do you have an appointment?"

I took off my sunglasses, flashed her a confident smile, and said, "I'm Sophia James. I'm here to join the Marketing Department."

The receptionist's eyes went wide, her mouth dropping open in shock. "You... you're the heiress?"

It seemed that everyone here already knew me.

Soon enough, the HR manager came running down to greet me.

He was a middle-aged guy in his forties, named David Smith, all smiles and flattery. "Ms. James, why didn't you let me know you were coming? I would've come down to get you myself."

"No need, David. I can handle it," I replied.

I followed David up to the Marketing Department on the eighteenth floor.

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, the atmosphere felt totally off.

Everyone in the department was sneaking glances at me, whispering and gossiping.

"Is that the infamous Ms. James?"

"I heard she was recovering abroad for two years. Why did she suddenly come back?"

"She shows up and becomes the director? The chairman himself gave her the job. Her connections are insane."

"Keep it down. Don't let her hear you."

I pretended not to hear anything and headed straight for the Director's office door.

David opened the door for me. "Ms. James, this is your office. Do you like it?"

The office was huge, decked out in luxury, with floor-to-ceiling windows showing off half the city. But I couldn't help but frown.

There was a chaotic pile of files scattered across the desk, and front and center was the Stellar Project proposal, the very one I'd received yesterday.

Right beside the proposal sat a photo frame, holding an intimate picture of Edward and Olivia.

Olivia was smiling sweetly, nestled in Edward's arms, while he gazed down at her with gentle eyes. The office itself was the backdrop for their photo.

My heart dropped instantly. I turned to David, my gaze icy. "David, what's going on here? Who used this office before me?"

David started sweating nervously, his eyes darting around. "Uh, well..."

"Spit it out!" I said, my voice low but carrying an authority he couldn't ignore.

David flinched, finally blurting out the truth. "Ms. James, this office was previously used by Ms. Quinn. She was the previous Marketing Director."

Olivia? Marketing Director? It was like hearing the biggest joke ever.

Someone who couldn't even tell if perfume was synthetic or a natural extract ended up as the Marketing Director for James Group.

This was an insult to our company's professionalism.

"Where is she?" I asked coldly.

David wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered cautiously, "Ms. Quinn is on leave today."

On leave? Yeah, right. She was too scared to show her face.

I strode over to the desk, grabbed the photo frame, gave it a quick look, then tossed it into the trash without a hint of hesitation.

"David," I turned to him, my voice icy. "You've got thirty minutes to clear out anything in this office that's not mine.

"And," I pointed at the pile of files, "deal with this junk while you're at it.

"From now on, this office runs by my rules."

David was so intimidated by my presence that he nodded frantically. "Yes, I'll get right on it."

With that, he bolted out of the office like his life depended on it.