Chapter 450

It had only been a few days, but she seemed leaner, her eyes were brighter, and her demeanor had taken on an icy edge.

There she stood, casually yet firmly supervising her employees as they summarized content from a rival company. She demanded absolute precision with every figure and every word.

“This company’s analysis is slightly off. We don’t need to pursue an acquisition here. Scrap this report.”

“But, Ms. Haywood,” one of the team members protested, ‘we’ve all been putting in overtime lately, and we think this company could be a dark horse in the future.”

The colleague looked up to Brielle with a mix of admiration and concern. She had only just returned to the department and was already diving into work. Could her health withstand the strain?

Brielle’s expression remained neutral as she glanced at the others. They were all ears, keen to hear her take on the company’s prospects.

With a light chuckle, Brielle addressed them, “You’ve all worked hard while I was away. This company started with smartphones, and as I always say, for a product–based company, user experience is king.

Every acquisition we’ve made has been of companies whose products meet, even exceed, consumer expectations. I’m not dismissing your efforts–this company does have potential, and their initial products were a hit. But lately, the CEO’s vision seems to have veered off–course, delving into what they call ‘cutting–edge tech.“”

The team listened intently, hanging on every word.

“Cutting–edge tech and meeting consumer expectations are two different ball games. We’re talking about value for money versus technological marvels. They demand different investments, resource allocation, and talent pools. And let’s not forget that the sense of purpose and pride that drives employees varies with each path. If a CEO’s compass starts to wobble, it usually leads to internal conflict and inefficiency. So, let’s put the acquisition on hold and see what their next move is. For a smartphone aimed at women, making photos look more glamorous is the way to go, not chasing after tech for tech’s sake.”

No sooner had she finished than Brielle felt a strong pull to the side. Looking up, her expression darkened upon seeing Spencer. “Let go.”

Feeling the heat of her glare and a twinge of hurt, Spencer reluctantly released her wrist and gave her a once–over. She was supposed to be mourning the loss of a child and was only days out from an appendectomy. Why was she back at work already?

“Brielle, how are you? Why weren’t you here these past few days? Did something happen? You look pale, and you’ve lost weight.” Spencer tried to seem genuinely concerned, hoping to atone for his internal guilt.

Brielle, however, was not in the mood for his antics.

11:49 The colleagues, who had been ready to applaud Brielle’s speech, now turned their attention to Spencer, pretending to be engrossed in their own work to spare Brielle any embarrassment.

As Brielle turned to head back to her office, Spencer grasped her wrist again.

“Spencer, are you out of your mind?”

For some reason, being chastised by her didn’t faze Spencer. It felt like the Brielle he knew.

Brielle’s gaze shifted past him, spotting Sydney near the elevator. It was unusual to see them together.

Her frown deepened–had Spencer been giving Sydney a hard time?

Sydney was her assistant, and Brielle was naturally inclined to take her side. “Sydney, come to my office. We need to talk.”

Sydney, who had been standing there in shock at the sight of Spencer mooning over Brielle. couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. Why should she be anyone’s shadow?

Hearing her name, Sydney approached, albeit reluctantly. “Ms. Haywood, you’re back.”

Brielle nodded, taking a moment before expressing her gratitude. “Thanks for taking me to the clinic the other day.”

Clinic?

Confusion flickered across Sydney’s face, but noticing Spencer’s gaze, she simply nodded. “No need to thank me. It’s part of the job.”