Emmanuel thanked her immediately, "Thank you! Whether it works or not, I'm grateful to you." Mackenzie put on a disdainful smile. Hmph. Derek will
definitely listen to me.
Regardless, she simply murmured a reply before
ignoring Emmanuel.
Go on and treat other women to meals. Wait. Didn't I
swear not to help him anymore? Why did I agree to his
request? Ugh! I swear I won't help this idiot next time!
The next day, Derek was summoned to the
headquarters.
He felt extremely nervous, thinking Alessandra had put
him in great trouble.
After all, Mackenzie's temper was known by everyone in
Terence Group.
He figured he was going to be reprimanded harshly for being unreachable yesterday and also for being a day late in submitting the data she wanted–the data he
had stayed up all night to redo.
Getting reprimanded was still fine. He feared
Mackenzie would fire him out of anger since several
managers had been fired in the past because of the
same thing.
"M–Ms. Quillen." Derek knocked on the door and
entered the CEO's office. He stood straight with his
head lowered like a little boy who made a mistake.
"Hello. Where's the data?" asked Mackenzie
indifferently without lifting her head.
"It's here." Derek hurriedly placed the printed document
on her table.
Mackenzie looked through the document without
sparing him a glance.
Derek was so nervous that the muscles all over his body tensed up. He was afraid Mackenzie might throw the document at him and tell him to get lost.
Derek was his family's breadwinner. If he lost his
high–salaried job, he would not be able to pay for the
mortgage, car loan, and even his children's education.
He did not dare to think further.
After reading the document, Mackenzie finally lifted her
head slightly.
Derek had no guts to meet the beautiful woman's
gaze. In fact, only a handful of men in Yeringham
dared to meet her gaze.
I wonder what kind of man can conquer her and make
her his wife? Her mother–in–law must fear her, too.
"Well done on the document. Remember to report to
the receptionist when there's a problem with your
phone in the future."
Mackenzie's words stunned Derek. He even wondered if
he was hearing things.
She's not scolding me? Does that mean I won't be
demoted or fired?
"Y–Yes! I'll keep that in mind, Ms. Quillen!" Derek
promised instantly, feeling much relieved.
"Is your laptop and phone fixed?"
"Y–Yes!"
"How much did it cost?"
"Around three thousand."
Derek could not believe Mackenzie was actually
concerned about him.
Most importantly, he did not expect her to nod and
say, "Prepare the receipts and submit a
reimbursement form to the finance department."
"Huh?" Derek was shocked beyond words. It took him
some time before he nodded. "Okay, Ms. Quillen."
Normally, the company would not reimburse
employees for accidents like that. However, he
guessed it would not be a problem since Mackenzie
had given him the green light.
"The cleaner doesn't have it easy, either. Don't hold her
accountable," Mackenzie added.
"Of course, Ms. Quillen. I understand."
Actually, Derek did not. In fact, he was puzzled as to
why the mighty CEO would care for a cleaner.
Nonetheless, the fact that he could become a
department manager meant he was smart. As soon as
he stepped out of the office, he came to a realization.
Could that cleaner be acquainted with Ms. Quillen? Do
they have some kind of relationship?
Alessandra rested for a day before returning to the company to work. She was feeling down in the dumps because she was
worried about the compensation amount. In fact, she
did not sleep well the last two nights.
Even though Emmanuel had told her not to worry and
promised he would find a solution, she could not help
but worry.
She feared Derek might confront her that day and
make a police report because she could not afford to
pay. If that were to happen, she might lose her job,
which would make things worse.
Regardless, Alessandra was not someone who would
evade problems, and the matter had to be resolved
eventually. Worst case scenario, she would kneel
before Derek in hopes the latter would forgive her.
"Ma'am!"
Sure enough, Derek went looking for her shortly after
she clocked in.
Alessandra straightened herself and greeted him
politely, "M–Mr. Schwartz!"
"I want to talk to you about the laptop and the phone
Before Derek could finish, Alessandra teared up, and
she got to her knees.
"Ma'am, what are you doing? You can't do this!" Derek
quickly helped her up.
That scene was witnessed by everyone in the
company.
Even Beatrix, who passed by, watched it from afar.
Naturally, she did not know Mackenzie had helped
settle the issue. If necessary, I'll help Emmanuel's mom
to pay.
Although Mackenzie did not agree with the marriage,
the cleaner was still her mother–in–law. Beatrix could
not let the latter be in such a tough situation.
"Mr. Schwartz, my family really can't afford to come up
with twenty thousand. Please have mercy on me. I
really didn't do it on purpose!" Alessandra pleaded
with tears streaming down her face.
With so many people watching the commotion, Derek
was grateful that the news about him extorting twenty
thousand from Alessandra had not spread. Otherwise,
he would be reprimanded by everyone.
"Ma'am, I was only saying that to remind you to be
careful next time. Anyway, you don't have to
compensate me anymore."
"Huh?"
What's going on?
Alessandra was stunned.
She never expected Derek would change so drastically.
Immediately, relief flooded her heart, but she still could
not stop crying.
"R–Really? I don't need to compensate you anymore?"
"Yes. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Derek left as soon as he finished speaking to avoid
attracting a crowd.
Everyone was in shock.
Even Beatrix was stupefied. After all, she had witnessed
Derek's encounters with Alessandra, and the contrast
in his behavior was huge.
Something obviously happened before this. Did
Mackenzie help Emmanuel again? Otherwise, things
wouldn't have been resolved so easily, even if I had
helped Ms. Cadigan put in some words.
Now that the matter was resolved, Alessandra felt
refreshed, and she excitedly dialed Emmanuel's
number.
Emmanuel was still working at the hospital at that
moment. When he learned about the matter, he
breathed a sigh of relief.
"Manny, did Mackenzie help? I need to thank her in
person."
Alessandra was already desperate enough to see her
daughter–in–law. And now, her desire to see the latter
grew stronger.
This daughter–in–law of mine is really capable. It must
be a blessing from the Lowe family's ancestors that
Emmanuel found such a great wife.
"Mom, it's almost the end of the month. You'll get to see
her in a few days," was all Emmanuel could say.
As soon as he hung up, he began to worry.
A few days ago, Mackenzie had told him she might not
go home with him, and the topic had been suspended
ever since.
Mom will be disappointed if Mackenzie doesn't go home with me.