?Chapter 176:


    “Bye!” Averi shouted.


    “Bye.”


    Alex remained still, watching them until they vanished down the hallway, then he slowly walked away.


    The next morning, Sadie inhaled deeply and entered the Wall Group building. The receptionist weed her and pointed her toward the HR department.


    There, the HR manager, impably dressed, greeted her with a smile that didn’t quite warm her eyes.


    “Miss Hudson, wee. I’m Ayanne Mitchell, the HR manager.”


    “Hello, Ms. Mitchell,” Sadie responded, nodding courteously. “Mr. Wall has mentioned you to me. Please,e with me to your office.”


    As Sadie followed Ayanne, she noticed the officeyout was unchanged from three years ago. They moved past busy workstations, the tter of keyboards echoing around them.


    Instead of leading her to a modern office, however, Ayanne took her down a quieter corridor to a in, weathered iron door. As Ayanne unlocked it, they were greeted by a musty smell.


    Inside was a cluttered storage room, dimly lit and dusty, almost stifling.


    Sadie stopped short.


    “This is my office?”


    Ayanne dismissed her concern casually. “Yes, Miss Hudson. It’s all we have avable right now.” Her smile was sharp, with a flicker of mockery.


    Sadie’s heart sank. This wasn’t an office; it was a forgotten storeroom. But she quickly regained herposure, her eyes hardening. After years in the corporate world, she was all too familiar with these tactics.


    “Ms. Mitchell, are you certain this decision came from Mr. Wall?”


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    Ayanne paused, caught off guard by Sadie’sposed demeanor. She adjusted her sses, striving to sound authoritative. “Absolutely, Mr. Wall personally arranged this.”


    “Really?” Sadie’s lips twisted into a skeptical smile. “It seems more like someone is using Mr. Wall’s name toplicate things for me.” She stepped forward, reducing the distance between them. “Are you prepared to ept responsibility for someone else’s misconduct?”


    Ayanne’sposure wavered, and her eyes darted nervously. Sadie’s direct challenge visibly unnerved her.


    “Miss Hudson, I’m not sure what you’re suggesting.” Ayanne faltered, her confidence fading.


    “Not sure?” Sadie’s smile widened with a hint of derision. “Let’s be clear. I suspect K has bribed you, hasn’t she? Wall Group isn’t K’s private empire, and you’re jeopardizing your career over her schemes. Are you really willing to risk it all?”


    “I haven’t…” Ayanne’s response weakened as she avoided Sadie’s steady gaze.


    “Really?” Sadie persisted firmly. “Then perhaps you should verify this ‘office arrangement’ with Mr. Wall right now.”


    Ayanne nched, stepping back involuntarily, at a loss for words. Sadie observed her, a knowing smirk ying on her lips.


    Sadie’s tone lightened suddenly, and she chuckled softly, her voice tinged with a hint of relief. “Never mind.”


    Ayanne paused, perplexed. “Miss Hudson…”


    Sadie looked around the room. “This will do.”


    Confusion deepened on Ayanne’s face. “Miss Hudson, you… you’re not upset anymore?”


    Sadie faced Ayanne squarely, her expression calm and insistent. “Upset? Why would I be upset? I just wanted to give you a few warnings.” She smiled subtly, her eyes glinting with mischief. “This ce is quiet, away from certain distractions. It’s exactly what I need.”


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