?Chapter 284:


    Before stepping away, she wanted to see these initiatives through topletion or at least to a stable stopping point.


    It was a matter of principle, one she refused topromise.


    “It’s about… the termination of several female employees,” Samira exined, stressing the word female as if to trigger Rachel’s recollection.


    Rachel leaned her head against her hand, a faint crease forming between her brows as she tried to piece together fragmented memories. She vaguely recalled murmurs in the elevator about staff being let go, but it had barely registered. Workce rumors rarely captured her attention, and she hadn’t feltpelled to investigate further.


    “I remember hearing something about it. Why do you ask?” Rachel responded, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.


    Samira blinked in surprise, taken aback by Rachel’s apparent indifference. How could she remain so unshaken by such news?


    “Rachel, don’t you have any thoughts on this?” Samira pressed, her voiceced with concern.


    Rachel tilted her head, genuinely confused.


    “Should I? It’s just a few dismissals, isn’t it? That’s HR’s domain. And let’s not forget that White Group’spensation and benefits are among the best in the industry. Everyone here knows how privileged we are to work here, and firings have been almost unheard oftely. What exactly did they do to warrant this?”


    Samira was momentarily speechless. She had assumed Rachel was more informed, but it was clear her knowledge was superficial at best. Rachel was aware of the dismissals but entirely unaware of the underlyingplexities.


    Samira cleared her throat, her tone shifting to one of gravity.


    “The employees who were dismissed were the ones who crossed us that day. Juliet Mendez, in particr. I heard HR demanded half a million in damages from her. Thepany even involved the police, and she was escorted out immediately.”


    She continued without hesitation, her words flowing urgently.


    “And Holden Ellsworth, he was stripped of his position on the board. Mr. White called an emergency meeting with all the executives and issued a clear warning: any future harassment or mistreatment would lead to instant dismissal.”


    ???????? ???????????????? ???????? g???????ν????????????


    If Rachel hadn’t grasped the implication by now, she would have had to be remarkably oblivious. Besides, coincidences like this were rarely idental.


    For a moment, she felt a flicker of astonishment, even disbelief. But the feeling was transient, and herposure quickly returned.


    “Samira, I see what you’re getting at. Perhaps you’re right, but what does it change? This is just another example of his controlling nature. If I’m disrespected, he takes it as a personal affront to his pride and standing.”


    She wanted to tell Brian it was unnecessary; after all, no one knew about their connection, and her humiliation that day would never hurt his reputation.


    Samira, sensing Rachel’s conflict, pressed gently.


    “What if he did it because he cares about you?”


    Rachel’s eyes drifted downward, her thoughts swirling, but she soon lifted her gaze, her expressionposed and steady.


    “Perhaps. You might be right,” she acknowledged. “But even if that’s true, it’s toote now.”


    Dyed apologies and bted concerns often ring hollow, losing their impact over time. It could have meant everything if Brian had trusted her and stood up for her when she needed him most. But now, the opportunity had slipped away, leaving his gestures empty and insignificant. Some moments, once gone, lose their power to heal or mend.


    .


    .


    .