Georgia strutted out of the office, her nose in the air.


    Victoria kept tidying her desk, while Ailie fumed beside her.


    "Can you believe it? Even the office toadies areing here trying to make themselves feel important," Ailie grumbled.


    Violet''s littlepdog held her head higher than Ailie ever did as a manager-pletely oblivious to anyone else in the room.


    "Oh,e on. Just think about your six-figure sry. Imagine how much luxury makeup you could buy with that every month," Victoria said with a wry smile.


    Ailie''s anger melted away instantly. "You''re right. Six figures a month... that''s not too shabby."


    Later, as Victoria carried a box of her things to her new office, she nced around and saw the wholepany buzzing with activity.


    Ever since Ms. Marchand had arrived, everyone seemed more energized. If they weren''t out chasing down new clients, they were in meetings or throwingvish parties to impress investors.


    Just The Langford Group alone had poured in hundreds of millions to Quantum Core Technologies. When it came to bringing in capital, Violet was second to


    none.


    As Victoria passed the elevator lobby, people spotted her from a distance and made sure to keep their distance-no one dared share an elevator with her, even if it meant waiting for the next one.


    After all, if Ms. Marchand had no use for you, no one in their right mind would try to get on her good side.


    At this rate, Ms. Marchand was going to be the most powerful voice in thepany after Mr. Garcia himself. Victoria? Most people acted like she was a walking gue.


    Back in the office, Ailie heard footsteps approaching and knew Victoria wasing. She jumped up to help, surprised to see Victoria hauling a stack of office supplies by herself.


    "Wasn''t someone supposed to help you move these? Where is everyone? You''re not supposed to be carrying this on your own."


    It was almost funny. Victoria used to be a secretary, and now she was Deputy Manager of the Investment Department—a promotion, and with a pay raise to boot. Yet not a single soul had shown up to help her carry her things.


    "It''s not much. Doesn''t weigh anything," Victoria replied. Compared to changing a t on an RV, this was nothing.


    Truth was, she was strong enough to lift a tire with both hands, but her curves made her look anything but athletic. Most people would never guess she had any strength at all.


    Only Lyndon and the others had seen what she was really capable of.


    Ailie took the box from her with a huff. "Bunch of clueless idiots."


    Victoria didn''t care. Once everything was put away, she dove right back into her work, her moodpletely unaffected.


    The next morning, Yasmine had a car ready for Victoria. She drove herself to the expo center, the trip going smoothly-until, right as she passed Central Square, the car sputtered and died.


    The drivers behind her started honking impatiently. Victoria climbed out to check the engine, just as the driver from the car behind her got out too.


    They locked eyes. Marcus hadn''t expected to run into Victoria here.


    "Miss Fannie," he greeted, surprised.


    Max, riding with Marcus, was thrilled. He hadn''t seen Miss Fannie in ages and still remembered how she''d once taught him to beat his bratty cousin at racing games.


    "What''s wrong with your car?" he asked eagerly.


    "It just died on me for no reason," Victoria said, exasperated. Of all days for this to happen-she was in a hurry to get to the tech expo. She could check under the hood herself, but she was running out of time.


    "If you''ve got somewhere urgent to be, mypany''s just up the street. Why don''t you take my car?" Marcus offered.


    He was still in awe of how Victoria and her team had fixed up his McLaren. Ever since, he''d been wanting to ask her out, but never found the right moment. She always seemed busy.


    He''d texted her a few times, but she''d only ever replied hourster with polite, nomittal messages.


    Marcus figured either she wasn''t interested, or she really was that busy.


    "I''m on my way to the tech show, but I couldn''t impose. Thank you, Mr. Green," Victoria replied politely. His shy car would draw way too much attention at the expo.


    But Marcus pressed his car keys into her hand. "Don''t be so formal. If it wasn''t for you, this car would be sitting in a junkyard right now. Take it. I''ll have someone tow your car to the shop and get in touch with youter."