Next Man Better Plan novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Sapphire Group specializes in new energy solutions, and Stephanie works in the R&D department.

It was her first job out of college, a position she landed through a campus recruitment

event.

Back in school, she’d published a paper in a related field that happened to catch the eye of the company’s leadership.

They specifically reached out to her advisor to recruit her. She’d been there for two years now and was on the verge of being promoted to assistant director.

As soon as Stephanie arrived at the office, she overheard some colleagues gossiping.

“Seriously? A Rolls-Royce Phantom? Is her boyfriend really that loaded?”

“I saw them myself downstairs, sharing a long goodbye kiss. They must be in their honeymoon phase.”

“I heard she graduated from a top university, same one as Ms. Jackson, I think. She worked at our rival company for a year and was apparently poached by the boss for a hefty salary, bringing some core technology with her.”

“So, does that mean Stephanie’s promotion to assistant director isn’t a sure thing anymore?”

“It’s hard to say. Stephanie just got married, right? She’ll probably start trying for a baby soon. In our line of work, you can’t spend all your time in the lab when you’re pregnant. The radiation is bad for the baby.”

The colleagues were deep in their conversation and didn’t notice Stephanie walking past them.

One of them spotted her first and tugged on her friend’s sleeve.

They all turned around, falling silent the moment they saw Stephanie.

“What’s all the excitement about?” Stephanie asked with a slight smile, walking over to her locker to change into her lab coat.

Her rise through the ranks had been swift, she was beautiful, and the company’s big boss, an old classmate of her advisor, always seemed to look out for her.

In the workplace, that combination was bound to make people jealous.

Over time, rumors started circulating that she’d gotten into Sapphire Group through connections and had no real talent.

People even claimed her latest research was actually her advisor’s idea, that he was the

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Chapter 41

one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

A tall, slender woman with a ponytail spoke up. “Stephanie, you haven’t heard? A new person started while you were on your honeymoon leave. Everyone’s saying she’s your main competition for the assistant director position.”

Another colleague nodded. “You get married, and the next thing you know, they hire someone new. Don’t you think the company is preparing for you to get pregnant? Getting someone ready to take your spot?”

Stephanie listened without a word. After changing, she stood in front of the mirror and neatly tied her long hair, which had been loose around her shoulders, into a low ponytail.

Just then, Victoria walked in.

Her eyes

lit up when she saw Stephanie. She walked over, a sweet smile on her face. “Stephanie, what a coincidence. You work here too?”

Stephanie frowned, a flash of surprise in her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I work at Sapphire Group now,” Victoria said with a smile. “I just transferred over a couple of days ago. We’re colleagues from now on. I hope you’ll look out for me.”

Victoria is at Sapphire Group? No wonder she and Quennel were together downstairs this morning. He was dropping her off at work.

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