Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 42

Someone asked curiously, "Yeah, is there some bad blood between you two? Why did she call you a backstabber?"

Victoria bit her lip, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't know. Stephanie was really well-known in college. I've always admired her."

She sobbed, "Maybe she has some kind of misunderstanding about me."

That reminded Serena Scott of something. She handed Victoria a couple of tissues to wipe her tears.

"Isn't it obvious? Stephanie must have overheard what we were saying earlier. She sees Victoria as a rival for the assistant director position and feels threatened, so of course she's lashing out."

Understanding dawned on the others.

Victoria's tears froze on her face. "Should I not have come to Sapphire Group? If I'd known she was here, I..."

Her voice trailed off as she started to cry again.

Serena couldn't stand it. "The assistant director position goes to whoever is most capable. If Stephanie can't get it, that's on her. It has nothing to do with you, Victoria."

With everyone's encouragement, Victoria finally stopped crying. "Thank you all for your support. When I become the assistant director, I'll treat everyone to dinner."

She said it as if the promotion was already in the bag.

Serena laughed. "Treat us to dinner? Will your rich boyfriend with the Rolls-Royce Phantom be there? Have him bring some of his friends and introduce us. Maybe some of your good luck will rub off on us."

Serena, dressed in a chic, classic-style suit, had always been a bit materialistic. The group left the locker room, chatting and laughing.

Serena's expression stiffened. She had indeed taken a call, but she was sure she had shut down the equipment before leaving. Had she forgotten?

"How many times do I have to emphasize that experiments involve serious safety risks?" Director Troy, who had just entered, said sternly. "Serena, if you really didn't turn off the equipment, Stephanie might have saved your life. If something had gone wrong, you couldn't afford the damages even if you sold off everything your family owns."

The team had been working on this technology for two full years, and it was now in the experimental phase. All that round-the-clock effort from so many people would have been for nothing if something had gone wrong.

Serena fell silent. There were cameras in the lab, so it would be easy to check. She couldn't argue.

That woman is toxic, Serena thought. Stephanie could have told her privately, but she had to expose her in front of everyone.

Serena shot Stephanie a wary glance, thinking she'd better not provoke her. Once you set Stephanie off, she attacked everyone indiscriminately. That was what Serena hated most about her—she had absolutely no sense of tact or diplomacy.