Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 213

Summer let out a soft laugh. Instead of explaining, she picked up her pen and drew a massive X right across Lily's resume.

"Pass. Next."

Lily shot to her feet in a rage, slamming both hands down on the interview table. "Summer, don't push it! I hold patents. I'm only applying for a measly assistant position, and you dare reject me? Watch your back, or I'll file a complaint and make sure you get fired."

Summer laughed at the threat. Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her long legs and casually spun her pen, looking at Lily with absolute disdain.

"So you know you hold patents. It's truly baffling why a big shot with patents would stoop to our little startup just to apply for an assistant role. I have to question your true motives. Could it be you're here as a corporate spy? If I don't reject you, who else should I reject?"

Lily snapped, "Watch your mouth, Summer! Don't throw around baseless accusations!"

"Alright then," Summer nodded with a smile. "I'll give you another reason: you're pregnant, and our company can't afford that kind of liability. We're hiring an assistant, not a princess to babysit."

"That's workplace discrimination!" Lily yelled. "I can report this company to the labor board!"

Seeing Lily's aggressive stance, Director Hennessey finally chimed in. "Ms. Sutton, I am the HR Director. Summer is our company's CTO, and we are currently hiring her assistant."

"Therefore, the kind of assistant she hires is entirely based on her personal preference. Even if you only had an elementary school diploma, if Director Vance liked you, you'd be hired. Conversely, even if you hold patents, if she doesn't want you, you fail the interview."

Lily was stunned, staring at Summer in pure disbelief. "You're the CTO?"

"Who else? Did you honestly think a tech engineer like me would switch fields to become an HR manager? Please, Lily, only you could come up with something so stupid." The mockery in Summer's eyes was blindingly obvious.

"But, if you're truly dead set on being my assistant, I suppose I could pull some strings for an old acquaintance and make an exception. From now on, your only job will be brewing my coffee every day. How about that? Sounds simple enough, right?"

Summer's words landed like a resounding slap across Lily's face. It didn't physically hurt, but the humiliation was agonizing!

Lily had always paraded her patents around like a badge of honor, convinced no one could ever reject her. She had mapped out her strategy perfectly and was already rehearsing her next pitch in her head.

To her shock, Gavin simply glanced at his watch. "My apologies, I have a meeting to get to." He declined without missing a beat.

Lily's smile faltered, and she tried to insist it would only take a few minutes.

Jude's punch-able voice echoed again. "Gavin, what meeting do you have?"

Lily was speechless.

Her smile practically shattered, threatening to slide right off her face.

Gavin didn't bat an eye. "It's a last-minute emergency meeting. Naturally, you wouldn't know about it."