C182 Ruthless

The moment the conference closed... I stood up immediately. Without knocking... I entered Alicia's office. She had just leaned back in her chair. The stern Director from moments ago disappeared instantly. She smiled brightly. "Husband." I laughed. "Wife..." "You terrified everyone." She blinked innocently. "I did?" "I almost felt sorry for Mr. McCarthy."

She covered her mouth before laughing. "He kept reminding me about his experience." "I simply reminded him that experience means nothing if the company's performance keeps declining." "I only want them to understand that experience alone doesn't give someone the right to challenge the company's decisions." I shook my head. "For a moment..." "I almost forgot you were my wife." "You looked like someone who could dismiss half the company without blinking."

She laughed even harder before wrapping her arms around my waist. "You..." "So even my husband became afraid of me?" I smiled as I hugged her back. "Only during meetings." "When we're alone..." "You're still my adorable wife." Her cheeks immediately turned pink. I reached over and gently held her hand. "You handled it perfectly." She smiled sweetly. "Thank you." For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was peaceful.

Outside the office windows, employees could already be seen moving quickly from department to department after receiving the Director's new instructions. Lucia Goods had officially entered a new era. I stood up. "Should I leave you to work?" Alicia nodded. "I still have several documents to review." "But..." She smiled mischievously. "You forgot something." I pretended to think. "Hmm..." "What did I forget?" "My reward."

I chuckled. "So Director Mooney want a reward for hardworking in her own company?" She crossed her arms proudly. "Yes to show that i well." l leaned forward. She stood up as well. Without hesitation, Alicia wrapped both arms around my neck and gave me a gentle kiss. I smiled after we separated. "I think I should work harder from now on." "You definitely should." Both of us laughed. I finally returned to his own office.

The rest of the morning passed surprisingly smoothly. Every department began adjusting to the new management structure. Adam Tavez and Leon Wright immediately started preparing to take over their newly assigned inspection roles, while Human Resources began processing the official transfer documents. Although many employees still had doubts about the young Director, none of them dared question her decisions again.

Meanwhile... Inside her office... Alicia continued reviewing reports one after another. Sales reports... Supplier contracts... Production schedules... Financial statements... The pile of documents on her desk slowly became smaller. Around noon, however, she suddenly paused. A strange discomfort spread through her lower abdomen. She frowned slightly. "Maybe..." "It's just cramps." She gently rubbed her stomach before reaching into her handbag.

Taking out a small packet of pain relief tablets, she swallowed one with a glass of water before continuing her work. For several minutes, everything seemed normal. Then... The pain returned. This time... It was sharper. Alicia instinctively grabbed the edge of her desk. "Hmm..." She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to disappear. A few seconds later... It eased slightly. She forced herself to continue reading the report in front of her. "I'll be fine..." "It's probably because I haven't rested properly these past few days."

She remembered everything that had happened recently. Preparing the engagement... Designing everyone's outfits... Sewing throughout the night... Cooking for both families... The emotional gathering at the Chambers residence... Then today... Her very first day as Director. She smiled bitterly. "I've been pushing myself too much." She reached for another document. Before she could finish reading the first page... Another wave of pain struck. This one was much stronger.

She placed one hand over her stomach and slowly leaned back in her chair. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. The tablets... Had done almost nothing. She took a slow, deep breath. "I just need a few minutes." "I'll be alright." Outside... Employees continued walking past the Director's office, completely unaware that inside, the woman who had confidently dominated the company meeting only an hour earlier was quietly enduring growing pain while trying her best not to let anyone notice.

She straightened herself again. "No..." "I can't let them think I'm weak on my first day." With determination shining in her eyes, Alicia picked up another document and continued working, refusing to allow the pain to distract her. Little did she know... The afternoon was about to become far more difficult than she expected. The day passed by quickly. and before long she fell asleep in her office. The pills she took made her tired.

It was soon lunchtime, and I quietly left my office before making my way to Alicia's office. When I gently pushed the door open, I found her fast asleep at her desk, her head resting on her folded arms. The usually energetic Alicia looked unusually pale, and even in her sleep her brows were slightly furrowed, as though she was still uncomfortable. My eyes soon landed on a packet of painkillers beside her laptop and a half-finished glass of water. I frowned. "Did she catch a cold?"

A moment later I shook my head. "No... maybe it's her time of the month." I had never really understood what women went through during those days, so I quickly took out my phone and searched online. "What should I buy for a girl during her period?" Hundreds of suggestions immediately appeared. Dark chocolate... strawberry yoghurt... fruit smoothies... nuts... warm soup... ginger tea... grilled fish... leafy vegetables...

The more I scrolled, the more confused I became. "Why is every website saying something different?" Some even suggested ice cream while others warned against cold food altogether. I scratched my head helplessly. "Girls really have it difficult..." After thinking for several minutes, I decided not to rely entirely on the internet. Instead, I ordered a variety of dishes from the company's restaurant downstairs. Along with a bowl of warm Scottish vegetable soup, grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and fresh fruit.

I also bought a few of the snacks I had seen recommended online, dark chocolate, yoghurt, and a small box of assorted biscuits.

"If the healthy food doesn't make her happy..." "...maybe the chocolate will." A few minutes later my phone vibrated, informing me that the order was ready. I quickly took the elevator downstairs, collected everything myself, and carefully carried the bags back to Alicia's office.

When I quietly opened the door again... Alicia had just woken up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes before looking at me in confusion. "Husband?" I smiled as I placed the food on the coffee table. "I thought you might be hungry." Her eyes slowly widened as she looked at everything I had bought. "So much?" She picked up the dark chocolate first before looking back at me suspiciously. "You bought... chocolate?" "And yoghurt?" "And biscuits too?" I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "I searched online." "They said girls like eating these during... you know..."

Alicia stared at me for a few seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter. "You actually thought i am on my periods??" I nodded honestly. "I didn't know what else to think and then i saw pain killers in your desk." "I was worried." She looked at the table again before smiling warmly. "My husband..." "You're so adorable." She slowly reached out and held my hand. "Thank you." "I've never had someone worry about me this much." "But i am not on my period, I was just tired.

I smiled sheepishly. "As long as you eat properly and feel better, that's enough." She looked at the warm soup and the neatly arranged dishes before shaking her head with a helpless smile. "You even bought healthy food." "And junk food." "Were you planning to let me choose?" I laughed. "I wasn't sure which one was correct." "The internet couldn't make up its mind either." She laughed again, the tiredness on her face easing slightly. "Then..." "I'll eat everything." I pulled a chair closer and sat beside her while she slowly began eating, relieved to see some colour gradually returning to her face.

Meanwhile, at Wood IT Company, lunch had already begun. Chris remained seated inside his new Vice Director's office, absent-mindedly staring at the documents spread across his desk. Although his stomach was beginning to growl, he hesitated to leave. He knew that if he went to the cafeteria, Sarah would feel disappointed, she would want them to eat together. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Maybe I should just stay here..." he thought.

Amanda, who was organizing a few files nearby, noticed his unusual silence. "Vice Director Chambers," she called softly, "aren't you going for lunch?" Chris forced a smile. "I'm still busy." Amanda nodded, though she could tell he was clearly waiting for something or rather, trying to avoid something. Just then, a gentle knock echoed through the office. Both Chris and Amanda instinctively looked toward the door. Chris secretly prayed. "Please don't let it be Sarah..." His nervousness was visible, even Amanda noticed. "Come in," Amanda replied.