Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Gemma was truly a skilled negotiator. She took a situation that was entirely unfavorable for her and elevated it to an unexpected height, leading everyone to unconsciously follow her logic. It felt as though denying her reasoning would make you appear foolish.

Mona, however, twirled her pen between her fingers, her expression indifferent, as if she hadn't heard a single word. Compared to her, Heather's reaction was worlds apart. Heather was so enraged her chest heaved violently, her face flushed red. She shook her head repeatedly.

"That's not true! The manager isn't like that. She's lying," Heather exclaimed.

"I'm not lying, Heather," Gemma countered smoothly. "If you were really such a good person, why were you fired by Montgomery Group? I trust that a large, reputable company like Montgomery Group wouldn't dismiss an employee without a valid reason." Gemma was clever. She instantly shifted the conversation to another topic, even dragging Heather's past into the spotlight. Her goal was simple: to cast doubt on Heather's character and make her seem less innocent than she appeared.

Heather knew Gemma was deliberately provoking her, trying to make her lose her composure and say something irrational in the heat of the moment. Aurora's calm gaze suddenly flashed in her mind. Aurora was always composed, always collected. Heather forced herself to suppress the anger rising in her chest. If she allowed Gemma's words to lead her astray, she would only betray Aurora's trust and efforts to cultivate her. Taking a deep breath, Heather recalled Aurora's advice from the past: "You need to becstronger-stronger than everyone else. Only then will you rise above them. You may not want to hurt others, but at the very least, you won't let anyone trample over you." Aurora had said this the day Heather was bullied by Alison Walker in the cafeteria. Her expression at the thad been utterly indifferent, her entire being radiating a cold, commanding aura. Aurora seemed destined to stand at the top.

Now, Gemma was today's Alison Walker. This time, Heather wouldn't need Aurora to step in and save her. Heather knew no one was born a strong leader-not even Aurora. She had endured countless hardships and climbed step by step to reach her current position. Heather couldn't afford to let her down.

Quickly regaining control of her emotions, Heather opened her eyes, her gaze now calm and resolute.

Mona, who had remained silent, observed the shift. Aurora had already made it clear that lan and Heather were her chosen allies, her future support. Mona herself had no plans to stay here indefinitely. The New York branch had only Asher, and Mona had intended to return once Aurora's side was on track. But before leaving, she needed to ensure everything was in order, mentoring Heather and lan along the way. Otherwise, how could she leave with peace of mind? This wasn't just a test for the company; it was a test for Heather. A leader had to be decisive. Over the past few days, Mona had observed Heather closely. Heather was smart, a quick learner, and incredibly hardworking. For a company, having such an employee was a blessing. If Heather remained an employee forever, she'd be excellent- employees only needed to follow orders, not give them.

But Aurora clearly intended for Heather to beca leader. Leaders couldn't afford to be indecisive, nor did Aurora tolerate such traits. Indecision in critical moments would beca fatal flaw in leadership. As such, Mona had refrained from intervening, wanting Heather to face this challenge on her own. Only by overcoming it could she grow.

As Heather steadily calmed herself, Mona noticed the change in her eyes. She was no longer the girl who lost her temper over a few words, no longer someone easily led by the nose.

Heather spoke confidently, her tone composed. "There's no need to change the subject by bringing up my past. Miss Montgomery knows exactly what happened during my tat Montgomery Group. She was my department director back then, and everyone involved in that situation knows the truth. If, as you claim, I was as terrible as you say, why would Miss Montgomery hire me? Not only that, but she entrustedwith critical tasks multiple times. Are you saying you're smarter than Miss Montgomery, that you understand people better than she does?" Gemma was speechless. To criticize Aurora would be suicidal. How could she possibly respond to this? Before Gemma could think of an answer, Heather continued, her voice steady. "My past has nothing to do with you. Who I am as a person is something the general manager and Miss Montgomery are fully aware of. Today, we're here to discuss your deliberate actions-causing Candy's allergic reaction and sabotaging the launch event. You've been arguing endlessly, thinking I have no evidence, and that's why you feel so bold. But lettell you-l do have evidence." In just a few seconds, Heather seemed like a completely different person. Gemma found herself unable to counter. Hearing that Heather had evidence made her break out in a cold sweat, despite the room being warm. "Evidence? What evidence could you possibly have?" she stammered.

"You claim you didn't know what was in the food, that it was all prepared by the staff. That's fine. We'll simply find the server from that night and hear their side of the story," Heather said, her tone firm and precise.

Heather had underestimated Gemma earlier. She had assumed that after causing such an incident, Gemma would have resigned voluntarily Yet not only did Gemma stay, but she doubled down, trying to shift all the blonto Heather. Heather regretted not confronting the server earlier to secure solid evidence before confronting Gemma. "No need. I've already found the person," Mona finally spoke, her tone calm yet commanding.

Mona, much like Aurora, was a seasoned veteran. She would never display the ssoftness Heather had. She had already tracked @dwh ve the server before this confrontation even began. If Gemma had the audacity to do something like this, she clearly wasn't the type to admit guilt so easily. People like her wouldn't back down until faced with irrefutable proof. Mona clapped her hands, sarcasm lacing her voice. "Gemma, I had no idea you were so eloquent. You almost convincedfor a moment."

Seeing Mona's faint smile, Gemma panicked. She knew she was finished, but she still wanted to make one last attempt "Manager, that restaurant has so many customers every day. It's entirely possible the server remembers wrong. I don't think their testimony is reliable." "We'll find out soon enough," Mona said coldly, dialing the intercom. She instructed her secretary to bring the server into the room.

Gemma clenched her fists, her eyes shutting tight. She could only pray the server had truly forgotten.

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