After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms Chapter 77

Teddy noticed her look of sudden realization—was she misunderstanding something? Just as he considered clarifying, the elevator arrived.

"I'm heading up to report in. See you," Louisa said.

The words Teddy had been about to say died on his lips as Louisa stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the 24th floor.

She didn't overthink Teddy's comments. Teresa's position didn't really matter to her; she was here to build her career, not play office politics.

The Investment Department was one of the Tudor Group's core divisions. They handled priority projects—equity mergers, acquisitions, brand optimization, and risk assessments. 

They also tackled problematic projects and collaborated across departments when necessary.

It was, without doubt, a department that gathered the Tudor Group's elite talents from various fields.

As Louisa stepped out of the elevator, a blast of cold air hit her face. Looking around, she took in the curved floor-to-ceiling windows with their impressive view. The office layout was well-designed with top-notch equipment throughout.

The diverse workforce buzzed with activity—some reviewing documents at their desks, others on calls, and small groups huddled in discussion. 

The atmosphere wasn't rigid, but everyone wore impeccably tailored, professional attire.

It made sense that as Silverlight City's leading company, the Tudor Group only hired the cream of the crop. Everyone was absorbed in their work, barely noticing the newcomer in their midst.

Louisa didn't bother introducing herself. She simply asked for directions to the director's office and headed straight there. 

She knocked and entered when she heard "Come in" from inside.

Behind the desk sat a woman in a white suit, around twenty-eight years old. She had shoulder-length hair, blood-red lips, and immaculate makeup, giving off the aura of an ice queen.

Louisa had expected the daughter of the Tudor and Hughes families to be refined and gentle. She hadn't anticipated this frost princess vibe. Then again, a woman in this position couldn't afford to lack presence.

Teresa looked up, her piercing gaze sweeping over Louisa's face. The first word that came to mind was: beautiful. Beautiful in a vibrant, dazzling way. Beautiful in a cold, aloof manner.

She couldn't describe the feeling, but something felt off—like a threat looming. She leaned back, crossed her arms, and gave Louisa a condescending once-over.

"So you're the project manager Mr. Tudor specially recruited? I expected someone with exceptional abilities. Instead, we got a beauty queen."

The words sounded complimentary on the surface, but Louisa caught the implication—that she'd gotten the position based on her looks rather than skills.

Louisa didn't get angry. She acted as if Teresa wasn't even worth her anger, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for the flattery, Ms. Hughes. Yes, Mr. Tudor personally recruited me.

"If I claimed there was nothing between Mr. Tudor and me, nobody would believe it, so I won't bother explaining. However, as his sister who has risen to your current position, surely you understand his character? You know he wouldn't let personal matters interfere with business, right?"

The implication was clear: 'If you don't understand your brother, perhaps you're the one who got here through connections.'

Teresa's expression immediately darkened, anger flashing in her eyes. 

Louisa simply smiled and stepped forward, placing her onboarding documents on the desk. "I'm Louisa Forbes, reporting for duty."

The words were respectful, but her look carried an air of someone who feared nothing. 

Teresa was fuming but had no legitimate reason to explode. She could only swallow her anger.

She hadn't expected this woman—beautiful enough to be a mere ornament—to ignore her fury and subtly gain the upper hand. It didn't sit well with Teresa, but as the director, she couldn't throw a tantrum.

No matter. There would be plenty of time. She wasn't worried about handling a mere project manager. Being so bold on her first day—Teresa couldn't decide if Louisa was brave or just foolish.

Teresa inwardly scoffed, glancing dismissively at Louisa's documents. "Even if Mr. Tudor personally recruited you, you still have to complete a probation period. During that time, you won't have a designated workstation.

"If your performance doesn't meet our standards, you're automatically out when probation ends. Those are company rules, and no one's influence can change that. Understood?"

Louisa laughed inwardly. She had added that last bit about "company rules" as if afraid Louisa might invoke Julian's name.

Louisa smiled and nodded. "Perfectly clear!"

"Go to the archives and collect the materials," Teresa continued. "You need to review all of the Tudor Group's project files from the past five years by today. If you haven't finished by tomorrow morning, you'll lose points, which will directly affect your permanent position."

Louisa nodded again. "I understand. But what if I do finish? Do I get bonus points?"

The question was clearly a challenge. Teresa had never met someone who dared to push back on their very first day. She gritted her teeth. "You won't finish."

Louisa gave her a knowing smile, her expression seeming to say: "So you're giving me this impossible task because you're certain I can't finish? Obviously targeted harassment."

Under Louisa's gaze, Teresa felt belittled and mocked, which infuriated her. She was the director, yet this new project manager had somehow stolen her thunder. She needed to save face.

So she forced a fake smile. "Ms. Forbes, if you have any other questions, feel free to come to me anytime."

Louisa politely nodded. "OK!"

Teresa dismissed her with a wave. As Louisa left, closing the door behind her, she couldn't help but find the whole verbal sparring match amusing. 

This Teresa was something else. It was Louisa's first day, their first meeting—what had she done to deserve such hostility?