Chapter 118:The next morning, Allison casually entered the Carisma company.
As soon as she entered, her phone buzzed with a message from Kellan.
Miss Clarke, you don't have a helper today.
They would only tripup.
Allison didn't want to have an assistant, knowing it would attract unwanted glances.
Plus, she preferred to work alone and felt uncomfortable with someone hanging around.
After pressing send, she walked deeper into the building.
To his surprise, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
Charisma Company had grown exponentially and, with the backing of the Lloyd Group, had acquired an entire
skyscraper.
As a perfcompany, it didn't have the rigid, stuffy atmosphere of a typical corporate office.
Laboratories were spread throughout the building, and two entire floors were dedicated to lounges and break
rooms where employees could relax.
But as he approached the office area, something caught his attention: an alteration in the company's data.
company.
Someone's hacking, he muttered, frowning.
The nearby computer screens were flashing with confusing codes, but the service personnel were nowhere to be
found, and strangely enough, the network's security alarms had not been activated.
His instincts were true: someone was manipulating the system.
Without hesitation, he sat down in the nearest chair and got to work.
An illegal rape It had been a long tsince | had seen something like this, he murmured.
This was not how he had imagined his first day.
With determination, he headed to the central control room, turned on the main computer and let his fingers fly
across the keyboard.
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Kellan had assured him that the lab was his and that he had full access to all the equipment.
The other technicians blinked in surprise.
for his sudden entry.
They had been informed that a new boss would arrive today and, apparently, it was her.
Although they were aware of the situation, they couldn't shake off their resentment.
Thea Reid cast a discreet glance at Marc Ward, the senior coach most likely to be promoted.
Seeing a stranger walk in and claim what he believed was rightfully his only fueled his bitterness.
Swallowing his frustration, Marc approached Allison, his sarcasm barely concealed.
So you are Miss Clarke.
Trying to make a splash on the first day, | see.
But, | shouldn't.
Allison didn't bother to look up when Marc's voice interrupted her concentration.
You're dealing with perfin the lab.
What's with all the typing here? | couldn't waste ton trivialities.
This was not the work of amateurs: it had all the earmarks of being the work of Dark Web hackers.
Given Carisma's sky-high market value, there were plenty of vultures circling, hoping to snatch her coveted
perfformulas.
If she didn't block the intrusion in the next few minutes, the hackers would breach the firewall and enter
Carisma's base.
data.
By the tLloyd Group's cybersecurity team could intervene, it would be too late.
She wasn't about to let valuable data, still intact before her very eyes, fall into the hands of thieves.
Ignoring Marc's insistence, he replied, If you know who | am, you should also know not to get in my way.
Marc narrowed his eyes in surprise, his irritation boiling over.
In the lab, the other technicians were exchanging amused glances and murmuring under their breath.
You're very excited, but it's not like it's our company, right.
If things go wrong, it'll be your fault, not ours.
Miss Clarke, don't get us wrong, Thea interjected softly, her tone dripping with subtle venom.
It's not that we don't respect it, but true talent speaks for itself.
And when someone is only here because of who they know.
well, don't expect us to keep our tongues shut.
No offense intended, of course.
Their words were sharp, and it was clear that they had envisioned a battle-hardened leader for the role.
Instead, they found a woman in her twenties, calm and seemingly easy to walk over.
But Allison wasn't going to let herself be underestimated.
If you're aware of how rude you're being, maybe it's tto shut up.
If you can't solve the problem, at least don't make it worse.
It's common decency.
or is that concept out of your reach? His words struck with the precision of a well-aimed dart.
He realized that they resented his appointment.
The sarcastic comments made it very clear.
The company suffers a cyber attack.
I'm taking care of it.
Leavealone.
Now that she was fully focused on countering the hacking, the technicians’ complaints only served to further fray
her nerves.
Their expressions hardened, but neither dared to argue.
They left the room with their jaws clenched and exchanging silent glances.
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Once outside, they gathered by the glass windows, watching their every movement like hawks.
The murmurs arose again.
Fix the system What a circus act.
Exactly! She's supposed to be making perfumes, not typing.
What a joke.
Thea smiled and added: What do you think his story is? Does it matter, Marc interrupted, his voice mocking.
The real problem is how it got in.
Pretending to be busy...how ridiculous.
She should be mixing scents instead of playing heroine with computers.
She's trying to be important, another technician murmured.
If we don't nip this in the bud, it won't take long for him to make all the decisions! The group exchanges subtle
glances and everyone nods silently.
Finally, Marc, the oldest, broke the silence with a calm but firm voice.
No representatives from rival companies are coming to inspect the premises today.
It would be a shif they didn't meet our new leader.
The group smiled slyly.
Office politics thrived like weeds in an overgrown garden, each faction vying for dominance.
To them, a new leader was nothing more than the erosion of their carefully established influence.
So what if Allison had won the Perfumery Contest.
That didn't mean she could cin and upset their carefully constructed hierarchy.
No one in this room would allow their interests to be trampled without a fight.
Marc was not just a superior technician; he was the unspoken leader of his own loyal faction.
And he wasn't going to let a stranger undermine his power.