Chapter 177

The moment Lydia walked into the conference room, everyone in the design department scrambled to grab their pens and notebooks. No one wanted to be left behind. Lydia’s presence was almost overwhelming, nothing like what you’d expect from someone so young. After the way she’d dealt with the company’s higher-ups over the past couple of days, nobody had the nerve to cross her.
Since she started, Lydia hadn’t called a single all-hands meeting. Now she was here, calling on the design team personally. Missing this meeting was basically asking to get fired.
Taylor’s face had gone completely white. She watched as everyone rushed toward the meeting room, then leaned in and whispered to Marissa. “Marissa, should we go too?”
Marissa was curious to see what Lydia was planning. She’d already decided if things got bad, she’d just quit her role as director. Leaving Greenward Power wouldn’t be the end of the world.
“If you don’t go, you’re just waiting to get fired,” Marissa replied. She didn’t even bother grabbing a notebook, just headed straight for the conference room.
Taylor hurried after her, too anxious to pick up her own notebook. She stuck close, almost hiding behind Marissa.
As everyone filed in, Lydia took stock of the room. Some people looked annoyed, others tried to act like nothing was wrong, and a few were so nervous they shrank into the corners, like they were bracing for disaster.
Suddenly, the tense silence was broken by a breathless voice. “Ms. Norwood, I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Everyone turned to see Jenny, the intern. Usually, people just bossed her around, and lately she’d been assigned to the front desk. Some of the designers rolled their eyes. What was an intern doing here?
Jenny had heard about the emergency training in the design department and rushed to tidy up her work at reception, even asking the security guard to cover for her. She’d run all the way here, notebook and pen in hand, only to find the room already packed. Guilt flashed across her face. If only she’d been faster.
“You’re just on time,” Lydia said calmly, giving her a small nod to take a seat.
Jenny nodded in relief and slipped inside.
Most people were so intimidated by Lydia that they’d chosen seats as far away from her as possible. Only Marissa sat close, shoulders squared, right up front to show she was still the design director.
Jenny scanned the room. There
weren’t any empty seats at the back.
The only open spots were right across from
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dangerously close to Lydia. As a junior assistant, she felt like she didn’t belong up there.
“Grab a seat. We’re starting,” Lydia said, picking up on Jenny’s hesitation.
With no other option, Jenny sat down diagonally from Marissa, forcing herself to keep calm.
Lydia looked at the group, her voice steady and clear. “I know a lot of you aren’t happy with me. You think I’ve come in and ruined the comfortable routine you had here.” For origınal chapters go to
Nobody met her eyes. Heads went down. The silence was heavy.
“But have you ever thought about what happens if you just keep coasting? Lydia continued. “If you waste your time here and don’t try to get better, it’s just a matter of time before you’re left behind. Not just by every
Greenward Power, but botjust by
other company out there By the
whole industry. What will you do then?”
The room stayed quiet, but the anxiety was almost tangible.
“I’ve looked at all of Greenward Power’s collections. Especially this year’s spring and summer designs. Most
st of them are just copies of styles that were already trendy at other companies two years ago.”
“