Chapter 205

A faint, icy smile curled at the corners of Evelyn Sinclair's lips.

"I'm ready to cooperate with any investigation and willing to forfeit this interview. Do as you see fit, Director. After all, you once suggested I should go home and rest for my pregnancy."

"Ha!" A senior executive couldn't help but scoff. "So now you're giving up completely?"

"Are you admitting to promising an exorbitant interview fee without authorization?" Melissa Lee pressed, her voice sharp. "Who did you consult? Who approved this? Now that the company's reputation is damaged, with potential financial losses looming—do you really think you still belong here?"

"How does the Director plan to handle me?" Evelyn countered.

"Write a public apology, then go home and wait for your delivery. The company will clean up your mess and won't pursue legal action." Melissa's smile turned venomous. "Of course, if you think this is unfair, you can resign outright—just sign a five-year non-compete agreement."

This was her real goal.

The Winston Strauss interview, the meeting—all were just pretexts.

She wanted to pin a crime on Evelyn and force her out with justification.

"Given the Director's vast knowledge, you must know what 'cuckoo in the nest' means." Evelyn regarded her with pity.

"What did you say?" Melissa froze, then erupted in fury.

How dare Evelyn accuse her of being the usurper?

She was the one who had stolen Julian Ashford!

"When did Director Lee start seeing herself as a true Horizon Media insider?" Evelyn continued. "When did you start treating the Financial Department as your personal fiefdom? When did you begin taking your position and privileges for granted?"

"Stop spouting nonsense! I graduated with a master's from Imperial Media University and worked my way up from the bottom. Everything I have today, I earned!" Melissa hissed through clenched teeth.

Including Julian—he should have been hers.

It was Evelyn, this uninvited interloper, who stole her love and now sought to take the Financial Department too.

She could have stayed in the shadows as a mistress, but instead, she flaunted her pregnancy like a trophy.

If Evelyn wasn't removed soon, she would be the one forced to leave...

"Director, you scored ten points below Imperial Media's admission cutoff in your college entrance exams. Fifty points below the competitive majors." Evelyn's tone was light, almost casual. "It was only because your father leveraged Horizon's internship program with the university that you got in. And as for how you secured your postgraduate recommendation—shall I elaborate?"

"You—" Melissa paled.

How did she know these things?

"And let's not forget, Senior, your so-called 'achievements' in the Financial Department. The veterans have seen it all. Without your father, would you even be a director?"

"You're just jealous!" Melissa shrieked. "Jealous that I have family backing while you're nothing but an orphan!"

Evelyn chuckled.

When she first joined the Financial Department, Melissa had been too proud for petty insults.

Now she was unraveling like a hysterical shrew.

And Evelyn? She remained unshaken. "Perhaps you should ask your father how he seized control of the Financial Department—and how he made you believe it was your birthright."

"Evelyn Sinclair!" William Yearwood suddenly interjected.

"Does President Yearwood have something to add?" Evelyn met his gaze directly. "Perfect timing. You were there when it happened. Why don't you enlighten Director Lee?"

"W-why are we even discussing this?" William stammered. "We're here to talk about the Winston Strauss interview—"

"But the conclusion you've reached is to expel me." Evelyn's voice was calm. "Do you think that's appropriate, President Yearwood?"

Beads of sweat formed on William's forehead.

She wasn't supposed to know any of this...

He had tested the waters. She should have remembered nothing.

Had she uncovered something?

"What's going on?" A senior executive frowned. "Is Editor Sinclair also connected to Horizon Media? Is she competing with Director Lee?"

"Let's stay on topic." Another executive's face darkened. "President Yearwood is right. This is about the Winston Strauss interview. If you think Director Lee has no authority over you, what about me, the Vice President? Do I have the right to fire you on the spot?"

Evelyn lifted her chin slightly.

"If the leadership insists, I have nothing more to say. But as for Winston's interview—I'm afraid I can't help."

"You're still hung up on the interview?" The executives laughed.

Even now, she refused to back down.

"Skip the maternity leave. Just resign. Sign the non-compete, and we'll part ways amicably. The company will handle Winston."

Melissa's smile was triumphant.

For once, the higher-ups were unanimous.

Evelyn would leave today.

Just then—

A knock sounded at the conference room door.

"President Yearwood," the secretary said cautiously, "Mr. Winston Strauss's assistant just contacted us..."