The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 38: Sure To Cause Friction

Chapter 38: Sure To Cause Friction

Grandma Jia’s eyes, sharp and perceptive, narrowed slightly as Flynn finished his explanation. She saw through his carefully chosen words, his attempt to shield Vernon from her wrath. She recognized the subtle nuances of his diplomacy, the delicate balance he was trying to maintain.

She knew that he was trying to protect her son, to prevent a public confrontation, but she also knew that Vernon’s behavior could not be ignored. If she let him get away with it, he would try it again so she needed to teach him a lesson.

She settled into the leather chair behind the desk, her gaze sweeping between Flynn, who stood with an air of quiet composure, and Vernon, whose face betrayed his guilt and resentment. She watched them both, her eyes like a hawk scrutinizing its prey, searching for any sign of deception.

"Vernon," she began, her voice low and steady, "what do you have to say about your behavior towards Flynn?"

Vernon hesitated, his eyes darting between his mother and Flynn. He knew that he was caught, that his attempt to undermine Flynn had failed. But he also knew that admitting his guilt would only exacerbate the situation. He had thought that the humiliation in front of the staff at his office was enough but it seemed his mother was not done. She had dragged him here to further humiliate him in front of Flynn.

"Mother," he finally spoke, his voice strained and barely audible. "I did not mean to take so much time, I got so busy that I lost track of time."

Grandma Jia shook her head, a faint disappointed sigh escaping her lips. "Flynn," she said, turning to him, "you are a kind and considerate young man. But you are not a very good liar. And neither is Vernon."

Flynn remained silent, his gaze steady, his expression unreadable. He knew that Grandma Jia had seen through his attempt to protect Vernon, and he respected her for it.

"Vernon," Grandma Jia continued, her voice hardening, "your behavior is unacceptable. You have deliberately disobeyed my instructions, you have wasted company time, and you have attempted to undermine a member of our family. This cannot be tolerated."

Vernon’s face flushed with anger and indignation. "Mother, I—"

"Silence!" Grandma Jia snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "You have had your chance to explain yourself. Now it is my turn, you will let me speak."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, taking in the shocked expressions of the senior management team who still lingered near the door.

"Effective immediately," she announced, her voice ringing with authority, "Vernon Ryu is suspended from his position at Ryu Corporation. He will remain suspended until I decide otherwise."

Vernon’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Mother, you can’t do this!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in protest. "This is my company! I have a right to—"

"This is my company, and you have no rights here," Grandma Jia interrupted, her voice cold and hard. "You have abused my trust, and you have betrayed my family. You will leave this office immediately, and you will not return until I say so so you better choose your words carefully."

Vernon’s face contorted with rage. "You are making a mistake, Mother," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "You are going to regret letting this... this stranger come into the company."

"That remains to be seen," she said with a shrug. "I have lived too long to worry about regrets, and if it comes I will deal with it."

Vernon remained standing in the room, his fists clenched tightly.

"If you do not leave immediately," Grandma Jia warned, her voice dangerously low, "I will call security and have you publicly dragged out of this building, you will have your face plastered all over media. You have a choice, Vernon. Leave right now with your respect intact, or leave in disgrace."

Vernon’s eyes blazed with fury, but he knew that his mother was not bluffing. He clenched his jaw, his face pale with suppressed rage, and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.

The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. Grandma Jia turned to Flynn, her expression softening. "I apologize for that display, Flynn. I am sure you think I was too harsh on my so ."

Flynn hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Grandma Jia," he said, his voice respectful, "it is not my place to judge your decisions. I understand that you have your reasons."

Grandma Jia sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You are too kind, Flynn. But I have learned, belatedly, that sometimes harshness is necessary. Perhaps if I had been harsher with Vernon when he was younger, he would have turned out a better man."

She paused, her gaze drifting to the window, where the city skyline stretched out before them. "I have spoiled him, indulged him, allowed him to believe that he is above reproach. I have shielded him from the consequences of his actions, and I have paid the price for my leniency. I have to take charge now and fix what I can or my family will be entirely destroyed."

She turned back to Flynn, her eyes filled with a quiet resolve. "I will not make the same mistake with you, Flynn. I will not tolerate any disrespect, any insubordination, any attempt to undermine your position. You are a member of this family, and you deserve to be treated with respect but I expect your loyalty."

Flynn nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Grandma Jia. I appreciate your support."

"You will have to earn it, Flynn," she said, her voice firm. "I am giving you a chance to show me that you are a man of integrity, a man of honor. You have to prove that you are worthy of my trust."

She paused, her gaze softening. "And I have come to believe that you are the man my granddaughter needs. You are the man who will protect her, who will cherish her, who will make her happy."

Flynn’s heart swelled with emotion. He had never expected such words from the old lady, such a profound expression of trust and acceptance. Her voice was like steel but he understood exactly what she was trying to convey.

"I will not disappoint you, Grandma Jia," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I will do everything in my power to protect Noelle, to make her happy."

Grandma Jia smiled, a faint flicker of warmth in her eyes. "I know that you will, Flynn. I have faith in you."

She stood up, her posture regal, her expression resolute. "Now," she said, her voice regaining its usual authority, "let us find you a suitable office. You have work to do."

"You don’t know if I have any experience." Flynn asked with a raised eyebrow, testing grandma Jia. "Where would you put me? Maybe you should listen to Vernon."

"It’s my company, I know exactly what is good for it." Grandma Jia countered then looked at him sternly. "Or do you think you will get my Areum to fall in love with you while you just laze around doing nothing?"

Flynn laughed loudly at grandma Jia’s shrewdness, "It seems that I have made a big mistake by doubting you grandma Jia, I will not repeat that."

Grandma Jia’s eyes sparkled and she smiled, "Now, let’s talk about what will suit you." She said and paused. "I have been thinking and I think you have a gift for dealing with people."

She continued with narrowed eyes. "You are no fool, and you are convincing enough that people don’t realize that you are not harmless. You will head the Client and Customer satisfaction department, I want to see what you are capable of."

Flynn was a little startled at grandma Jia’s apt description of him. He realized that he had not fooled the lady and she could see more than what was on the surface, it led him to wonder what exactly she had managed to deduce. But he also knew that the position she had offered him was Vernon’s previous place, it was sure to cause friction.

"I will not disappoint you." He answered simply.

"You better not." She teased and got off her chair before heading out of the office.

Flynn followed her out of Vernon’s office, his mind filled with a sense of purpose. He wanted to understand the dynamics behind the Ryu family and he was seeing it in play. If one wanted to go to war, they needed to be equipped with knowledge about their enemy to ensure victory.

Vernon was sure to try to get back at him for this slight even though he had brought it all on himself. Flynn knew that he had acquired a new enemy, not a very powerful one but one who could still harm him if he was not too careful. Grandma Jia would lend her support and try to protect him but there was no need to burden her with such an insignificant issue. What he needed to do was find out how to exploit Vernon’s weaknesses.