After seeing them off, the smile on Naomi's face vanished in an instant. She turned and looked at me coldly. "What's gotten into you today, Kieran? Ms. Ellington asked you a question. Why didn't you answer? Were you trying to embarrass Matthias?"
Before I could respond, Matthias walked over to Naomi with an aggrieved look on his face. "Naomi, please don't blame Mr. Whitlock. It's all my fault. My abilities are lacking, and I've embarrassed you."
He hung his head, as though he had suffered a grave injustice. "I only wanted to ease your workload. I didn't think… I'd mess things up."
Naomi's heart immediately went out to him. Glaring at me, her voice was filled with an irrepressible rage. "Kieran! Did you hear that? You're a long-time employee, yet you aren't even as considerate or sensible as a new recruit!
"As the company director, not only did you refuse to guide a newcomer, but you also tripped him up and suppressed him right in front of an outsider! Are you really that narrow-minded?"
Looking at the scene before me, I found it utterly laughable. I took a deep breath, suppressed the irritation in my chest, and tried to explain myself as calmly as possible.
"Ms. Prescott, I believe that in front of our partners, we should first and foremost demonstrate professionalism rather than personal sentiments. Ms. Ellington is here to see what we're capable of, not to watch us fight among ourselves."
"You…" Naomi was stumped, and her face flushed crimson.
Without sparing her another glance, I turned to my team. "All of you can head back. You've worked hard, so you can leave early today."
With that, I walked straight toward my office.
Matthias' voice rang out behind me, choked full of emotions. "Forget it, Naomi. Mr. Whitlock's right. I'm the one who isn't professional enough. I'll work harder from now on…"
I shut my office door, sealing out their voices. I sat down, closed my eyes, and massaged my aching temples.
For seven years, I had stood by Naomi's side, fighting our way from a scrappy ten-person workshop to the powerhouse we had become. I had thought we weren't just spouses, but also comrades-in-arms in the business world who could trust one another implicitly.
However, after Matthias appeared, she changed.
Naomi had started bringing Matthias to the office frequently. Employees who were unaware had even mistaken them for a married couple. Several times, I'd reminded her to be mindful of her status, but each time, she'd rebuked me, claiming I was being petty and narrow-minded.
Catching a reminder on my phone, I suddenly remembered I had an appointment with a client today. But as soon as I stepped out of my office, Matthias got in my way.
"Mr. Whitlock, you're so experienced and capable. There's still so much I need to learn from you." He lowered his head, but the words coming out of his mouth were laced with sarcasm. "It's just… it seems like you've gotten the wrong idea about me, Mr. Whitlock. Usually, you don't seem very willing to mentor me."
As soon as he finished speaking, several sympathetic gazes were cast my way. He looked exactly like a proactive, ambitious newcomer who was constantly being suppressed by a senior like me.
Naomi, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, looked even colder than before. The way she looked at me shifted from dissatisfaction to utter disappointment.
"Kieran Whitlock," she said, using my full name as we moved to the conference room. "Matthias is new. He's an intern. As the director, isn't it your responsibility to mentor him? The company isn't a one-man show; you have to give young people opportunities!"
At long last, it was my turn to speak. My voice was calm and emotionless. "Ms. Prescott, my team is built on merit, not connections. If you want me to mentor him, he needs to prove he's capable first."
A flicker of resentment flashed through Matthias' eyes, but he hastily put on an aggrieved look again. "I know I'm lacking, Mr. Whitlock. I'll work harder."
He turned toward Naomi and choked out, "Please don't blame Mr. Whitlock, Naomi. It's entirely my fault for being mediocre."
Naomi's heart ached for him. She walked over to Matthias' side and gently patted his shoulder to comfort him. That gesture alone caused the air in the conference room to freeze over.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Kieran," she said, holding my gaze. "From tomorrow onward, Matthias will be taking over Project Polaris, and you'll assist him."
