Love Beyond the Mask

Chapter 72

The next day, the man told her he had to go on a business trip and warned her to behave herself

before he left.

Whitney was speechless.

Today was the day the jewelry competition announced the shortlist for the next round and the day

Monica would be officially fired for plagiarism.

The meeting was live–streamed, so the preliminary winners didn’t need to attend.

With a stack of documents in hand, Whitney entered Sky Gem Ltd…

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Returning to this place, she felt a wave of nostalgia as she looked around at the familiar surroundings.

The shareholders who supported her were waiting in the lobby with their top executives, shamefaced

yet spontaneously welcoming her back.

Whitney made her way to the 16th floor, stopping before the door to the CEO’s office.

Simon emerged from the executive elevator, dressed impeccably with sharp and distinguished

features. Catching sight of Whitney, her stunning face calm as still water, dressed in a simple business

dress that

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couldn’t hide her elegant vitality, he felt a deep pull of attraction.

His voice roughened as he approached her, “Whitney, welcome back!”

Whitney gave him a cool glance and brushed past him.

Simon’s mood seemed buoyant, and he didn’t mind her coldness. He opened the door to the office for

her, inviting her in.

Monica’s personal items were still there, untouched.

Whitney surveyed the office with detached interest before settling on the sofa. She briskly opened a

meeting with the shareholders, getting a grip on the current state of Sky Gem Ltd.. Narrowing her eyes,

she decided her first order of business was to review the company’s finances.

The finance director was summoned, sweating at the sight of Whitney’s commanding presence.

After a quick review of the financial reports, Whitney’s expression turned icy. “Such glaring

discrepancies in just two months, sales plummeting. Simon, have you been neglecting your duties,

letting Monica run amok?”

The reports were a mess. If Monica’s mismanagement continued for another year, Sky Gem Ltd. would

be no

more.

Whitney’s sarcasm made Simon stiffen. He had indeed lost focus on managing the company in the last

quarter.

“What measures did Monica take to address these financial gaps?” Whitney inquired, her brow

furrowed as she scanned the other documents. She noticed a sharp decline in sales at retail counters

over the past two weeks. The plagiarism scandal only broke the week before. What had happened the

week before that?

After some digging, Whitney discovered issues with the jewelry materials in the store! A customer had

made a scene over a purchased diamond.

However, Monica had quickly suppressed the news.

Whitney realized what Monica had done to cover the financial shortfall.

She called in the manager responsible for diamond sourcing. The manager was evasive, but Whitney

soon learned that Monica had been cutting costs by secretly purchasing substandard stones and

mixing them with quality merchandise.

This was tarnishing Sky Gem Ltd.!

“Which jewelry lines were made with these inferior stones?” Whitney demanded.

The manager promptly handed over details of the ‘True Love Collection,’ which had been launched two

months before Whitney left the company.

The collection had been the best–selling line at Sky Gem Ltd., making it a prime target for Monica.

Whitney frowned, realizing the extent of the damage might not yet be known. She began to gather and

organize information, sensing the need to keep evidence at hand.

Simon returned from HR with Whitney’s new nameplate, eager to please. Handing it to her, he seemed

earnest.

Looking at the ‘General Manager‘ title on the nameplate, Whitney pondered, her gaze on Simon, who

was as fickle as the weather. With a hint of mockery, she said, “You’re sure about handing this back so

soon? Monica hasn’t been dethroned yet, and the competition hasn’t announced her dismissal. If she

makes a comeback, you’ll have to make a new nameplate.”

Simon’s handsome face showed a flicker of embarrassment. A wave of tenderness filled his eyes as he

looked at her. “Whitney, whether you believe me or not, I am genuinely happy you’re back. I’ve finally

realized that it’s you I want to see every day at the company, not Monica. It’s a shame I realized it after

making so many mistakes. I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back.”

“Stop right there. My return has nothing to do with you. Well, it actually does, because I’m going to take

back

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your shares. You better be prepared.”

Whitney’s heart was cold as a mountain stream. She looked down at her phone, preparing to join the

jewelry competition’s live–streamed meeting.

Tiana suddenly sent a trending message to her, her tone laden with urgency: [Whitney, trouble’s

brewing, you’ve got to see this video! There’s been a twist at the jewelry competition!]

What sort of twist?

Whitney immediately clicked on the video, only to see Monica at the jewelry competition jury panel,

sketching a design that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Before Monica stood a bearded foreigner, closely examining her work, his eyes lit with evident

admiration.

Monica had been sketching for two hours. Whitney had seen that design before–it was even a notch

above her own skill set, clearly not something Monica could have conjured up on her own.

It was the caliber of a top–notch jewelry designer.

Whitney’s grip tightened, and she quickly tuned into the live stream of the jewelry competition meeting.

All the judges were in place, except for Ludwik from the Imperial Gem Corporation. Now, occupying the

honorary seat beside the chairman, was the bearded foreigner.–Presenting Monica’s on–the–spot

design, he expressed clear satisfaction and declared, “As a member of the international jury, I just

happened to be in the country. To encounter such a talented young designer is a stroke of luck.

Regardless of her past plagiarism allegations, her ability to draft a design on the spot has won my

approval. Disqualifying a contestant requires a unanimous vote, but I cast a dissenting vote. Talent

should not be wasted. I believe Monica deserves another chance!”

Whitney’s eyes widened, her almond–shaped pupils turning to ice.