The War God's Homecoming

Chapter 137 Office Politics

Chapter 137 Office Politics

"After the meeting about the last quarter, your marketing department confidently promised an 80% payment rate, but what happened? Do you know that if this continues, the company's cash flow will be tight and could easily break?"

"Ms Martinez, Ms Knight has only been with us for three days. She doesn't fully understand these matters yet. Can you..."

"It shouldn't be an excuse. If she sits in this position, she must take responsibility for it!" Isabella Martinez interrupted Ava Jones. "If we don't hold her accountable just because she's new here, then who will be responsible when your marketing department changes leaders every other day? Who will manage sales and payments for the company?"

"But..." Ava Jones tried to speak up again.

"Ms Martinez, hello!" Harleen interrupted Ava Jones and stood up. "I've looked at some reports over the past few days and I agree that our payment rate is a bit low. However, I promise you that starting this quarter our payment rate will rise above 80%."

"Anyone can talk big," Isabella Martinez sneered. "The previous three marketing managers all talked like you did."

Before Harleen could respond to her comment, Isabella continued speaking. "For now let's put aside future promises, on behalf of the company, I'm officially notifying you that all members of the marketing department are having their bonuses and commissions of the last quarter withheld in full! If we still can't achieve an 80% payment rate by end of this quarter then don't even think about getting any year-end bonuses!"

"Ms Martinez! This isn't fair!" Ava Jones protested loudly.

"The reason why we didn't reach our target was because a former manager signed a large order without collecting payments before being fired by the company, which brought down our overall percentage. But the marketing department has achieved the 80%, why shouldn't the other colleagues receive their bonuses and commissions?"

"Rude!" Isabella Martinez responded angrily. "What are you saying? Watch your tone and remember your position!"

"I'm just telling the truth. If the company thinks I'm a problem, they can fire me!" Ava Jones replied indignantly.

"You!" Isabella Martinez's face darkened. "Do you think the company won't dare to fire you?"

"Ava, calm down first," Harleen said, then turned to Isabella Martinez. "Ms Martinez, let me understand this situation before we discuss it further. Besides, even if the company does want to deduct our bonuses and commissions, shouldn't we have a meeting first and then have an official notice from the marketing department?"

"What do you mean? Are you saying I don't have the authority to issue this notice?" Isabella Martinez responded coldly.

"You're in charge of the finance department while we're in the marketing department. What do you think about that?" Harleen's tone also became colder.

"Very well!" Isabella Martinez snorted coldly. "You're quite tough for a new marketing manager! You want the company to issue an official notice? Good timing then! Mr Patton is back from his business trip and you'll be able to see it soon!"

After speaking, she looked at Ava Jones again and said, "Mr Patton asked me to inform you that he wants to see you in his office right away!"

After finishing her words with another cold snort, Isabella turned around and left.

"He... he came back so soon?" After Isabella Martinez left, Ava Jones shivered all over her body.

"Ava, what happened?" Harleen noticed something was wrong with her.

"Ms Knight, I... I don't want go into his office..." Ava Jones' face was slightly pale.

"Why not?" Harleen asked curiously.

"Just now I introduced the company's affairs to you. There is one thing that I haven't had a chance to tell you," Ava Jones took a deep breath and continued. "Our marketing department has already changed three managers this year, and the previous three were all ladies. Actually, their work abilities were quite good, but they were dismissed by the company due to special reasons."

"What special reason?" Harleen hesitated for a moment.

"The Mr Patton that Isabella Martinez just mentioned, named Gerald Patton, he's the company's executive vice president. He has been on a business trip recently and you haven't met him yet. He is a dirty old man who often harasses female colleagues in the company, relying on his social connections in Ozin. Several female colleagues in the company have already fallen victim to him. The previous three managers before you were all fired because they refused to succumb to his sexual harassment. And the reason why Isabella Martinez dares to be so domineering in the company is because she has sucked up to him!" © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Startled, Harleen asked, "Doesn't the General Manager care about it?"

"Ms Rodriguez also has her own difficulties. She is just a professional manager, and Mr Patton doesn't even consider her." Ava Jones responded.

Just at that moment, Ava Jones' phone rang. She picked it up and her face changed again upon seeing what was on the screen.

"I got it!" After hanging up the phone, Ava Jones took a deep breath and looked at Harleen. "Gerald Patton asked me to go to his office!"

"Has he harassed you before?" Harleen frowned slightly.

Ava Jones nodded and said, "It's happened two or three times already, where he tried to touch me in his office."

"What a jerk!" Harleen said angrily.

"Here's the deal. You go see what he wants from you first. If he tries anything funny, message me and I'll talk to him, okay?" Harleen said.

"Ms Knight, forget it. I can't let you get involved in this. You just started at the company and if you confront him, he won't back down." Ava Jones shook her head. "Besides, Isabella Martinez was probably rude to you earlier because she thinks you're too pretty and is worried that Mr Patton might have feelings for you instead of her. If you cause any more trouble, she'll definitely convince Mr Patton to fire you!"

"Don't worry about it!" Harleen responded. "You should go first. If it's work-related, it wouldn't be appropriate for you not to show up anyway. Plus, sooner or later I'll have to deal with him."

"Okay... alright then..." Ava Jones nodded slightly before leaving the office.

Meanwhile on the floor above them in one of the large conference rooms a group of men and women were having a meeting.

If Billy were there, he would immediately recognize the man sitting at the head of table with a smug expression as the chairman of World Group, Derek Hines.

SunPark Group used to be owned by one of Ozin's three major families - the Watkins family. Since those families had fallen into trouble, Derek Hines had gradually acquired all their prime assets according to Billy's orders, and SunPark Group was one among them.

Today was Derek's first meeting after integrating SunPark Group into his portfolio where he would listen about company operations while also getting acquainted with its management team.

Sitting next to Derek on his left was a young woman who looked like she wasn't even thirty yet, reporting work progress using projection equipment.

Harper Rodriguez, the general manager of SunPark Group, stood tall and elegant in her dark grey suit. Her features were refined and her demeanor exuded confidence and efficiency.

"Mr Hines, this is the current state of our company's operations." Harper said as she finished her presentation and turned to Derek with a respectful tone.

"Hmm, not bad," Derek nodded slightly. "Please introduce each department head briefly to me so that I can recognize them in the future."

"Okay," Harper Rodriguez nodded.

Soon after, information about the company's management team began to appear on the projection screen.