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Catherine glanced at the Creybian document with a cool, calculating gaze. Her calm demeanor remained unchanged, but in her mind, she was already strategizing. Linda clearly underestimated her, and that was a mistake many people made. They thought she was just the “country girl” who didn’t belong, who lacked the sophistication of her corporate peers. They assumed she couldn’t read the document, let alone understand the professional terms it contained.
As she skimmed through the pages, her eyes narrowed slightly, not in frustration, but in focus. She’d studied several languages in her spare time, and though she wasn’t fluent in Creybian, she could understand enough to recognize the key points. She wasn’t a fool, and if Linda was trying to trap her, she’d be the one who would end up embarrassed.
“Miss Swann,” Linda’s voice cut through the silence, laced with a hint of smugness. “I trust you’re familiar with the terms here. If you’d like, I can arrange for someone to translate this for you.”
Catherine didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she continued flipping through the pages with a methodical calm. Her fingers traced the complex characters, piecing together enough meaning to understand the document’s purpose.
After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice quiet but confident. “I don’t need a translation.”
Linda raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but her lips curled into a tight smile. “Of course, Miss Swann. I just thought it might be a bit… challenging for someone without formal education.”
Catherine’s gaze shifted to meet Linda’s, her expression unreadable. “You’d be surprised what a little resourcefulness can accomplish.”
The tension in the room thickened. Linda, ever the seasoned corporate player, could sense the undercurrent of defiance in Catherine’s words. She hadn’t expected the young chairperson to be so composed, so certain in her responses. She’d anticipated a misstep, a hesitation—anything that could prove Catherine’s inexperience. But Catherine’s confidence was unsettling.
“I’ll have the documents ready for you to sign once we finalize the details,” Linda said, trying to regain control of the situation.
Catherine, still unflinching, set the document down and turned her attention to the team behind Linda. She didn’t need to look at Linda again; her actions spoke volumes. She had no intention of being undermined. She was determined to prove herself, to show everyone that she was more than just a figurehead.
As Linda and her team exited the office, the whispers from the secretaries continued to buzz. Some were skeptical, some impressed, but Catherine didn’t care about their opinions. Her focus was on the work ahead, on consolidating her position and proving that she belonged at the top.
She had already won the first battle, and Linda had unwittingly handed her the ammunition to win more. Now, Catherine had a chance to play her cards, and she wasn’t going to let it slip away.
As Catherine scanned the Creybian contract, the secretary’s anxiety grew. The documents in front of her were complex, with detailed professional jargon, and the secretary couldn’t help but wonder if Linda had deliberately chosen them to put Catherine in a difficult spot.
However, Catherine’s expression remained unchanged. She read through the entire document with ease, her eyes gliding over the unfamiliar terms with surprising confidence. It was clear that Catherine was more than capable of handling the contract, even without any formal education or a Creybian degree.
The secretaries watched in silence, their curiosity piqued. Some exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to react to the young chairperson’s composed demeanor. Linda, on the other hand, seemed more focused on observing Catherine’s every move, a subtle smirk playing on her lips.
“I’ll need a moment,” Catherine said, breaking the silence as she placed the papers down.
Linda’s smirk faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild confusion. “Take all the time you need, Miss Swann. We’ll be waiting.”
Catherine didn’t respond. Instead, she picked up the phone on the desk and dialed a number. After a few rings, she spoke. “Yes, I need the Creybian translator on standby. We have a contract to finalize.”
Leonel, standing just a few feet away, watched the exchange with quiet admiration. He knew Catherine was playing a long game, one that involved more than just showing her abilities. It was about showing everyone—starting with Linda—that she was fully in control of the situation, despite the attempts to undermine her.
As she hung up the phone, Catherine met Linda’s eyes with a cool, unflinching gaze. “I’ll need this translated before I sign. If you don’t mind, Linda, could you arrange for that?”
Linda, though taken aback by Catherine’s calm authority, quickly recovered her composure. She gave a stiff nod and gestured to the team. “Of course, Miss Swann. We’ll get on it immediately.”
The secretary who had been anxious about the power dynamics breathed a silent sigh of relief. Catherine had handled the situation effortlessly, leaving no room for doubt about her capabilities.
As the team exited the office to handle the translation, Catherine sat back in her chair, her gaze drifting momentarily to the view outside the window. She wasn’t bothered by Linda’s tactics. Catherine had bigger plans than merely surviving the week. She was here to make her mark, and nothing—especially not petty schemes—would deter her from that goal.
Leonel, still standing nearby, couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. “Miss—Catherine, your approach was… impressive.”
Catherine gave him a small smile. “It’s just business, Leonel.”
He nodded, a mix of respect and wariness in his eyes. As a lawyer, he had seen many power struggles within the corporate world, but this one felt different. Catherine was more than just a “country girl” in their midst; she was a force to be reckoned with.
Meanwhile, word about Catherine’s handling of the contract began to spread through the office. Some employees were starting to look at her differently, their doubts beginning to waver. The whispers in the halls had shifted from skepticism to cautious curiosity.
Linda, however, wasn’t about to give up so easily. She had her own network of supporters in the Swann Corporation, and she would use every advantage she had to undermine Catherine’s position. But for now, Catherine had proven one thing—she wasn’t going anywhere.
Back at the school, Bryan couldn’t shake his worry. He had seen Catherine’s easy confidence and knew she was capable of so much more than people realized. But he also knew that the odds were stacked against her, both in school and in the corporate world.
He could only hope that she would keep surprising everyone, just like she had in that math exam.
Bryan’s mind raced as he paced back and forth, trying to think of ways to help her. She had already changed everything around her, but there was still so much more to do. It was only a matter of time before everyone realized that Catherine wasn’t the person they thought she was.