After hanging up on Ronald, Ste shoved everything into her purse in a frenzy.


    When Tabitha walked in, she found Ste recklessly packing her purse, worrying that she might scratch it just by looking at her haste. "Boss, let me do that for you."


    Tabitha quickly stepped in, rescuing the purse from her grasp, and carefully started packing the items into it.


    Such purses were delicate and expensive. A scratch would devalue them instantly.


    Ste asked, "Why all so cautious?"


    Tabitha replied, "This purse is made of a very fragile material. Next time, why not just use a tote? You can stuff it as much as you want without a care."


    At least that way, there wouldn''t be heartache over rough treatment.


    At the moment, Ste might not care, but Tabitha felt pained just looking at the expensive purse being mishandled.


    Ste said, "Fine, buy me one then. I''ll pay you back."


    The purse was indeed too small to fit all her stuff.


    Tabitha was speechless, surprised that Ste actually meant it.


    "Oh, by the way, there''s a Ms. Lawson asking to see you. Judging by her face, she''s not here for pleasantries."


    Ste frowned upon hearing this.


    Ms. Lawson? Cloudia Lawson? She came all the way here?


    Ste''s expression darkened, "We only have one exit, right?"


    "The front and back doors are connected, you know that."


    Since the front door provided a clear view to the back, Cloudia waiting at the front would spot Ste trying to leave through the back instantly.


    As Ste heard this, her mood soured even more. Annoyed, she said, "Then let her in."


    Tabitha nodded and left, leaving Ste alone to scheme. She needed toe up with something tough this time, or her office wouldn''t be peaceful anymore.


    Soon, Cloudia was escorted in. Just as Tabitha had said, her face spelled trouble.


    "Boss," Tabitha respectfully nced at Ste.


    Ste gestured for Tabitha to leave.


    Tabitha nodded, turned and exited.


    The moment the office door shut, Cloudia stormed forward, furiously cing her purse on the desk with a bang. She was clearly here to settle scores.


    "Spill it. How did yound those partnerships? We are someone respectable, and here you are, disgracing yourself."


    Ste''s face hardened immediately at her usation.


    "You barge in, not knowing the full story, and use me of disgracing myself? Who told you this? Or do you have proof?"


    Cloudia retorted, "Do I need proof? A


    young woman making seven hundred thousand a year -don''t tell me, Ste, that all of it is because of your ''talents'' and convincing people


    to hand projects over to ov


    Cloudia had lost her reason to anger on her way here, speaking harshly to Ste.


    Ste''s eyes shed coldly. "Who told you?"


    "It doesn''t matter who told me. Just tell me how you secured those projects!" Cloudia snarled.


    Though Cloudia didn''t say, Ste knew it was Urs''s doing. That fake angel always managed to twist the minds of these fools with her innocent acts. Facing Cloudia''s aggressive interrogation, Ste replied, "How I got them is none of your business. Who are you to me?"


    "What? My mother? Have I ever acknowledged you as my mother? I recall, I went back to the Larkin family and left after less than three months, right?"


    Cloudia stuttered, "I am..."


    Two months in the hospital. And


    after seeing what the Larkin family was really about during the third month, she immediately removed herself from the equation.