Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 69

Everyone froze for a moment.

Sure, they'd all had their doubts, but nobody else had dared to voice them so bluntly.

Then, as if on cue, the memory surfaced for them all-Effie was the same woman who'd been at the center of that plagiarism controversy during a recent competition, the one who'd trended on social media. The investigation had cleared her name, but that didn't automatically make her a star in their eyes.

After all, the design department was packed with talent; it wasn't easy to stand out. For Effie to join straight away as lead designer? Naturally, some people would feel a bit resentful.

The department head's expression hardened when she heard Nelly's words had gone too far. She said sternly, "Nelly, we're all colleagues here. Let's not say things that create division."

Nelly forced a sheepish smile. "Sorry, ma'am. I sometimes speak before I think." She glanced at Effie afterwards, her eyes full of disdain.

Effie felt exasperated, but she understood-this was just how the workplace worked.

"All right, to welcome our new teammate, let's go out to dinner after work," the department head announced. Instantly, the whole room broke into cheers.

Fantastic-another free meal.

Effie felt genuinely grateful to her boss. It would help her break the ice and get to know everyone faster.

of it familiarizing herself

day, Effie sent a quick text

meeting, but as soon as he

to Luther and told him to arrange for the design team to dine

out where the dinner would

them had ever been to

that they

sarcasm, piped up, "Well, the higher-ups must've finally noticed how hard we've been working and

odd this kind of treatment was definitely

as good. No wonder The Etheridge Group was the industry leader-they certainly took care of

having a

entertaining business partners at

happy accident, or

Luther to make sure their private room was treated to the best-lobster, jumbo shrimp,

in with the servers, carrying platters

dinner tonight," Luther explained smoothly. "He heard your department was having a welcome dinner for your new teammate, so he asked me to send over some seafood for

it; they were just