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.

her first day, Effie spent most of it familiarizing herself with the office and learning about the company's design style

sent a quick text to Lyman,

soon as he saw her message, he replied

the design

where the dinner would

ever been to such

and joked that they were riding on Effie's

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

but everyone found it odd

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

was having a

was also entertaining business partners at the same hotel that

happy accident, or had he planned

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

the servers, carrying platters of

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

one questioned it; they were just