The CEO Gets What He Wants

Wisteria glared at Avery's sweet, innocent face. She clenched her fists as a look of envy flashed across her frigid and arrogant features.

“How may I help you, Ms. Summers?” Avery greeted enthusiastically, flashing her usual beaming smile.

Wisteria remained expressionless, yet she exuded an unapproachable arrogance.

She stayed silent and gazed at the woman before her. Avery's presence made her feel threatened in an unusual way.

She used to be unconcerned about the women who adored Cayden since she was aware of his physical and mental obsession with cleanliness. Any attempts by the women to woo him would end up making them look foolish.

She had never seen him fall in love with a woman in all the years she had been by his side. He had turned down several ladies who were attracted to him. The lone exception was Avery.

Wisteria's keen instincts warned her she was dealing with a formidable foe.

It was the first time her confidence had been shaken. She was worried about losing Cayden to another woman.

Wisteria had planted Yulissa as a spy in the Trident Group design department. She had kept her up to date on Cayden's whereabouts and any women who had tried to seduce him while she was away.

Yvonne Gallagher, the daughter of the Gallagher family, and Nicole Lambert, who hailed from a distinguished family, were among the ladies Yulissa had claimed to be interested in Cayden. However, they never made Wisteria feel intimidated. Avery, on the other hand, was different.

Cayden, according to Yulissa, had made far too many exceptions for the woman. As a result, Wisteria was compelled to be on guard.

Wisteria rose from the swivel chair, then smoothed her pencil skirt over her slim and elegant waist. Her beauty and alluring charm would leave anyone mesmerized.

She walked up to Avery with a stern scowl on her face, her quick, disapproving glance toward the woman unnoticed by those around her. “Ms. Rumpley, Trident Group is a reputable international company. As an employee, you should be aware of your responsibilities and avoid overstepping your boundaries. We prohibit our employees from engaging in romantic relationships. Do you understand?” Even though Wisteria deliberately lowered her volume and smiled as she spoke, it still gave people the chills. Avery, on the other hand, was speechless.

Wisteria is just the director of the design department at Trident Group. What gives her the right to dictate my personal life?

Indeed, Trident Group had a no-dating policy among employees.

This was to avoid potential conflicts of interest between romantic partners, as the supposed lack of objectivity usually impacted both couples' ability to do their jobs. Furthermore, they might mistakenly divulge firm secrets, posing financial and reputational dangers to the corporation. In short, having a clear divide between marital and working life reduced unnecessary stress and troubles for everyone.

It could also lead to conflicts and difficulty in issuing orders in the case of a supervisor-subordinate relationship.

Ever since Cayden met Avery, he started to feel that the no-dating policy was discriminatory.

He had hinted to Avery that he would call for an executive meeting to abolish the policy after the fifteen of the month. Only she was privy to his intention; even his assistant, Xavier, was not informed.

Avery found it ironic to be threatened by a policy that would shortly be repealed.

She said calmly, “You're welcome to correct any mistakes I make at work, Ms. Summers. However, you don't need to concern yourself with my personal matters. After all, everyone deserves privacy. I'm a model employee, so I've no idea what you're trying to imply.”

Wisteria rolled her eyes at Avery's phony act. “Ms. Rumpley, you are a wise person. Why do you appear to be so clueless? Given your age, you must be longing for a family. I know several exceptional men and would be delighted to introduce you to them. Being a stay-at-home mom is definitely less exhausting than being a working woman.”

Avery raked her fingers through her silky hair and flashed a wide smile. “There's no need for the trouble, Ms. Summers. I enjoy working because it gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I believe every woman should be financially independent and free to live on her own terms. Moreover, I'm only twenty-four years old. There's no rush for me to start a family. Instead of fretting over your employees' personal life, why don't you devote more time to your love life? You are twenty-nine this year. You should go out and date those promising men!”

Wisteria scowled when she heard Avery's cynical remarks. She had not expected the innocent-looking girl to be sharp-tongued.

“You have a bright future ahead, Ms. Rumpley. I hope you take your work seriously and make your mark in Trident Group through your own efforts.” Wisteria raised her volume as she tried to ease the tension.