Female Novel
Chapter 137 Office Politics
Chapter 137 Office Politics
"After the meeting about the last quarter, your marketing department confidently promised an 80%payment rate, but what happened? Do you know that if this continues, the company's cash flow willbe tight and could easily break?"
"Ms Martinez, Ms Knight has only been with us for three days. She doesn't fully understand thesematters yet. Can you..."
"It shouldn't be an excuse. If she sits in this position, she must take responsibility for it!" IsabellaMartinez interrupted Ava Jones. "If we don't hold her accountable just because she's new here, thenwho will be responsible when your marketing department changes leaders every other day? Whowill manage sales and payments for the company?"
"But..." Ava Jones tried to speak up again.
"Ms Martinez, hello!" Harleen interrupted Ava Jones and stood up. "I've looked at some reports overthe past few days and I agree that our payment rate is a bit low. However, I promise you thatstarting this quarter our payment rate will rise above 80%."
"Anyone can talk big," Isabella Martinez sneered. "The previous three marketing managers alltalked like you did."
Before Harleen could respond to her comment, Isabella continued speaking. "For now let's putaside future promises, on behalf of the company, I'm officially notifying you that all members of themarketing department are having their bonuses and commissions of the last quarter withheld in full!If we still can't achieve an 80% payment rate by end of this quarter then don't even think aboutgetting any year-end bonuses!"
"Ms Martinez! This isn't fair!" Ava Jones protested loudly.
"The reason why we didn't reach our target was because a former manager signed a large orderwithout collecting payments before being fired by the company, which brought down our overallpercentage. But the marketing department has achieved the 80%, why shouldn't the othercolleagues receive their bonuses and commissions?"
"Rude!" Isabella Martinez responded angrily. "What are you saying? Watch your tone andremember your position!"
"I'm just telling the truth. If the company thinks I'm a problem, they can fire me!" Ava Jones repliedindignantly.
"You!" Isabella Martinez's face darkened. "Do you think the company won't dare to fire you?"
"Ava, calm down first," Harleen said, then turned to Isabella Martinez. "Ms Martinez, let meunderstand this situation before we discuss it further. Besides, even if the company does want todeduct our bonuses and commissions, shouldn't we have a meeting first and then have an officialnotice from the marketing department?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying I don't have the authority to issue this notice?" IsabellaMartinez responded coldly.
"You're in charge of the finance department while we're in the marketing department. What do youthink about that?" Harleen's tone also became colder.
"Very well!" Isabella Martinez snorted coldly. "You're quite tough for a new marketing manager! Youwant the company to issue an official notice? Good timing then! Mr Patton is back from his businesstrip and you'll be able to see it soon!"
After speaking, she looked at Ava Jones again and said, "Mr Patton asked me to inform you that hewants to see you in his office right away!"
After finishing her words with another cold snort, Isabella turned around and left.
"He... he came back so soon?" After Isabella Martinez left, Ava Jones shivered all over her body.
"Ava, what happened?" Harleen noticed something was wrong with her.
"Ms Knight, I... I don't want go into his office..." Ava Jones' face was slightly pale.
"Why not?" Harleen asked curiously.
"Just now I introduced the company's affairs to you. There is one thing that I haven't had a chanceto tell you," Ava Jones took a deep breath and continued. "Our marketing department has alreadychanged three managers this year, and the previous three were all ladies. Actually, their workabilities were quite good, but they were dismissed by the company due to special reasons."
"What special reason?" Harleen hesitated for a moment.
"The Mr Patton that Isabella Martinez just mentioned, named Gerald Patton, he's the company'sexecutive vice president. He has been on a business trip recently and you haven't met him yet. Heis a dirty old man who often harasses female colleagues in the company, relying on his socialconnections in Ozin. Several female colleagues in the company have already fallen victim to him.The previous three managers before you were all fired because they refused to succumb to hissexual harassment. And the reason why Isabella Martinez dares to be so domineering in thecompany is because she has sucked up to him!"
Startled, Harleen asked, "Doesn't the General Manager care about it?"
"Ms Rodriguez also has her own difficulties. She is just a professional manager, and Mr Pattondoesn't even consider her." Ava Jones responded.
Just at that moment, Ava Jones' phone rang. She picked it up and her face changed again uponseeing what was on the screen.
"I got it!" After hanging up the phone, Ava Jones took a deep breath and looked at Harleen. "GeraldPatton asked me to go to his office!"
"Has he harassed you before?" Harleen frowned slightly.
Ava Jones nodded and said, "It's happened two or three times already, where he tried to touch mein his office."
"What a jerk!" Harleen said angrily.
"Here's the deal. You go see what he wants from you first. If he tries anything funny, message meand I'll talk to him, okay?" Harleen said.
"Ms Knight, forget it. I can't let you get involved in this. You just started at the company and if youconfront him, he won't back down." Ava Jones shook her head. "Besides, Isabella Martinez wasprobably rude to you earlier because she thinks you're too pretty and is worried that Mr Patton mighthave feelings for you instead of her. If you cause any more trouble, she'll definitely convince MrPatton to fire you!"
"Don't worry about it!" Harleen responded. "You should go first. If it's work-related, it wouldn't beappropriate for you not to show up anyway. Plus, sooner or later I'll have to deal with him."
"Okay... alright then..." Ava Jones nodded slightly before leaving the office.
Meanwhile on the floor above them in one of the large conference rooms a group of men andwomen were having a meeting.
If Billy were there, he would immediately recognize the man sitting at the head of table with a smugexpression as the chairman of World Group, Derek Hines.
SunPark Group used to be owned by one of Ozin's three major families - the Watkins family. Sincethose families had fallen into trouble, Derek Hines had gradually acquired all their prime assetsaccording to Billy's orders, and SunPark Group was one among them.
Today was Derek's first meeting after integrating SunPark Group into his portfolio where he wouldlisten about company operations while also getting acquainted with its management team.
Sitting next to Derek on his left was a young woman who looked like she wasn't even thirty yet,reporting work progress using projection equipment.novelbin
Harper Rodriguez, the general manager of SunPark Group, stood tall and elegant in her dark greysuit. Her features were refined and her demeanor exuded confidence and efficiency.
"Mr Hines, this is the current state of our company's operations." Harper said as she finished herpresentation and turned to Derek with a respectful tone.
"Hmm, not bad," Derek nodded slightly. "Please introduce each department head briefly to me sothat I can recognize them in the future."
"Okay," Harper Rodriguez nodded.
Soon after, information about the company's management team began to appear on the projectionscreen.