Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess
Chapter 162

"Ms. Josefina, you flatter me. Though I've been away from the office, I've certainly heard about your capabilities," Noel said. His tone was laced with a casual respect. "Thank you," Josefina responded with a gracious nod. "I've heard quite a bit about your prowess as well."

She flipped open the folder in front of her, revealing information about a textile mill. After briefly scanning the contents, she closed the folder with an air of finality.

Noel, who had anticipated Josefina's approval of the mill he had suggested, was taken aback when he heard her reject the proposition.

"Noel, while the factory you've found certainly has merit, I've already chosen a different partner to collaborate with. The contracts have been signed," she informed him with a tone of polite detachment. Noel's face shifted. His expression was a mix of incredulity and frustration. "Ms. Josefina, shouldn't this be a matter for the purchasing department?" he asked, struggling to maintain his composure. "Noel, I understand you've been on leave, but the company has other people who can manage these affairs. If we all waited for your return to conduct business, how would the company function?" Josefina countered. Her voice was steady and confident.

His expression grew sour. He realized that Josefina — a woman he had underestimated — had the gall to put him in his place.

"You make a fair point, Ms. Josefina. I'll make sure to minimize any future absences," Noel conceded through gritted teeth.

Standing up, he added, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"Go ahead," Josefina said, dismissing him with a wave.

As Noel exited, he headed straight to his office where his assistant Sammuel was waiting.

"That Josefina is no pushover. She's already outmaneuvered Jaxon and Ava. You don't think you're next on her list, do you?" Sammuel inquired with a hint of concern.

Noel scoffed. His pride was wounded. "Her? She climbed the ranks using her charms, not her skill. I refuse to believe she'll stay on top for long!"

Sammuel whispered, "But the designs, they seem to be her doing. She turned the whole situation around."

Noel was aware. He had been biding his time, keen to see how Jaxon, the fool, would fail. If Josefina was an easy target, he'd have returned immediately. But since she proved formidable, he chose to protect his position and observe for a bit longer.

"Look into it. Find out where Josefina got those designs. Are they original, or are they copies?" Noel instructed.

"The folks in design think they might be Anya's work..." Sammuel trailed off.

Designer Anya? Noel was familiar with the name.

"Anya, a master in her craft, working for a small-time operation like ours? Josefina must have some tricks up her sleeve," Noel mused, curious about the forces backing her. Could they really come to her aid more than once?

Sammuel continued, "With Ava gone, there are still four designers left. Now that Alex is under Ms. Josefina's wing, he's the talk of the department."

Noel gave him a sidelong glance. "What's your angle? Let me guess, your girlfriend got sidelined and you want to play the hero? Sammuel, you do remember office romance is against policy, right?" Chastened, Sammuel nodded vigorously.

"You're absolutely right. But this isn't about her. It's about the company, about your standing. I'm worried that Ms. Josefina might be planning to fill the company with her people."

Noel glared at Sammuel, who shrank back in silence. With a cold smirk, Noel scoffed, "She thinks she can stage a coup? She'd need the chops for that. Do you really think she has what it takes?" Sammuel, eager to please, replied, "Noel, you've got experience she can't even dream of. She's got nothing on you."

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