Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“What?” Sarah’s composure shattered.
The Hayes family, while not as prestigious as the Kensington family, still held considerable wealth and social standing. Sarah knew Leila was favored by them, yet she had dismissed it as mere benevolence, akin to caring for a docile pet. The thought of Jerome taking Leila seriously hadn’t crossed her mind.
Sarah’s voice spiked with disbelief. “Has he lost his senses? Why would he leave anything to Leila? What could possibly be so enchanting about her?”
Boris exhaled a sigh of resignation. “Even though we’re anxious, there’s little we can do about it. My grandfather has made up his mind. Truthfully, we share your sentiments. We believe Leila is undeserving. But I think we can collaborate and leverage this situation to our advantage.”
Sarah eyed Boris warily before responding, “Tell me your plan first. I might think about it.”
Boris leaned in and quietly shared his scheme.
Sarah’s reaction was a mix of thrill and readiness to proceed.
Reading her mind, Boris stated pointedly, “If you’re unsure, we can drop it. Regardless of my grandfather’s decision to leave part of his fortune to Leila, I am still his descendant. My share remains unaffected. It’s just disheartening to see someone from outside the family receive a portion. Furthermore, if Leila gets those assets, it will cement her status in elite circles. Should she choose to trouble Landon, she could very well succeed. The choice is yours.”
Boris then turned to leave.
Sarah got up swiftly. “Give me a moment to consider.”
Actually, Sarah’s original plan closely mirrored Boris’, though his was more ruthless. The individual supporting her was known for their rigid nature, rarely altering established plans. Sarah reasoned that if she covertly adopted Boris’ approach, it might just succeed. The goal was ultimately the same. She just wanted to witness the outcomes.
Drawing in a deep breath, Sarah declared with a peculiar sparkle in her eyes, “I’m willing to collaborate with you, but on one condition: it has to work.”
“Don’t worry,” Boris responded with a grin. “There’s no reason for me to antagonize you. Here’s to a fruitful partnership.”
After departing from Landon’s villa, a smirk played on Boris’ lips. His targets were not limited to Leila alone. Given the close bond between Brent and Leila, if Leila faced trouble, Brent would likely not remain unaffected. He merely hoped Sarah would live up to his expectations.
Following a hospital visit to see Jerome, Leila headed over to the Hayes Group.
It was evident that Brent and Jerome were in sync, quickly setting up Leila’s new office.
As Leila entered the Hayes Group, murmurs and covert glances followed her.
“A mute as a consultant? That’s absurd.”
“Does she use sign language to communicate? That’s quite comical.”
“Are you really badmouthing her? The Hayes are shielding her now. Watch your words, you might regret it.”
“What? Is Mr. Hayes going to fire me over a mute? I detest people who get in through connections.”
Overhearing these comments, Irene couldn’t help but steal a concerned look at Leila.
Leila remained calm and unbothered, flashing Irene a reassuring smile when she caught her gaze.
Irene finally spoke. “Leila, about what they were saying…”
Leila nodded and made a gesture, signaling that she had heard everything but didn’t see the point in getting angry over it.
Irene, visibly distressed, huffed, “They don’t even know you, talking about you behind your back like that. It’s just too cruel.”
Leila just shook her head and let out a soft sigh. With a simple gesture, she conveyed that their bitterness was understandable. From their perspective, she had usurped a position they felt entitled to. However, she wasn’t going to waste energy arguing about mere words. Instead, she’d prove her worth in time.
Observing Leila’s composed response, the mockery from those around intensified.
“Seriously? Is she deaf?”
“I think so. Didn’t you hear? Some people who can’t talk are also deaf. They don’t speak because they can’t hear.”
“That’s interesting. We could insult her right to her face, and she probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid.”
Irene turned around and fixed a fierce glare on the speaker.
The speaker, unfazed, merely tilted his head arrogantly and met Irene’s stare. “Irene, how does it feel to be an assistant to someone who’s both deaf and mute?” he taunted.
“Ricky, now that your main rival’s out of the picture, do you reckon the manager’s job is in the bag?” Irene retorted without missing a beat. “If I hadn’t left, the manager’s role wouldn’t have been yours. Now that I’m out of the way, you’re probably over the moon. Think of this job as my parting gift to you. Enjoy it, because opportunities like this won’t come around again.”
“You!” Ricky Molina was seething with anger to the point where he nearly threw a punch at Irene.
However, Ricky restrained himself, aware that they were still within the company premises.
The onlookers were casting peculiar glances his way.
Fuming, Ricky shot back, “My future is going to outshine yours! I can’t wait to see you and that deaf mute get kicked out.”
Just then, Leila quickly turned around with a smile. She swiftly typed a message on her phone and activated the text-to-speech function to play the audio for Ricky. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not deaf. I caught every word. Plus, I’m your superior. Should I be upset about the things you’ve said behind my back?”
Since Leila’s arrival at the company, Ricky had been badmouthing her. He had assumed she was either hearing-impaired or too timid to assert herself. He certainly hadn’t anticipated her confronting him like this.
Ricky’s eyes flickered uncertainly. “Superior? I don’t acknowledge your authority anyway.”
“You don’t recognize her? Or is it my decision that you refuse to acknowledge?” Brent approached, his expression shadowed by anger.
Upon spotting Brent, Ricky promptly straightened up, adopting a sycophantic grin. “Mr. Hayes, I was just joking with her. I meant no harm.”
Irene let out a derisive snort. “Oh, so mocking someone for their inability to speak, labeling them a deaf-mute, that’s your idea of a joke? How come you’re not laughing when I clap back?”
Ricky’s glare intensified, his eyes blazing. “Stop making things up!”
Brent’s voice turned icy as he interjected, “We’re privileged to have Leila join our team. If you have any grievances, I suggest you discuss them with my grandfather.”
Ricky was quick to dismiss the idea, “Mr. Hayes, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Really? You seem quite bold to me,” Brent retorted sharply.
Ricky retreated, flustered. “I need to attend to some work. I’ll start immediately. Mr. Hayes, you know the project can’t run without me. The workload has me on edge. But rest assured, since this is your decision, I’ll fully support it.”
With that, Ricky turned and dashed away, shouting loudly enough for everyone to hear, “Did everyone catch that? Leila is a guest of honor. Let’s treat her well. She’s here for business, not hardships.”
His announcement intentionally made Leila a target of scrutiny.
“Damn that Ricky,” Brent hissed under his breath, his fists clenching with the urge to confront him.
Leila, sensing Brent’s fury, quickly typed something on her phone and then showed it to him. “Let it go. Many assume I landed this role through connections. It is fine. My skills will speak for themselves. Jerome has been nothing but supportive, and I won’t let him down.”
Brent exhaled slowly, his frustration simmering. “Ricky has been with the company for years and knows the ropes. Since I took over the Hayes Group, there’s been a fair share of pushback, and Ricky’s not shy about where he stands. He might play the loyal employee, but it’s all an act. He’s sly and manipulative. If he’s targeting you, it’s a sign that others are also displeased with your arrival. I’ll do my best to protect you, but I can’t always be there. If you ever find yourself in a bind, you have to tell me.”
Leila was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions. She hadn’t fully grasped that behind Brent’s polished facade lay a world rife with internal conflicts and threats.
The various factions within the Hayes family were not just watching; they were waiting for a chance to see Brent stumble. The Hayes Group was riddled with schemes laid by others, all poised for the downfall of the family.
Now, every responsibility tied to the Hayes family had been thrust upon Brent. His burdens were clearly immense.
For a moment, Leila’s thoughts drifted to Landon. Could he be enduring similar hardships?
However, she quickly shelved the idea. Landon was not like Brent. He was a man who harbored grudges and refused to suffer any slights. His tactics were both harsh and direct. She decided it was better to focus on her own concerns rather than his.
Reassuring Brent, Leila quickly typed on her phone, “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’m staying alert and don’t want to add to your burdens.”
Leila then walked to her new office and scanned it. Brent had picked an excellent location for her.
The office boasted floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the landscape beyond.
This view lifted Leila’s spirits, filling her with an unfamiliar sense of empowerment. It was as if she was seizing control of her own fate.