The True Heiress's Return

It was lunchtime, and Shakira and her friends were waiting for Xanthe in their usual spot in the cafeteria.

Usually, Xanthe was the first to arrive to grab a seat and fret over what to eat that day. But today, after waiting for about fifteen minutes, Xanthe still hadn't shown up.

Rachel tilted its head and took out her talking pen. "Isn't Xanthe having lunch today?" Shakira tried to call Xanthe. She dialed twice, but there was no answer. It was the first time she couldn't reach Xanthe.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Shakira stood up, "You guys eat first, I'm going to check the finance department." Rachel and Larry exchanged a glance. "I'll go too."

Larry walked over to the takeout area. "You guys go ahead, I'll pack some food for her and bring it over later." Shakira nodded. "Okay."

Many employees brought their lunches. By the time Shakira got to the finance department, many were eating at their desks, occasionally glancing in one direction. As Shakira arrived, she faintly heard yelling coming from a nearby cubicle. She frowned and asked a colleague near the entrance, "Excuse me, is Xanthe here?" The colleague looked surprised. "You're looking for Xanthe?"

He pointed towards the frosted glass cubicle where the shouting was coming from. "She's in there getting reprimanded. If you're looking for her, you might want to come back another time; I don't think she'll be out anytime soon."

Even from about thirty feet away, the furious scolding was impossible to block out, not to mention how suffocating it must be inside.

Rachel asked with her talking pen, "Is Xanthe being yelled at in there?" The colleague shook his head with sympathy. "Yes, it's been over half an hour already."

Shakira's expression turned serious when she heard that. Under the astonished looks of those around her, she walked directly toward the cubicle. Even Rachel following her was taken aback.

She then grasped what Shakira wanted to do but quickly hurried to catch up. Shakira alone might not have enough influence, and Rachel wanted to help out.

Shakira glanced at the nameplate in front of the cubicle and, without a word, pushed the door open. The loud, harsh scolding inside reverberated throughout the whole finance department floor.

"Useless! You can't even handle a simple report, yet you steal work from your colleagues. You are from Crescentville University, but a student like you only brings embarrassment to the school. Or did you cheat in the exams with shady tricks..." Steven said. "Steven, that's quite offensive. Someone who doesn't know better might think Xanthe caused the company a billion-dollar loss, justifying you cutting into her break time to insult her like this," Shakira said.

Steven suddenly went silent. Xanthe's eyes had been red. Shakira appeared just like an angel at Xanthe's breaking point, coming in to bring her hope.

"Shakira!" Without hesitation, Xanthe threw herself into Shakira arms, finally releasing the pent-up emotions she'd been holding back, crying out.

"I'm not that bad. I just accidentally forgot to save it, I clearly remember saving it halfway through last night, but when I opened it today, everything was gone..." Xanthe said. Xanthe was sobbing inconsolably. "You have to believe me. I really didn't take Fiona's stuff..."

Hearing that name, Shakira looked serious. She gently patted Xanthe's back, soothing her with a soft voice. "Don't cry. I'm here, and nobody can bully you?

As she spoke, Shakira gave Steven a cold glance, which made Steven's heart quiver with instinctive fear.

He thought, 'It is strange that this girl, who barges in so suddenly, actually has such an intimidating, aura despite her young

age

Steven was momentarily distracted before quickly straightening bis expression, making himself look authoritative by clasping his hands behind his back.

"Hey, young lady, do you think you can do whatever you want here? Steven asked. Shakira sneered, "Wasn't it you who started the trouble first?"

"Disciplining my subordinates is none of your business," Steven said.

"You gave her harsh insults and personal attacks. What would the HR department of the Lopez Group, known for its elite and disciplined system, think of you scolding your staff in such a manner? Shakira asked.

Outside, the employees stretched their necks to watch, and Steven, repeatedly embarrassed by Shakira, was red with rage. "You! Which department are you from? Bring your manager here. You don't have the right to speak to me!"

Steven, boiling with anger, was sure Shakira would come in with Xanthe. He thought, No matter her boldness, she was just an intern. Is an intern trying to stick up for someone? She should realize her standing' "Marketing department, Shakira." Shakira placed her ID badge on the table. "You don't qualify to speak with my manager."

"Oh, you're bold. Don't think I can't deal with you!" Steven picked up the phone without hesitation.

Xanthe quickly moved forward to hold down the phone, stopping Steven from proceeding. "Steven, this has nothing to do with Shakira. Don't talk to her manager; it's all my fault." Steven snorted, "You sure are loyal." Shakira pulled Xanthe aside. "Xanthe, tell me again. What exactly happened?"

Steven sneered, "Do I need to explain? She has just started her internship and is already being lazy. She couldn't finish the task herself, so she used other employees' work." "We've caught her red-handed, and she still wants to deny it," Steven added.

Xanthe quickly shook her head. "I didn't. I really had done half the report before leaving work last night. I have no idea why there's no record of it now."

She looked anxiously at Shakira. "Fiona saw that I'd lost the data, so she gave me a USB drive. She said she had done the parts I needed and I could use it."

"Yes, I opened her file, but I didn't use it! I handed in only my work, but Steven insists I used Fiona's," Xanthe added

Shakira understood and patted her gently on the shoulder. Then she looked at Steven and asked, "Why are you so sure that the work Xanthe submitted wasn't done by her?" "Do you even need to ask? The report she submitted is exactly the same as the one Fiona gave me. If it's not copy-pasting, then what is it?" Steven asked.

"Just because the report has a similar format doesn't make it solid evidence," Shakira said. "You think it's not evidence? Well, I say she didn't do it herself, Steven said. "You want evidence?" Shakira said casually, "Then check the surveillance footage."

When Shakira mentioned checking the surveillance, Steven sneered, "You think you own the Lopez Group's security

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department? You think you can just check the surveillance for

Shakira smiled, "I don't need to ask for help from the security do you mean?"