Protection? She no longer needed anyone’s protection. She was her own armor now. In the meeting room, more than three hundred members of the design department were already seated. A secretary was going around, pouring water for everyone. But the table in front of them was bare—no documents, no agenda. Nobody knew what this meeting was about. Many of the men in the room exchanged disdainful glances. “Ugh, why does a woman like that even bother working? Wouldn’t she be better off waiting at home for a man to satisfy her?” “Maybe her man can’t satisfy her. That’s why she’s out here, working and hunting for more.” “Hahaha, you guys are too blunt. Don’t hurt my little princess—I love her. I’m going to pursue her.” “Pursue her? She’s your boss now, and her salary’s probably ten times yours.” “So what? A man liking a woman shouldn’t be about salary, should it?” “Not usually, but let’s be real. Once a woman has money, she’ll just look for an even wealthier man. Someone like Adam, at least a CEO. As for you? Nah, bro. You’d be better off picking up women at a bar.” The comments were said quietly, but Amy, seated nearby, heard every word. She clenched her fists, her face flushing with anger. She wanted to rush over and give them a piece of her mind, but she didn’t want to cause trouble for Miranda, so she reluctantly stayed in her seat, simmering with frustration. Just wait! These guys will see how talented Miranda is! They’re all too blind to notice. Amy’s admiration for Miranda’s beauty quickly faded. The world was full of malice toward beautiful women. If Miranda were plain-looking, maybe people would have focused on her abilities instead. But… what would happen if these people kept harassing her? Amy suddenly had an idea. Adam was the one who hired Miranda with such a high salary. If she brought the CEO into the room, no one would dare to keep speaking out of line. She was determined. With a glance around to ensure no one was paying attention, Amy quickly bent down and sneaked out of the meeting room. Meanwhile, Emily stood confidently at the front of the room. A colleague from HR leaned over and whispered, “Miranda, you can sit while you speak.”Emily waved it off, choosing to remain standing. For one, Europeans were generally tall. Standing gave her more presence, and sitting down would make it harder for people to see her. Secondly, she planned to modify the designs during the meeting and standing made it easier to work with the mouse and keyboard. Once everything was ready, she smiled faintly, opening the meeting with confidence. “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Miranda. The reason I’ve called you here today is because the Thai CBD office project has encountered some obstacles. I’m new here and still familiarizing myself with the project, but I understand the Thai construction team is demanding revisions to the design by the end of the day. That’s why I’ve gathered everyone here—to brainstorm a solution.” Bob, who had been sitting in the back, suddenly shot up, his face flushed with anger. “Miranda! That’s not what you said in your office earlier!” Emily’s eyes locked onto his with calm assurance. “Bob, if you have objections, you can voice them during the discussion. Let me finish first.” Bob wasn’t having it. “No, Miranda! I think it’s only fair that I tell everyone exactly what happened in your office. That’s the responsible thing to do.” Emily thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, go ahead.” Bob rolled his eyes and turned to face the entire design team, pointing dramatically at Emily. “Just earlier, in her office, Miranda promised me—and all of you—that she’d prove her ability. That’s the reason for this meeting! Miranda, I’m ready. Show us what you’ve got!” The room erupted with murmurs. “Has she lost her mind? Prove herself? This blueprint took over a hundred people nearly a month to finalize, and she thinks she can handle it in a few hours?” “Bob’s right. She probably got here through connections or her looks. No one who knows architecture would say something so reckless.” “What do you think it takes to get her into bed? I’d like to try.” “Better ask Adam.” Just as the gossip veered off course, the door to the meeting room opened, and Adam walked in, greeting everyone with a wide smile. “I heard Miranda was having a meeting with the design team, so I thought I’d drop in and listen.” “Well, there you go. Adam’s here to protect his woman. He can’t have her sleeping alone tonight, now can he?” “He came at just the right time. He’s obviously into her.”“Honestly, I’d be into her too, just look at that face.” Emily was a bit surprised to see Adam step into the room. Why would the CEO attend a design team meeting? But when she saw Amy trailing behind him, it all clicked. Amy must’ve run to fetch Adam, afraid that she’d be bullied. Emily couldn’t help but admire the irony. The CEO had gone through all this trouble to recruit her, and now his own employees were openly doubting her abilities. What a position for him to be in. Regardless, his arrival didn’t change anything. She had to prove herself, with or without Adam in the room. Miranda greeted Adam politely, keeping their interaction formal, as if they barely knew each other. She then turned back to the matter at hand. “Bob was right,” she began, seamlessly returning to the project at hand. “I’ve reviewed the blueprint for the Thai CBD office project. It’s an impressive design—efficient in terms of material and labor, while also striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics. Stardream’s design department truly lives up to its reputation.” One of the employees chimed in from the back, “That’s Bob’s work. He came up with the concept, and the team just built on it. He’s the lead designer!” Bob puffed out his chest, looking pleased with himself. Emily smiled. “Indeed, Bob is a valuable talent in our company. But architecture isn’t just about cold, hard data or efficiency. It’s also about understanding the culture and people. While the design may be excellent, it’s not one the Thai people will accept. If we don’t provide them with a design that respects their values, all the work that’s been done will be for nothing.”