The Witches of the Legal Department
Thursday, continued…
As Anna left the elevator and walked down the corridor of the Legal Department, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her eyes briefly lingered on the receptionist at the front desk, and she couldn’t help but wonder about her. The receptionist, dressed in high-end designer clothes, didn’t fit the typical profile of someone working a receptionist job in a company like Hou Enterprises. It made Anna think back to her shopping trip with Du AnLing and Leng Xi yesterday, where she had seen similar attire in a high-end store in M Mall. The thought crossed her mind: How could someone like her afford such clothing?
She considered the possibility that the receptionist might be involved in something more sinister. Could she be a spy for Lu Jinhu and his family? Given the tension between the Lu’s and Hou Yi, Anna knew that they would stop at nothing to gain an advantage. If the receptionist was feeding information to the Lu family, it could explain how they had managed to get so much insider knowledge about Hou Enterprises. But if she was a spy, how deep did this network go? Were there other spies hidden within the company?
The elevator dinged, and the door slid open to reveal the third floor. Assistant Wang gave her a discreet nod and gestured for her to follow him. As they exited the elevator, he walked briskly ahead, leading Anna down a hallway and stopping at a door on the left-hand side. He opened it and ushered her inside, where a middle-aged woman in a sharp black business suit and pencil skirt was waiting. Her posture was poised, and she held an air of authority that immediately put Anna on guard.
“Assistant Wang,” the woman greeted him with a businesslike nod, “Welcome to the female-only section within the Legal Department. How can we help you today?”
“Supervisor An,” Assistant Wang replied, “This is Ms. Jones, from Hou Enterprises’ Australian Lawyers. We are fortunate to have her here, as she has temporarily come in to assist with an urgent matter to prevent the CEO from having to immediately travel to Australia. Since there is secure office space available here, she will be working from this area.”
Supervisor An’s eyes flickered to Anna, then back to Assistant Wang. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jones,” she said, but her tone wasn’t as warm as her words. It was clear that the presence of an unfamiliar face in their department wasn’t something she took lightly.
Assistant Wang continued, “Please ensure that Ms. Jones receives any assistance she requires. She will need a secure space to work, and I trust you will make her feel welcome. This is temporary, but Ms. Jones may take a permanent part-time position here, dealing with Australian legal matters in conjunction with her Australian employers. We want to minimize the need for the CEO to travel back and forth.”
Supervisor An’s eyes narrowed at the mention of a “permanent position.” The idea of a new hire coming in, especially one so closely tied to the CEO’s personal matters, seemed to unsettle her. But she remained professional. “I see,” she said, though her tone was less than enthusiastic. “Are you certain she will be allowed to come and go freely from the CEO’s office?”
Anna’s heart skipped a beat. The mention of her freely moving about the CEO’s office was definitely unusual. It was rare for anyone to have that kind of access, let alone someone like her—an outsider.
Assistant Wang’s expression hardened slightly. “Yes, she will. The matter is urgent and requires immediate attention. It cannot wait.”
There was an unspoken tension in the air. Assistant Wang was clearly irritated, and Anna could sense that he was trying to assert some authority in a way that was not typical for him. He added, with a hint of finality, “I trust that won’t be an issue, Supervisor An?”
Supervisor An swallowed her surprise but nodded stiffly. “Of course, Assistant Wang. I’ll make sure Ms. Jones has what she needs.” But it was clear that the decision didn’t sit well with her.
With that, Assistant Wang walked past Supervisor An, who barely acknowledged him, and escorted Anna into an empty office. He closed the door behind them, and the tension that had been building finally broke.
“Apologies, Madam Hou,” Assistant Wang said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “Please don’t inform CEO Hou about this. I don’t want to lose my job.” He paused, then handed Anna a small slip of paper. “This is your pass to Hou Enterprises. It will get you anywhere within any Hou Enterprises building. Please keep it safe.”
Anna looked at the paper, taking in the seriousness of his tone. He handed her another document, this time with a password written on it. “This is the password for the secure CEO’s personal intranet within the building. Supervisor An will provide you with the details for the general intranet within the legal department. CEO Hou also asked me to pass on his request for you to join him at 1 p.m. for lunch in his office.”
“Not a problem,” Anna replied quietly, feeling a growing sense of unease at the gravity of the situation.
As Assistant Wang turned to leave, he said, “If you need anything, Ms. Jones, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
When he opened the door and stepped out, Anna saw Supervisor An standing in the hallway, her eyes wide with shock. Behind her, three other women—presumably part of the legal team—were watching with equal disbelief.
Before the door had fully closed, Supervisor An stepped forward, her voice sharp. “Who in the world are you?”
Anna straightened, meeting Supervisor An’s gaze with a composed expression. “As Assistant Wang indicated, Supervisor An, my name is Anna Jones. I’m a lawyer employed by ANX Lawyers in Melbourne, Australia. My husband and I were married here in City T a couple of days ago—it’s his hometown. I would much prefer to be enjoying my honeymoon, but this is an emergency.”
She hoped the frustration in her voice would convey the message: I’m not here for any other reason than to handle a professional matter. The last thing she wanted was to be involved in any power struggle or intrigue within the company. But with the watchful eyes of the legal department on her, she knew she’d have to tread carefully from now on.
The women stood frozen for a moment, processing what they had just heard. Anna’s declaration had clearly rattled them, and she could sense that the dynamics in the Legal Department were about to shift.
Supervisor An glanced at her colleagues, then back at Anna. “You’re just here for a few days, you say?” she asked, her tone a little less hostile but still wary.
“Yes, for now,” Anna replied, her tone calm but firm.
With that, she turned and walked into the office, leaving the four women standing behind her. As the door clicked shut, Anna let out a quiet breath. The quiet war for control over the company was starting, and it was clear that Hou Enterprises was far from a simple business—it was a battlefield, and Anna was now part of the game.
