Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 326

Chapter 326: What Stephanie was Up To
One week later, Aurora Scott stepped into Vintage Cellar for the first time since returning from the Scott family Christmas vacation. The air was crisp with the scent of aged wine and polished oak, a comforting familiarity that settled around her as she walked into her office.

Her assistant had already set everything in order—her schedule for the day, important documents stacked neatly on the desk, and a fresh cup of tea waiting for her.

She had barely settled into her chair when the door swung open without a knock.

Olivia.

Dressed in a sharp black pantsuit, Olivia stormed in, her expression thunderous. Without preamble, she spoke.

“Are you seriously going to sit there and watch Aunt Stephanie hand Ivy and Damien Assistant Manager positions here at Vintage Cellar?”

Aurora frowned, completely oblivious to that question. “What are you talking about?”

Olivia let out a dry chuckle and crossed her arms. “Oh, so you really don’t know? Or are you pretending not to?”

Aurora’s frown deepened. “Olivia, I don’t have time for this. You are not a task I have to cross of my schedule for today, so get to the point already.”

Olivia exhaled sharply. And seeing that Aurora was genuinely in the dark about the changes that was about to be made, she forced herself to give more details to her complaints.

“Aunt Stephanie is trying to sneak her children into this company. I overheard someone saying that she asked HR to prepare employment letters for Ivy and Damien, appointing them as Assistant Managers. Does that sound fair to you?”

Aurora’s fingers tapped lightly on her desk as she processed the information. This news was new to her, so as her Aunt’s actions. She was genuinely at a loss.

“Are you seriously just going to sit there and do nothing about it?” Olivia pressed, her voice rising. “Are you going to let her plant her children in our father’s company after everything we did to build our own careers from scratch?”

Aurora’s gaze turned sharp. “Olivia, lower your voice when you speak to me.”

Olivia gritted her teeth but took a step back. “Fine,” she said, her tone calmer but no less cutting. “If you won’t do anything, I will handle it my way.”

And with that, she spun on her heels and stormed out.

Aurora leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly as she pressed her fingers along her forehead. Truth be told, she wasn’t surprised that her Aunt would try something like this because Xander had warned her beforehand—but she was disappointed.

Reaching for the phone, she dialled the HR department.

“This is Director Aurora,” she said as soon as the manager picked up. “I need clarification on something. Did the chairwoman request employment letters for Ivy Coker and Damien Coker?”

There was a short pause before the HR manager replied, “Yes, ma’am. The request was made recently.”

Aurora’s jaw tightened. “Have the letters been finalized and issued yet?”

“No, ma’am. We’re still processing them.”

“Good,” Aurora said firmly. “Halt the process immediately. Do not finalize anything without my direct approval.”

“Understood, ma’am,” the HR manager replied without hesitation.

Aurora set the receiver down and sighed, deep in thought.

“Aunt, what are you up to?” she muttered under her breath. Though, she hoped it wasn’t what she was thinking.

—

A few minutes later, Aurora left her office and walked straight to the CEO’s office, where Stephanie sat reviewing some documents.

Stephanie looked up with a smile. “Aurora, what a pleasant surprise. Have a seat.”

Aurora didn’t return the smile. She took a seat but got straight to the point.

“Aunt, I heard you were trying to employ Ivy and Damien as Assistant Managers.”

Stephanie chuckled lightly and leaned back in her chair. “Ah, so you found out already. I must say, I didn’t expect you to catch on so quickly.”

Aurora didn’t return the amusement. After all, she had come here for serious business. “I’m deeply disappointed, Aunt Stephanie. I never thought you’d go behind my back to try and push something like this through.”

Stephanie raised a brow. “I didn’t think I needed permission to employ competent people.”

Aurora shook her head. “If you want your children to work here, they will have to start from the ground up—just like my father made me and Olivia do. No one skips the process.”

Stephanie sighed, rubbing her temples. “I know you are worried about this, but I am not giving your cousins these roles just because they’re my children, Aurora. They have the qualifications and experience. And I’m not setting them up to inherit this company—I simply want them to gain the right work experience.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Aurora insisted. “No one, not even family, gets to bypass the system. I’ve already halted their employment process with HR. If you still want Ivy and Damien to join, they’ll start like everyone else. If not, then I suggest you find another plan.”

Stephanie held her gaze for a long moment before exhaling deeply. “Alright, Aurora. I understand. I will let you know my decision soon.”

Aurora gave a curt nod, stood up, and left the office. And just like that, she easily took care of the matter Olivia had been gravely worried about.

—

Later that evening, Stephanie FaceTimed Ivy and Damien, delivering the news.

“If you want to work at Vintage Cellar, you will have to start from the bottom,” she told them.

Damien scoffed. “I don’t have the patience for that. I will focus on my own business instead.”

Stephanie sighed, already expecting that response.

Ivy, on the other hand, frowned slightly but then nodded. “I don’t like it, but I will give it a try.” She still had plans of looking for someone’s trouble.

“Good,” Stephanie said.

—

A few hours later, Aurora received a call from Stephanie confirming that only Ivy would be joining the company.

“Understood. Her employment letter will be ready before the close of business today,” Aurora assured her.

Stephanie agreed, and the call ended.

Towards the end of office hours, Olivia heard the news.

“So, the Assistant Manager positions are off the table?” she asked someone in HR, her lips twitching upward.

“Yes. Director Aurora ruled them out.”

A slow smirk spread across Olivia’s face.

As she gathered her things to leave, excitement bubbled in her chest. She couldn’t wait to get home and rub this in Ivy’s face.