The Intern Punishes Her Billionaire Boss Chapter 09

The Intern Punishes Her Billionaire Boss Chapter 09 Rebuilding the Team

1 pushed open the door to the CEO’s Office, and a wave of coldness hit me-literally. The decor had been completely transformed. The warm, wooden aesthetic I’d loved, the one that had felt like a second home, was gone, replaced by a stark, impersonal minimalist style in black, white, and gray. A few incomprehensible abstract paintings hung on the walls-Julian’s attempt to mimic the sleek, polished look of successful executives in business magazines, but it only felt rigid, hollow, and cold.

I frowned, my jaw tightening. Three years of neglect had allowed rot to fester deep within the company. Julian and Ivy were just the visible abscesses; what I needed to do was dig out the toxins hiding beneath the surface, one painful, necessary step at a time.

Half an hour later, there was a knock on the door, and Leo stepped in. He looked uneasy, shifting from fooy to foot in front of the desk, his hands fidgeting at his sides, unsure where to rest them.

“Ms. Hale, you asked for me.”

“Sit down. Leo.” I gestured to the sofa across from me, walking over to pour him a glass of water. “No need to be so tense. We’ve known each other long enough, haven’t we?”

He took the glass, his fingers brushing mine slightly, and sat perched on the edge of the sofa, as if he might bolt at any moment.

“Ms. Hale, about today’s incident…” He trailed off, his voice trailing, eyes darting to the floor.

“It’s in the past.” I cut him off gently but firmly, leaning back against the sofa. “Let’s get down to business. How’s the Vancove project coming along?”

The moment the topic turned to work, Leo relaxed. The tension melted from his shoulders, and a quiet confidence radiated from him-the same confidence that had made him the best designer in the company.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Hale. The main design is complete, and the client is thrilled with it. We’re just tweaking a few details now; we’ll be able to submit the final draft next week.”

“Good.” I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. Leo had always been someone I could count on. “What about that new client? What did Mr. Carter say?”

“Mr. Carter already sent me their contact information. It’s an up-and-coming influencer hotel brand called Cloud Haven. They’re planning to take over an old factory on the outskirts of the city and renovate it to a mixed-use space-accommodation, dining, and art exhibitions all in one. Their budget is generous, and their design requirements are extremely high.”

“CloudHaven…” I murmured the name, the brand instantly clicking in my mind. It had been blowing up among young people lately, known for its unique aesthetic and bold, unapologetic creativity.

“This project is critical.” I leaned forward, my eyes locking onto his, every word deliberate and weighty. “I want you to lead it personally. Pull the best designers in the company onto this team-spare no expense. We have to win this. It’s not just a new opportunity for us; it’s the first battle in rebuilding Dreamscape’s reputation.”

“Understood!” Leo nodded vigorously, a fire reigniting in his eyes-the kind of fire I hadn’t seen in him in years, not since Julian had started undermining his authority.

“But,” I added, my tone softening but unyielding, “I don’t want a single person on this project team who coasted by on Ivy’s coattails-who got ahead by sucking up instead of producing good work.”

Leo’s face paled slightly, his smile fading. I could see the conflict in his eyes-he was a kind man, too kind, someone who hated confrontation, who hated letting people down.

I held his gaze, my voice steady but firm. “Leo, I know you’re a good guy. You hate making enemies, hafe hurting people. But these are extraordinary times. This company needs a complete overhaul. You’re the Design Department director-this knife, you have to be the one to wield it.”

He fell silent, staring down at his glass, his knuckles white as he gripped it tightly, I knew this was tearing him apart. He’d trained many of the young designers in the department; even the ones who’d gone astray, he still cared about them, still felt responsible for them.

“Let me show you something.”

I pulled out my phone, scrolling to a voice recording, and pressed play. Ivy’s shrill voice filled the room, mixed with the chatter of a few young designers-all in the break room, talking behind his back.

“….That Director Leo, his design concepts are so outdated. He’s still clinging to those old blueprints like they’re gold…”

“Right? If he wasn’t so senior, he would’ve been replaced as director a long time ago.”

Leo’s grip on the glass tightened even more, his jaw set, his eyes darkening with hurt and anger. I turned off the recording, setting my phone down, and waited, letting the words sink in.

“Leo, being kind to your enemies is being cruel to yourself. Some people don’t deserve your mercy.”

After a long, heavy silence, he took a deep breath, sitting up straighter, his eyes hardening with resolve as he looked up at me.

“Ms. Hale, I understand. I know what I need to do.”

I nodded, a wave of relief washing over me. “Good. Go draft a list for me. I need everyone in this company to see what happens to people who coast by, who take this place for granted.”

I knew it would be cruel. But this company-my company-had drifted off course for far too long. To steer it back, I had to cut away the rotting masts and frayed ropes. No matter how painful it was, it was necessary.