“I will destr0y you completely!” the director sh0uted at the girl with the bucket and mop, not realizing who she really was.
Stephanie stood still, quietly mopping the floor, her mind racing. The director, Vittor Addams, was an arrogant man, convinced that his words carried weight. He was angry, not because of any true wrongdoing, but simply because he liked showing power. His behavior had become intolerable, and Stephanie was starting to see it clearly. But what he didn’t know was that she had already begun to dig into the real issues beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, in the office, Stephanie’s father, George Addams, was reviewing some documents with her.
“Dad, who was actually behind the wheel?” Stephanie asked, her voice laced with curiosity as she scanned the papers.
“Oh, there’s a whole story there,” her father began. “Once, my cousin came to see me. She got married and had a son. For a long time, she went on and on about his talents—how great he was and how difficult it was for him to find a place in life. The truth is, we never really got along. So, to avoid making things worse, I gave him this position.”
At that time, the company was small, but George had big plans for its growth. “You were abroad for your studies, and I had big dreams,” he continued. “Things went quite well at first. The guy was educated and had a knack for business. The company expanded rapidly.”
George paused, thinking for a moment.
“But then something happened in their family, and he abandoned his duties. He disappeared—vanished without a trace. But then, his little sister reappeared and said that her father, instead of her brother, should take the credit. She insisted that the father had always supported his son and that every successful deal Maxim had was due to the father.”
Since then, chaos had consumed the company. “We grew rapidly, especially in the south, but I didn’t have enough time to manage everything. And now, looking back, I realize—it’s easier to sell than to revive.”
Stephanie, with determination in her eyes, interrupted him. “Dad, wait. Let’s try to fix it. Let me take charge of it. And if I make it work, will it be mine?”
“Susie, why bother with something that’s already a mess?” George replied with a smirk. “Pick any of our stable companies. I’ll give you one of them.”
“No, Dad. I want to build something from the ground up,” Stephanie replied firmly.
George smiled. “You’re wasting your time, Susie. But, to be honest, I respect your attitude. I can see you’ve grown into a smart and independent woman.”
Stephanie laughed. “Dad, I’m 28. Don’t you think it’s time you recognized all the years I’ve spent gaining real-world experience?”
“I remember everything,” George said, chuckling. “But to me, you’ll always be my little girl.”
“Then, what does Mom think of my plan?” Stephanie sighed, knowing her mother would be a tough one to convince.
George gave her a concerned look. “You know how she is. Maybe you should talk to her yourself? I’m too scared to bring it up.”
The next day, Stephanie found herself back at the office, where she worked under the guise of a cleaner, not just mopping the floors, but gathering information. She quietly observed Vittor Addams, the director, realizing that he was not only incompetent but a complete amateur. His absurd orders and erratic behavior were beginning to take a toll on the company. But what disturbed her most was his inability to keep things together financially.
“Sorry, I got lost in thought,” Stephanie said quickly, preparing to leave for the day.
Vittor, already annoyed by her presence, stopped her in her tracks. “Who gave you permission to leave?” he demanded.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “What? Do I need permission?”
His voice wavered with anger. “You do. As long as I’m here, I decide who stays and who goes. Understand?”
“Even to the bathroom?” she asked sarcastically, a smile tugging at her lips.
Laughter rippled through the office, but when Vittor turned around, everyone quickly returned to their tasks. It was clear that no one wanted to challenge him directly anymore. He was a figurehead, surrounded by employees who were too afraid to speak out. But that would change.
The situation took a turn when Vittor Addams stormed into the office, where the accountant and economist were discussing a new deal with a supplier. Stephanie overheard a heated conversation, as the accountant, Alexie Victorian, warned him not to proceed with the deal. She said that they couldn’t afford the risks.
“Print it anyway,” Vittor snapped, his voice tight with irritation.
“I’m not getting involved,” the economist, Irene Smith, retorted, standing her ground. “With the salary you pay, I could work for smaller companies with far less hassle.”
As Vittor’s rage intensified, Stephanie saw an opportunity. With a calm smile, she addressed him. “Vittor Addams, perhaps you aren’t aware, but even cleaners deserve respect.”
Irene Smith stood up, her face glowing with relief. “Go on, leave him to his mess. I’ve wanted to say that for a long time.”
“Enough!” Vittor sh0uted, red-faced. “I’m firing both of you!”
Irene turned to Stephanie with a knowing look. “I’m done with this circus. Let’s get out of here.”
Outside the office, Stephanie and Irene made their way to a café, where they sat down to discuss their next move. Over tea, Irene shared the details of the company’s history and her connection with Maxim, the former head of the firm.
“Maxim always had big ideas,” Irene said wistfully. “But now everything’s in ruins. His father, who should have helped, only made things worse.”
Stephanie smiled. “Perhaps it’s time I introduced myself properly. My name is Stephanie Gerald Severskaya.”
Irene’s eyes widened. “Severskaya? The Severskayas are the owners of the company!”
“That’s right,” Stephanie replied. “George Addams is my father. He wanted to sell the company, but we’ve decided to try to save it. I need your help, Irene. You’re not fired, and your salary will be significantly higher.”
Irene’s face lit up. “You’ll succeed, Stephanie. I’ll help you. Just promise me one thing—fire Vittor Addams in a way that everyone sees it.”
Stephanie grinned. “It won’t be enough to just fire him. There’s a lot more at play here.”
The following days were filled with action. Stephanie organized a headquarters, still working as a cleaner at the office, but with a clear purpose. Meanwhile, Maxim, with his background as a programmer, helped gather the necessary information to expose the company’s rot from the inside out.
One day, while Vittor was away, Stephanie took the opportunity to enter his office. She had already begun gathering crucial documents that could expose the extent of the corruption. When Vittor returned, he saw her there.
“What are you doing?” he yelled.
“Just cleaning,” Stephanie replied innocently, as if nothing was amiss.
“You’re not allowed in my office when I’m not here!” he roared.
“I’ll take my resignation letter in the morning,” she said coolly.
The next morning, Stephanie returned to the office with Maxim and her father, George. Irene joined them, and together, they confronted Vittor. The scene that followed was chaotic. As the employees watched, Stephanie stepped forward with a bold grin.
“Hello, Vittor Addams,” she said calmly, as the room fell silent.
Maxim and George stood behind her, and Vittor’s face drained of color. He understood instantly what was happening.
“You didn’t warn me?” he stammered.
George Addams didn’t flinch. “Here are the documents that will send you to prison for ten years. But if you transfer all the money from your accounts to the company, we’ll consider not pressing charges.”
Vittor stepped back, shaking with fear.
Maxim’s voice rang out. “Dad, do you really want him to go to jail?”
With no more words, Vittor left the office, defeated.
Stephanie turned to her father. “Well done, Dad! But now, let’s get to work. And don’t forget, I’ll need your help along the way.”
As the company began to recover, Stephanie’s plans came to fruition. Six months later, the firm was booming, and a grand corporate celebration was held in honor of Stephanie and Maxim’s engagement.