Inside the car, the warmth of the heating system contrasted sharply with the biting cold wind outside.
Secretary Zhao eagerly handed Liu Lu a cup of hot coffee. "Director Liu, you've been working hard lately." Liu Lu took the coffee, and the moment her fingertips touched the paper cup, a strange feeling swept through her heart.
She subtly observed Secretary Zhao, whose perfectly timed smile made it difficult to discern his true intentions.
"Secretary Zhao, just say what's on your mind." Liu Lu took a sip of coffee, her tone indifferent.
“It’s like this, Director Liu,” Secretary Zhao rubbed his hands together, seemingly hesitant, “I have some ideas about the investment plan for next quarter that I’d like to discuss with you.” As he spoke, he took a document out of his briefcase and handed it to Liu Lu.
Liu Lu took the document and quickly glanced through it.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on an inconspicuous statistic, and her brows furrowed slightly.
This data is clearly incorrect. If the company invests based on this data, it will face huge losses.
Liu Lu closed the file without making a sound, already understanding what was going on.
“I’ve reviewed this proposal,” Liu Lu said, raising her head and staring sharply at Secretary Zhao. “There seem to be some issues with the data.”
Secretary Zhao's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Is that so? Perhaps it was my oversight. I'll check it carefully when I get back."
“No need,” Liu Lu said firmly. “I’ve already identified the problem.” She paused, a hint of warning in her voice. “Secretary Zhao, I hope you remember that I will not tolerate any attempt to harm the company’s interests.”
A flicker of panic crossed Secretary Zhao's face, but he quickly masked it. "Director Liu, you've misunderstood. I absolutely didn't..."
Liu Lu ignored his explanations and threw the documents back at him. "I hope this is the last time." She opened the car door and got out without looking back, leaving Secretary Zhao alone in the car with a gloomy face.
Upon returning home, Liu Lu immediately contacted her private lawyer, Attorney Li, and recounted the entire incident in detail.
After listening, Attorney Li's expression turned serious. "It seems someone wants to harm you."
“I know,” Liu Lu said calmly, “I’ve already sensed something.” She walked to the window, gazing at the flashing neon lights outside, a cold glint in her eyes. “I want them to know I’m not so easily fooled.” She picked up her phone and dialed a number. “Check Secretary Zhao’s background for me, the more detailed the better.” A deep male voice came from the other end of the line, “Understood.”
The next day, Secretary Zhao came to Liu Lu's office as usual, with a slightly ingratiating smile on her face, "Good morning, Director Liu."
Liu Lu looked up at him, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Secretary Zhao, good morning."
Instead of immediately exposing Secretary Zhao, Liu Lu became even more friendly towards him, frequently showing concern for his well-being and even assigning him some seemingly important but actually unimportant tasks.
Secretary Zhao was flattered and thought that Liu Lu was really fooled by him. He was secretly pleased and performed even more diligently, unaware that his every move was under Liu Lu's control.
He was like a flying insect firmly stuck in a spider web; the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.
That day, Liu Lu received a call from her daughter Liu Bei's school, saying that Liu Bei had a conflict with her classmates at school.
Liu Lu rushed to the school and found Liu Bei standing in the teacher's office with red eyes, head down and not saying a word.
Several children taller than Liu Bei stood to the side, their faces showing a hint of smugness and arrogance.
"What's going on?" Liu Lu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
When those children saw Liu Lu, their imposing manner immediately diminished.
One of the children stammered, "She...she broke my toy..."
Liu Lu walked up to Liu Bei, squatted down, and gently asked, "Bei Bei, tell Mommy, what happened?"
Liu Bei looked up, tears welling in her eyes, "Mom, they took my toys, and...and they pushed me..."
Liu Lu gently patted Liu Bei's shoulder, stood up, and glanced at the children with icy eyes. "I don't care whose children you are, if you bully my daughter, you will pay the price." Her tone was calm, but it carried a chilling sense of oppression.
The children were so frightened that they dared not utter a sound, their heads bowed and their bodies trembling slightly.
After finishing her business, Liu Lu took Liu Bei's hand and walked out of the school.
Liu Bei hugged Liu Lu's arm tightly and whispered, "Mom, thank you."
Liu Lu looked down at her daughter, her eyes filled with love. "Beibei, remember, no matter what happens, Mom will protect you."
After returning home, Liu Lu dialed Attorney Li's number. "Attorney Li, regarding Secretary Zhao's matter, I think we need to expedite the process." Attorney Li's calm voice came from the other end of the line: "I've already gathered some clues, and I believe we'll have results soon."
In the evening, Secretary Zhao knocked on Liu Lu's office door. "Director Liu, you wanted to see me?" He had a fawning smile on his face, but he couldn't hide the smugness in his eyes.
Liu Lu put down the documents in her hand, looked up, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips. "Secretary Zhao, your work performance recently has been very good. I plan to give you an even more important task..." She paused, her gaze sharp as she stared at Secretary Zhao, "...a task that will be enough to prove your loyalty."
Liu Lu arranged for lawyer Li to secretly investigate Secretary Zhao, and as expected, Secretary Zhao was indeed colluding with the rival group, Tiansheng Group.
The investigation revealed that Secretary Zhao regularly met secretly with senior executives of Tiansheng Group and accepted huge bribes in order to steal Xingyao Group's trade secrets, especially its investment plans for the next quarter.
Liu Lu sneered. What a clever scheme! Using Tiansheng Group to attack her and incidentally seize Xingyao Group's market share.
She decided to play along, deliberately revealing some false investment plans to Secretary Zhao and pretending to trust him completely, even entrusting him with some "important documents" for safekeeping.
Secretary Zhao took the bait and passed on these false messages to Tiansheng Group.
The senior management of Tiansheng Group believed it to be true and immediately adjusted their strategic plan, investing a large amount of funds in the project "revealed" by Liu Lu.
At the same time, Liu Lu carried out her true plan, secretly acquiring several of Tiansheng Group's key partners and seizing the markets they planned to enter.
A few days later, Tiansheng Group's stock began to plummet, and several important partners suddenly announced their cooperation with Xingyao Group. Their cash flow was cut off, and they fell into a huge crisis.
Secretary Zhao looked at the news report, his face turning pale. Only then did he realize that he had been used by Liu Lu.
He rushed into Liu Lu's office in a panic, "Director Liu, I...I was wrong! I..."
Liu Lu raised her head, her eyes icy cold. "Now you know you're wrong? Too late!" She pressed the phone on the table. "Security, take this person away!"
Secretary Zhao was dragged out of the office by security guards. He struggled desperately, but to no avail.
As Liu Lu watched Secretary Zhao being taken away, a cold smile appeared on her lips. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Everything is proceeding according to plan."
A deep male voice came from the other end of the phone: "Understood."
Liu Lu hung up the phone, walked to the window, looked at the bustling city outside, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
She won this business war!
Just then, there was a knock on the office door. "Director Liu, the chairman requests your presence in his office," the secretary's voice rang out from outside.
Liu Lu smiled slightly, picked up the documents on the table, and walked towards the chairman's office...
As Liu Lu entered the chairman's office, a calming sandalwood scent wafted towards her.
The chairman sat behind his large desk, holding a document in his hand, with a hint of appreciative smile on his face.
"Liu Lu, you did a great job this time, saving the group from a huge loss."
"It's what I should do," Liu Lu said calmly, without a trace of pride on her face.
"Your abilities and loyalty are evident to the group." The chairman handed the document to Liu Lu. "This is the group's latest appointment letter. From today onwards, you will serve as the group's vice president, fully responsible for the group's strategic development planning."
Liu Lu accepted the appointment letter without any inner turmoil.
She knew this was just the beginning, and bigger challenges lay ahead.
After leaving the chairman's office, Liu Lu returned to her own office. Secretary Zhao's seat was now empty, replaced by a young and capable girl.
"Mr. Liu, I'm your new secretary, my name is Lin Wei." The girl introduced herself with grace and poise.
Liu Lu nodded slightly, gesturing for her to sit down.
"Lin Wei, help me check the recent movements of Tiansheng Group, the more detailed the better."
“Okay, Mr. Liu.” Lin Wei immediately started working.
A few days later, Lin Wei handed Liu Lu a detailed report.
"Mr. Liu, according to our investigation, Tiansheng Group has recently been secretly contacting several investment companies, and it seems to be planning a new project."
Liu Lu carefully read through the report, her brows furrowed.
As expected, Tiansheng Group has not given up; they are brewing an even fiercer counterattack.
"Continue to monitor their movements, and report any new developments to me immediately," Liu Lu said gravely.
"Understood, Mr. Liu." Lin Wei turned and left the office.
Liu Lu walked to the window, gazing at the bustling city outside, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
The war is far from over, and she must remain vigilant and prepared to meet any challenge.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door.
"Mr. Liu, Director Sun requests your presence in his office," the secretary's voice rang out from outside the door.
Liu Lu was slightly taken aback. Director Sun?
What does he want from me?
A sense of unease flashed through her mind, and she got up and walked towards Director Sun's office...
She pushed open the door and saw Director Sun sitting on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, with a meaningful smile on his face...
"Mr. Liu, please have a seat."
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