Chapter 390: Drop the Act

“If Janessa dared to harm your mother this time, next time it would be your father,” Madelyn stated with unwavering certainty. “The initial incident was strategically designed to create a rift between your parents, weakening their united front. This family turmoil will then give Janessa greater latitude to maneuver within the company.”

When Madelyn grew serious, her analytical prowess was reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, dissecting each detail with precision. Her words struck a chord, sparking an epiphany in Cheryl, swiftly followed by indignation.

“I always knew Janessa was untrustworthy, but I never imagined her schemes so conniving and malevolent. It’s nearly impossible to guard against such deceit,” Cheryl admitted, her frustration evident.

“This is typical of Janessa,” Madelyn commented casually, almost dismissively. “But don’t worry too much. Even though she seems formidable, we have our methods to handle her.”

She continued, “For now, Janessa is unlikely to make any bold moves. Still, remain vigilant. Keep a close watch on your father’s safety. We can’t afford for him to unwittingly cross paths with Janessa and become embroiled in further problems.”

Madelyn paused briefly before shifting the conversation. “Let’s discuss work matters.”

“Right, you have a brother, don’t you?” Madelyn’s tone shifted as she seemed to recall something important.

Cheryl sighed deeply. “My brother? Honestly, let’s not talk about him. He’s entirely unsuited for business. He loafs around all day, consuming what the family provides without contributing. My dad and I have nearly written him off.”

“That won’t do,” Madelyn countered quickly. “Your brother could be a significant asset to you and your mother. It was expected he would take on business responsibilities eventually. Your father must still harbor some hope.”

“It’s not quite like that,” Cheryl responded, shaking her head. “He’s been coddled by my mother since childhood, which is why he’s relegated to running errands at the company. All he’s earned from my father is disappointment.”

Madelyn laughed lightly. “I disagree. In this world, every man aspires to leave his mark. Your brother is no different; he’s just never been given a real chance.”

“What do you mean?” Cheryl asked, puzzled.

“Starting today, tell your brother that if he wants to outmaneuver Janessa, he needs to prove himself and regain your father’s approval.”

“I believe with encouragement from you and your mother, he’ll rediscover his motivation,” Madelyn asserted confidently.

Pleased with Cheryl’s receptiveness, Madelyn smiled. “Of course, I’ll assist you as well. As long as you keep me informed about Janessa’s projects, I’m confident we can wrest control from her, eroding her influence within the company.”

“Really?” Cheryl perked up, visibly delighted. She nodded enthusiastically. “All right. I’ll start on that as soon as I get back to the office.”

Madelyn nodded, a hint of satisfaction on her face. Then, her expression grew serious. “There’s one last thing!”

“Once you return, be extremely vigilant,” she cautioned earnestly. “Janessa will likely attempt to replace the current staff with her loyalists, subtly orchestrating a complete overhaul of the company’s core team.”

“The morale of the company’s staff is its backbone. If the foundation is destabilized, the entire company could collapse!” Madelyn stressed, her tone grave. She knew the devastation such internal upheaval could cause, recalling vividly how Regina and Eunice had orchestrated the downfall of her own family’s company.

“Cheryl, keep this in mind,” she implored urgently, “if your goal is truly to exonerate your mother, you and your brother need to firmly establish your positions within the company first. Only then can you truly influence its direction. Do you understand?”

“I get it!” Cheryl responded, nodding.

Then, looking at Madelyn with profound appreciation, she expressed her gratitude. “Ms. Thornton, I really can’t thank you enough for your guidance. I’m not sure how I could ever repay your kindness.”

Madelyn chuckled, waving off the notion. “Let’s not worry about that now. Focus on keeping Janessa in check. Once you and your brother are firmly in control of the Sherritt family’s affairs, you’ll find plenty of ways to repay me.”

“All right, I’ve been talking so much, my throat’s parched,” Madelyn said with a laugh. “Let’s enjoy some coffee.” She took a casual sip from her cup. Cheryl mirrored her actions.

Once their discussion concluded, they went their separate ways. Cheryl headed back to her company, determined to implement their strategies.

A few days later, Janessa, riding a wave of confidence, was contemplating how to celebrate her recent successes. However, her elation was quickly dampened by a string of troubling calls from the project department.

“What? Terminate the collaboration? Why!” she exclaimed in disbelief.

Sitting in her private office, the sudden shift in her fortunes caused her to stand abruptly. “We had already finalized this project, hadn’t we? How can you possibly back out at the last minute?” she demanded, her voice filled with frustration. “Hello? Hello!” she called out, but the line went dead.

Soon after, another call came in, mirroring the first—more clients wanting to terminate their collaborations.

“Why is this happening?” Janessa was completely baffled. Everything had been going smoothly, and then, all at once, her clients started retracting their commitments.

Unbeknownst to her, Madelyn was quietly orchestrating these developments, supporting Cheryl from behind the scenes. The clients backing out were doing so primarily out of respect for Madelyn’s influence.

At that moment, Cheryl stepped confidently into Janessa’s office, her smile as deceptively dangerous as a poppy.

“Janessa, have you been wondering why all those clients are suddenly canceling their collaborations with you?” Cheryl asked with a provocatively sweet tone.

“How did you know about that!” Janessa stood abruptly, pointing accusingly at Cheryl. “I get it now, you’re the one behind this, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What are you talking about, Janessa? I don’t understand what you mean,” Cheryl responded, feigning confusion.

“Drop the act!” Janessa shouted, her voice thick with fury.

Cheryl laughed freely, unfazed by Janessa’s anger. “I haven’t been deceiving you at all. Honestly, all those projects you were handling? They’re now under my control.”