015. In the eye of the storm

After the intense conversation with Isabel, Amelia took a moment to process everything she had learned. Isabel's office had an air of professionalism and calm that helped her focus on the magnitude of her new position. However, Isabel's warning words resonated in her mind, reminding her of the seriousness of her situation.

Jason entered the office with a determined expression. "Amelia, it's time to formally introduce you to the executive team. I want everyone to know you have my full backing."

Amelia nodded, rising from her chair and adjusting her clothes. She felt a mix of nerves and determination. She knew this moment was crucial to establishing her position.

Jason led her through the halls, where the staff continued to work diligently. They took the elevator to the top floor, where the main conference room was located. The glass doors opened to reveal a spacious room with a long conference table. The directors of the various companies and divisions were already seated, waiting for Jason's arrival.

Before entering, Jason leaned towards Amelia and gently kissed her on the forehead, squeezing her hand with affection. "You're ready for this. I believe in you," he said softly, loud enough for Laura, who was watching from inside, to hear and see.

Seeing the display of affection, Laura frowned, feeling her disdain for this stranger grow.

"Good morning, everyone," Jason greeted with authority as he entered the room, followed by Amelia. "I want to introduce you to Amelia. From today, she will be working closely with me and should be treated with the same respect and consideration you have for me. Her decisions are to be followed as if they were mine."

Murmurs filled the room as the directors exchanged glances of surprise and curiosity. Jason quickly silenced them with a firm look. "Amelia is an exceptional woman, and I fully trust her ability to contribute to the growth and success of our companies. Isabel and I will be guiding her through her training, but I expect all of you to offer her your support and cooperation."

Amelia felt the weight of their gazes on her. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. "It's an honor to be here and have the opportunity to work with all of you. I'm here to learn and contribute in any way I can. I hope to count on your support and patience during this process."

Most of the directors nodded and offered cordial smiles, but when her gaze met that of Laura Martínez, the director of Jason's most profitable company, she felt an immediate tension. Laura, a 26-year-old woman with an authoritative demeanor and a cold gaze, didn't seem impressed. Her smile was more a gesture of courtesy than genuine welcome.

"Welcome, Amelia," Laura said in a tone that barely concealed her disdain. "I hope you can live up to Mr. Xiting's expectations."

Amelia felt the implied challenge in Laura's words but decided to maintain her composure. "Thank you. I'll do my best to learn quickly and meet those expectations," she replied with a diplomatic smile.

Jason noticed the tension but decided to intervene subtly. "Laura, I'm sure your experience will be of great help to Amelia. I trust you'll give her the same support you give the rest of the team."

"Of course, Mr. Xiting," Laura responded, her tone softening slightly though her gaze remained challenging.

The meeting continued with Jason explaining some of the current projects and challenges they faced. Amelia listened attentively, mentally taking notes of everything discussed. Despite feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information, she was determined to prove her worth.

After the meeting concluded, Jason and Isabel accompanied Amelia to her office. Isabel looked at her with approval. "You did well, Amelia. Keep that attitude, and you'll learn quickly."

Amelia nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "Thank you, Isabel. I'm determined to do a good job."

Isabel smiled. "That's the right attitude. Now, let's get started on your first tasks."

After the introduction, Amelia was in her office, reviewing some of the notes she had taken during the meeting. She was absorbed in her work when Laura appeared at the door.

"I see you've settled in well," Laura said, entering without waiting for an invitation.

Amelia looked up and smiled politely. "I'm trying to familiarize myself with everything. There's a lot to learn."

Laura nodded, crossing her arms. "That's natural. The business world is complex and demanding. Not everyone is prepared for this kind of challenge."

"I'm willing to learn and work hard," Amelia responded, keeping her tone firm.

Laura looked at her with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "We'll see. I don't mean to sound rude, but this isn't a place for mistakes. The competition is fierce, and every decision counts."

Amelia nodded, understanding the message. "Thank you, Laura. I'll keep that in mind."

Laura stepped closer, her expression becoming more severe and disdainful. "I don't know what you did to get into Mr. Xiting's bed, but you're probably just a cheap seductress he'll soon grow tired of," she said venomously. "Don't get your hopes up, Amelia. You're nothing here, and I will destroy you. I'll make Mr. Xiting see that I'm the only one worthy of his heart."

Amelia felt a knot in her stomach and, for a moment, felt like a kitten facing a lion. But summoning courage from somewhere, she raised her chin and looked Laura directly in the eye. "You can try, Laura. I'm here to stay. I'm not afraid of you."

Laura looked at her with surprise, then with a cold smile. "We'll see how long you last, then." She turned and left the office, leaving Amelia with her heart racing.

Shortly after, Isabel arrived with a flash drive. "Amelia, here are some tasks to get started. I want you to review these reports and prepare a summary for tomorrow's meeting. You'll also need to familiarize yourself with our internal policies and procedures."

Amelia took the flash drive and inserted it into her computer. As she opened the files, her eyes widened at the amount of data and the complexity of the information. "This is a huge amount of information!" she exclaimed, trying not to feel overwhelmed.

Isabel nodded with an understanding smile. "I know, but I trust you can handle it. Take your time, and don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions."

Amelia began working, spending hours reviewing the reports and taking detailed notes. Although she felt overwhelmed by the amount of information, she was determined to adapt and prove her worth. With Jason and Isabel guiding her, she knew she had a real chance to succeed in this new challenge.

The day continued with Amelia delving into the data, learning about the companies' internal policies and procedures. Isabel stayed nearby, supervising and offering her support when necessary.

Amelia realized she was taking her first steps towards a challenging yet promising new stage in her professional life. She knew she would face many obstacles, but with Isabel and Jason's help, she was determined to succeed.

But other hands were beginning to weave threads of hatred towards her. Malicious rumors about Amelia and her relationship with Jason Xiting began circulating on social media. The comments grew increasingly cruel and damaging.

"A recent graduate charms Jason Xiting, and he puts her in charge of his companies," "Amelia Antúnez gets Jason Xiting drunk and he names her General Director," "An orphan girl gets Jason Xiting drunk, gets pregnant, and takes over his companies."

The hashtag #AmeliaTheConArtist gained traction, rising to the top of the trending topics in the country. AI-edited photos began circulating, showing Amelia in compromising situations with Jason, and even some nude or participating in orgies.

Amelia's phone rang. The screen displayed "Inmaculada Montalbán." Unaware of what was happening on social media, Amelia answered the phone.

"Hello, Amelia, are you alright?" Inmaculada asked from the other end.

"Hello! Of course, Jason is a wonderful man. Last night in Milan…"

"Look at social media," Inmaculada abruptly cut her off.

Amelia opened Bluesky first, horrified to see a manipulated photo of her with a donkey. Then, she checked Facebook, Twitter, TikTok… all the platforms were ablaze with her name and links to her profile, filled with derogatory comments.

"How…?" Amelia whispered, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"I have my team working on this to silence it, but try to stay composed. Remember, if you need anything, I'm here for you, and if you need psychological help, Lourdes can assist you."

"Thank you. I…"

Isabel raised her head from her laptop as she saw Amelia's voice break and her tears begin to flow. But she decided to wait for her to finish the call.

"Do you need me? Where are you?" Inmaculada asked with concern.

"Stay calm, if you show up here, this could get worse. This is just an attempt to destabilize me. I started working at Mr. Jason's companies today, and I have an idea of who might be behind this. If I need you, I'll call."

"Alright. Take care," Inmaculada replied before hanging up.

Amelia dropped her phone onto the table, her body trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. Isabel stood up and approached her, her expression both concerned and resolute.

"Amelia, what happened?" Isabel asked gently, placing a hand on Amelia's shoulder.

"Social media… it's full of horrible pictures of me. Everything is fake, but… I don't know what to do," Amelia said between sobs.

Isabel nodded understandingly. "This is part of the dirty game in business and politics. Unfortunately, it's a common tactic to destabilize someone new and promising. But you're not alone. Jason and I are here to support you. We need to stay calm and act wisely."

Amelia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew Isabel was right. "Thank you, Isabel. This is really tough, but I don't want to let it defeat me."

"Exactly. Now, let's inform Jason about this situation. He needs to be aware so we can handle it together," Isabel said with firm determination.

Together, they headed to Jason's office. Although Amelia was still shaken by what she had seen, she felt a spark of determination rekindling inside her. She knew she had powerful allies and that she wasn't alone in this battle. This was just another challenge she had to overcome on her path to proving her worth.

Jason was signing a series of documents when both women entered his office. He looked up, and upon seeing Amelia's tear-streaked face and Isabel's serious expression, his demeanor hardened.

"Hello. What happened? Amelia doesn't have any critical responsibilities yet," Jason asked, putting the documents aside and standing up.

"You'd better check any social media," Isabel replied gravely.

Jason frowned and took out his phone to check social media. His expression shifted from a sympathetic smile to one of terrible indignation.

"I want the head of the responsible party tomorrow. Or better yet, impaled in some public square," Jason said, his voice controlled but filled with fury.

"I'll give the relevant orders, but you know how hard it is to trace the origin. They were likely set up by Russian bots hired by someone," Isabel responded, keeping her composure.

"Then investigate who paid those bots. Contact Inmaculada Montalbán and ask for help. Amelia is her protégé, so she'll be eager to cooperate," Jason ordered, his tone firm and authoritative. Isabel nodded and left the office.

"She's already on it," Amelia whispered between sobs. "I swear all those pictures are fake. I never…"

"Of course I know that. Until three days ago, you hadn't left Inmaculada's mansion. And some of those pictures claim to have been taken when you were still a man," Jason said, trying to comfort her.

That last statement, though true, struck Amelia deeply. In just three days, hearing her previous life referred to as a man caused her immense pain. However, Jason wasn't aware of the depth of that feeling.

Thinking that Amelia's tears were solely because of the photos, Jason softened his tone and approached her, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, Amelia. I didn't mean to upset you. I know this is difficult for you, but we'll get through it together. I won't let anyone hurt you," he said, kissing her forehead tenderly.

Amelia nodded, feeling comforted by his closeness and the warmth of his words. She knew Jason was on her side, ready to protect her against any adversity. Even though the world seemed to be turning against her, at that moment, she felt a glimmer of hope.

"Thank you, Jason. I promise I'll be strong and prove that I'm worthy of being by your side," Amelia said, wiping her tears and trying to compose herself.

"That's my girl. Now, let's get back to work. We won't let these rumors stop us," Jason said, smiling with a pride that gave her courage.

Amelia nodded and left Jason's office, determined to face the day with resolve. As she walked back to her office, she overheard two employees passing by, whispering.

"Have you seen the pictures? I can't believe Jason put that girl in charge," one said disparagingly.

"Yeah, it seems like anyone can go far if they know how to play their cards. It's pathetic," the other replied with a sarcastic laugh.

The words cut deeply, reigniting the mix of rage and helplessness she felt. She reached her office, closed the door behind her, and collapsed into her chair, struggling to hold back tears of frustration and anger. She felt the weight of expectations and unjust judgments crushing her, but she also knew she had to prove her worth.