Chapter 161: Chapter 161: State the Reason for Your Objection
She looked over and saw Henry Hartwell standing in the doorway, his face grim.
Having known Henry Hartwell for so long, this was the first time Claire Sinclair had seen such a murderous expression on his face. His presence suddenly seemed immense—towering, powerful, and even a little handsome.
The colleagues who had just been gossiping excitedly fell silent as if they’d been put in their place. They obediently shut their mouths, not daring to utter another reckless word.
As Henry Hartwell walked in, he announced, "During his tenure, Warren Wallace was derelict in his duties and failed to act. The higher-ups have decided to revoke his position as editor-in-chief and permanently ban him from the news industry. Starting today, I will resume my role as editor-in-chief of the Astoria Daily. Claire Sinclair is promoted to a full journalist. Phoebe Lockwood’s attitude and work ethic do not meet the standards of a journalist; she will remain an intern."
Everyone was stunned by his words.
Claire Sinclair was still reeling from her colleagues’ mockery when Henry Hartwell suddenly dropped this surprise on her. Her mind couldn’t process it; she was completely floored.
But for Phoebe Lockwood, it was like a bolt from the blue. Her body and mind were completely petrified.
Claire Sinclair was promoted while she was still just an intern. Her pride and self-esteem were crushed to dust in that moment. How could she possibly accept this reality!
"Editor Hartwell, I refuse to accept this!" she roared.
Henry Hartwell frowned. "Give me your reasons."
Phoebe Lockwood dug her nails into her palms, though she felt no pain at that moment. She gritted her teeth and said, "Why was Claire Sinclair promoted while I have to remain an intern? I don’t believe her attitude is better than mine, or that she’s more capable!"
Henry Hartwell sneered. "Claire Sinclair is proactive and diligent. She works hard without complaint, is willing to learn, and eager to write. The articles she’s written are insightful and provide positive guidance, perfectly aligning with our paper’s standards. She brings the kind of positive energy society needs today.
You, on the other hand, Phoebe Lockwood—what have you accomplished since you started here? I’ve read those feature articles you wrote. They were riddled with typos and grammatical errors, and the whole thing was just a rambling mess. Warren Wallace must have been blind to approve them. If it were up to me, I’d say they’re worse than a grade-schooler’s essay."
"I..."
"Don’t talk to me about your governor father or your degree. If it weren’t for your father’s sake, I wouldn’t even give you the chance to stay on as an intern. Of course, if you find this humiliating, you can leave right now. But let me ask you, without your governor father, who do you think you are?"
His words were incredibly aggressive, striking deep into Phoebe Lockwood’s heart and leaving her trapped in a dilemma.
If she quit, she would bring even more shame to her father. But if she stayed, her pride and self-esteem wouldn’t allow it.
’What should I do?’
In that moment, Phoebe Lockwood felt an unprecedented sense of conflict and helplessness.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Claire Sinclair watching the drama unfold with cool detachment. It was like a blinding flash of light, instantly showing her the way.
’No, I can’t admit defeat!’
’How could I lose to that bitch Claire Sinclair!’
"Fine. I’ll continue as an intern. I’ll learn. I promise I’ll work hard. Thank you, Editor Hartwell, for giving me this chance!"
With that, Phoebe Lockwood plopped down in front of her computer, grabbed a random magazine, and started flipping through it.
Henry Hartwell turned to the others and raised his voice. "As journalists, the one thing you must avoid is spreading rumors. Claire Sinclair has absolutely nothing to do with that bastard Ethan Kingsley. If I hear any of you spouting nonsense again, you can pack your bags and get out."
The staff was left speechless.
Henry Hartwell walked into his office as if nothing had happened. Before he went in, he said to Claire Sinclair, "Come to my office for a moment."
