A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 652 - 652

Dirk Carter, rubbing his chin, said leisurely, "I think it looks better without wearing it."

Amber Young feigned surprise and said, "Does the leader have X-ray vision? How did you know I'm not wearing anything?"

After speaking,

she grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands and quickly lifted it up.

It was at this moment that Dirk Carter realized that between Amber Young's legs, there was indeed nothing.

Although it was just a fleeting glance, everything that shouldn't be seen was visible.

Just as Amber Young was about to take the next step.

There was another knock on the door.

Dirk Carter was secretly delighted.

He quickly shouted, "Come in."

Helplessly, the flirtation came to an abrupt end, and Amber Young had to sit down sulkily.

The door was pushed open.

Eva Lewis poked her head in.

She immediately saw Amber Young, her brow furrowing, thinking to herself, why is this woman always ahead?

"Ah, Director Thornton, come in and have a seat."

Eva Lewis found it awkward to neither retreat nor advance, so she stepped inside, bowed slightly, and greeted, "Hello, Secretary General."

Then, in a tone that was neither sarcastic nor sincere, she said, "Oh, Secretary General Young is here too? Moving pretty fast, aren't you?"

"Likewise, Director Thornton, you're not slow either,"

Amber Young replied coldly.

In an instant, the tension in the office thickened.

Dirk Carter invited Eva Lewis to sit beside Amber Young, stood up, poured two glasses of water, and placed them in front of the two, asking, "Director Thornton, is there something you wanted to discuss with me?"

Eva Lewis immediately forced a smile and said, "Oh, nothing really. I just heard Secretary General Carter has started, so I wanted to see if there's anything I can help with."

"Haha, help? You mean physically help?"

Amber Young said disdainfully.

Although Eva Lewis is relatively younger, she was not easily intimidated, and said to Amber Young, "Jealous, Secretary General Young? Who asked me to be young and have this advantage?"

This was a blatant jab at Amber Young's age.

Amber Young was not to be outdone, puffed up her chest, and said, "What's the use of being young? Besides that, do you have any other advantages?"

Indeed.

In terms of bust size alone,

Amber Young had a slight edge.

Eva Lewis, being mocked like this, blushed and retorted, "What use is a large bust? Who knows how many men have groped you? Your once pink lips are probably as dark as black fungus now, aren't they?"

"You're the one who's black, all your family are black mushrooms."

Amber Young's last bit of composure was finally shattered.

She stood up, pointed at Eva Lewis, and shouted angrily.

Seeing the two of them about to start a full-blown argument, Dirk Carter had to intervene.

He covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly.

Eva Lewis, who was about to retort, sat back down, looked at Dirk Carter, and said, "Secretary General Carter, I'm really sorry, letting you witness such a scene. It's just that Secretary General Young has been picking on me at the office because she ranks higher than I do, leaving me at her mercy."

"Little vixen, who is really bullying whom? Flaunting your youth in the office day in, day out, seducing men, and you dare accuse me?"

Compared to Eva Lewis's tactic of retreating to advance, Amber Young had less guile.

She remained agitated, pointing at Eva Lewis and yelling insults.

Dirk Carter, exasperated, gestured with his hand, sternly saying, "Alright, stop arguing. If you're here in my office just to quarrel, then I will have to ask you to leave."

Upon hearing this,

Amber Young realized she might have been a bit out of line.

She sat down sulkily and said, "Sorry, Secretary General Carter, for making a spectacle of myself."

"You two hold significant positions in our government office. If outsiders saw this, they might think we're not united internally. Some conflict between colleagues is normal and can be resolved; focus on your work. I've heard that Secretary General Dixon will be transferred soon. Normally, this position is promoted from within. Do you think you can handle this role, given how you're behaving?"

Dirk Carter deliberately made these remarks.

As expected, upon hearing this, their eyes lit up instantly.

Eva Lewis immediately said, "Rest assured, in the future, something like this will never happen again. I will work hard and not let you down."

Amber Young also hurriedly declared, "Leader, with you governing our City Hall Office, we have a backbone. I believe, under your leadership, our office will only get better. Whatever you need me to do, just say the word."

Dirk Carter nodded, looked at his watch, and said, "It's almost work time. I'm new here, so I'd appreciate it if you both organized a leadership meeting for the Municipal Government, alright?"

"No problem, I'll get on it right away!"

Eva Lewis stood up and said.

Seeing this, Amber Young immediately said, "I'll go too."

As they both stepped out of Dirk Carter's office, they gave each other a fierce glare.

Three in the afternoon.

In the government office meeting room.

The leadership team members gradually took their seats.

When Dirk Carter entered the meeting room, aside from Gilbert Dixon, the other eight attendees were already present.

The murmuring quickly stopped.

Everyone promptly stood up and greeted Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter gestured with his hand for everyone to sit down, checking his watch. It was about ten past three. He glanced at the empty seat on his left and asked, "Is there anyone who hasn't arrived yet?"

Halbert Hale, the third-in-command on his right, Deputy Secretary General of the Municipal Government and a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Municipal Government Office, responsible for the Comprehensive Division and Suggestions and Proposals Division, said, "Comrade Gilbert Dixon hasn't arrived yet."

Dirk Carter looked towards Amber Young's direction and asked, "Was Comrade Gilbert Dixon not notified?"

Amber Young quickly stood up and said, "He was notified, but Secretary General Dixon didn't say he couldn't make it."

Dirk Carter nodded.

He said, "Alright, I understand. Since it's time, let's start the meeting without waiting for him."

Just as he finished speaking,

a voice said, "Leader, isn't this inappropriate? Secretary General Dixon is the second-in-command in our office. Starting the meeting without him seems unreasonable. I suggest we wait."

Dirk Carter looked towards the direction of the voice.

It was a middle-aged man seated next to Gilbert Dixon's vacant chair.

This man was the fourth-in-command in the government office.

His name was Roy Zane,

Deputy Secretary General of the Municipal Government and a member of the Party Leadership Group in the Municipal Government Office, overseeing the Comprehensive Division and Government Research Office.

As soon as he finished speaking,

a middle-aged woman on the opposite side, the fifth-in-command, said, "I think Comrade Roy Zane has a point. Without Secretary General Dixon, this meeting loses its significance."

Her name was Amy Wright, the head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Group stationed at the City Government Office, a member of the Party Leadership Group, in charge of the discipline inspection work at the City Government Office.

Their duet was highly coordinated,

seemingly trying to convey to Dirk Carter,

that as long as Gilbert Dixon wasn't present, the significance of holding this meeting was moot.

In the office around here, being new, the real authority figure should be Gilbert Dixon.