My Wife is a Sassy Queen

While Alice and her family were in shambles, James was busy trying to find out who had drugged Mariana.

They had found out that Alice had called the media, but they were trying to find out who had drugged Mariana.

If it was Alice, James vowed to bankrupt their business.

But Mariana and Liliana saw things differently. Irrespective of who had drugged Mariana, Alice was wrong.

Alice used James and her family’s connections with the Millers as a shield to escape punishment.

James’s family, the Millers, had a good connection with Alice’s parents, the Mosses.

Alice had gone to them crying about misunderstanding Mariana and creating trouble the same day.

At his mother’s insistence, James acquiesced to letting Alice off. It bound Liliana’s hands.

Mariana and Liliana had assuaged Mer’s parents that everything was under control.

Mer stayed in Lil’s house for a week dealing with her emotions.

Liam was busy tracking the source of recreational drugs. Recreational drugs were illegal in P city. Someone had to be operating an illegal business for it to show up.

James was trying to locate the waiter, who had escaped from P city.

Jonathan spent the week that Mariana stayed with them to teach her some business rules.

Liliana posted a statement from NMS’s official social media handle.

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“NMS was established with a clear purpose to share news and knowledge across the residents of P city. As the City grew and times changed, NMS undertook another responsibility – finding out the truth and bringing the overlooked and underhanded to attention.

I am very regretful to admit that I did a poor job managing NMS which led to corruption from the inside. NMS, whose goal was to keep the P city informed and expose the truth, became the means to attack the innocent and shield the oppressors.

THAT ENDS NOW!

The drastic actions from the past few days mark the start of a new chapter in NMS.

A periodic and random audit by a third party will scrutinize everyone’s actions. Irrespective of whether you are an intern or a shareholder.

Misuse of power and position will not be accepted.

I apologize for not doing my job well. And I will rectify it to the best of my abilities.

I hope to shepherd NMS to the right path, so it can once again become the symbol of truth, transparency, and free speech.”

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While only a handful of people knew NMS was also one of the Petrova properties and was under Liliana’s management, the entire P city could feel the tremors of changes that were to come.

As promised, Liliana swiftly established a core audit team of her most trusted people and sent them to investigate each Petrova property.

From checking the books to reviewing everyone’s works. From ensuring every hire was merit-based to reevaluating everyone’s designation and pay. The audit team did it all and made swift changes everywhere.

Naturally, such a monumental change would take time to complete. But the changes had started.

Ironically, one of the foremost people who were affected by the change was none other than Jennifer and Henry.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Jennifer came to Liliana and Jonathan’s place with a box of cakes and a pack of beer.

Jennifer bowed exaggeratingly and said, “Congratulations on your successful project, My Queen!”

Mariana looked at her quizzically while Henry bit the inside of his mouth to keep himself from laughing.

“You demoted me!” Jennifer cried, unable to build suspense.

“What? Why would I demote?” Liliana trailed off as she realized what had happened.

Mariana and Henry burst out laughing.

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what to say,” Liliana was speechless for once.

Jennifer pouted and feigned a hurt expression.

“I work so hard, yet you demoted me,” Jennifer fake cried.

Liliana had gathered her wits about and questioned, “There should be more to it. I could not have demoted you just like that. You are doing exceptional work.”

Henry chimed in with his grievances, “Yeah, you made me pay her from my salary.”

That elicited another round of laughter.

“Well, I am sure you will survive!” Liliana shrugged.

She had given Henry too many benefits, flexibility, and a high enough pay for this small thing to matter.

Besides, her instructions had been clear. People doing their job well would not be affected.

She was going to review everything anyway.

Jonathan asked, “What exactly happened?”

Jennifer joked, “Guess?”

Mariana and Jonathan looked at each other and said in sync, “Remodeled salary structure.”

Henry wrinkled his nose, “You guys are no fun.”

Jennifer laughed, “From enemies to besties, huh!” She teased them.

They just shrugged and did not answer.

Henry explained, “Instead of the head of General surgery, I am Consulting Surgeon. As such, I get paid per surgery basis.”

“Of course, I still get paid quite well for research, and I am still an employee of the P city hospital with tenure.

But it’s quite a deduction compared to my previous pay. The offset is royalties for any successful research.”

Mariana teased, “So, instead of paying as if you have already developed whatever you are working on, you will be paid minimum for research and then balance it by the royalties of your invention. Hmm, if you develop something good, you will be swimming in money.”

Henry shrugged, “I would not call it minimum, but then again, it’s probably pennies for a rich heiress like you.”