Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 401 - 380: Sienna Thornton Starts Her New Role

The office of the Ministry of Commerce is near Regent Street, less than a kilometer from the SY Design Firm. Sienna Thornton is quite familiar with the area, but to avoid the rush hour traffic, she left home shortly after eight o’clock.

Upon reaching the ministry’s compound, she found the rows of parking spaces still vacant and noted the time was only 8:45.

She parked in a guest space but did not immediately get out of the car. Instead, she waited a while inside until the employee parking spaces across were filled. When it was five minutes to nine, she got out of the car and elegantly walked towards the ministry building.

She headed directly to Director-General Linton’s office.

Director-General Linton had just arrived at his office less than five minutes prior and was busy brewing himself a cup of tea to refresh. Seeing Sienna Thornton come in, he warmly greeted, "Lawyer Thornton, you are very punctual! Please, come in, come in!"

Sienna stood at the doorway, politely smiled and nodded at Director-General Linton, then walked over to the seating area and sat down.

Director-General Linton soon brought over two cups of tea and engaged in small talk, "Have you moved back to Brimfield, Lawyer Thornton?"

"Yes, a few days ago."

"And your mother?"

"She lives with my younger sister. I’ve hired a live-in caregiver to look after her."

Director-General Linton took a sip of tea and nodded approvingly, "That’s the way it should be. Young people need to venture out, especially someone with your impressive background, Lawyer Thornton. Taking care of the elderly at home for a few years is almost like wasting the ten-plus years since you started studying law."

Sienna also picked up her cup of tea, took a sip, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Initially, staying home to care for the elderly was out of necessity. After that incident in January, rumors circulated in the legal circles that the judges weren’t fond of me. You know, when a lawyer is labeled like that, who would dare hire me for a case?"

After being taken by the police for a 48-hour assistance in investigation, the Sinclair Family hired online commentators to spread posts claiming that she could acquit herself despite solid evidence due to robust connections in the judiciary.

Judges have always detested lawyers with backgrounds like hers, believing such individuals not only hinder judicial fairness but are also troublemakers. Consequently, many rumor mills suggested that Sienna Thornton was blacklisted by the judges. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Although Colin Sinclair later issued a clarification statement online, such statements are only believable to those unaware of the details and swayed by public opinion. Those truly familiar with police procedures in the industry would not dismiss their bias against Sienna Thornton merely because of such a statement.

That’s why, after that incident, Sienna Thornton gave up her legal practice in Brimfield. Instead of fighting head-on, she chose to step aside for a while and bide her time.

Director-General Linton was well aware of all this; one can’t appoint someone to a position as director without doing a background check, let alone in the ministry.

That’s also why Sienna felt at ease discussing the issue with Director Linton; he dared to use her, which meant he didn’t believe the rumors and biases.

And indeed, that was the case.

Director Linton, not dwelling on Sienna’s past case, comforted her instead, "You’re just too outstanding, too brilliant. That’s why any slip-up invites a barrage of attacks. Work diligently in the ministry, and your achievements will bring real glory to the nation. The higher-ups are now paying great attention to public servants’ image in the public sphere and are also providing some promotional platforms. Rest assured, it won’t be long before your image is fully restored!"

This is likely why Sienna chose to start a new Chapter of her career in the Treaty and Law Department. When she mentioned it to Simon Forrester and Quentin Thorne, they immediately supported the idea.

.

After chatting for a bit, Director-General Linton took Sienna to complete her onboarding procedures.

After Sienna filled out numerous forms and received her access card and other items, it was already past eleven when Director-General Linton took her to the office of the Second Legal Division of the WTO Department.

The members of the division had long heard that the new director would assume the post today, and discussions were rife early in the morning. Everyone was curious about this new director descending from above, thinking someone who could surpass the experienced deputy director must either be some seasoned international law expert or perhaps someone transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But when the group saw Sienna Thornton coming in behind Director Linton, they were stunned. Especially Deputy Director Saul Rooney, whose face, already a bit uneasy, immediately clouded over in anger.

Director-General Linton stood with Sienna Thornton in the center of the office of the Second Legal Division, clapped his hands heartily, and announced with a smile, "Colleagues, please look this way."

Everyone turned their attention over.

Director Linton turned slightly to the side, gestured towards Sienna Thornton, and smiled, "Let me introduce to everyone, this is our new Director of the Second Division, Lawyer Sienna Thornton ... oh, no, now she should be called ’Director Thornton’!"

The people nodded and smiled at Sienna Thornton, "Hello, Director Thornton."

Sienna Thornton: "Hello, everyone!"

Director Linton continued introducing, "Don’t be fooled by Director Thornton’s youthful appearance. She might look like she’s just graduated, but actually, Director Thornton has been involved in the field of law for fifteen years!"

When he said this, everyone mistakenly thought Sienna Thornton had fifteen years of work experience. They were all surprised, thinking the new Director Thornton didn’t look like someone in her forties.

Sienna knew that Director Linton was giving her an opportunity to introduce herself. She smiled and added, "It’s actually fourteen years. I spent ten years studying law, then after graduation, worked full-time in a law firm and started a partnership firm, which took over four years."

Members of the Treaty and Law Department, all with backgrounds in law, upon hearing Sienna spent ten years studying law, immediately assumed she must be a Ph.D. in law. However, her declared actual hands-on legal experience of only a bit over four years seemed quite ordinary, leaving her credentials not all that impressive.

They were puzzled as to why Director Linton would overlook a deputy director with over two decades of experience to select someone like Sienna, who seemed to have average qualifications.

As if reading their thoughts, Director Linton chuckled amiably and joked, "Director Thornton may be young but very humble. Before she even graduated from Harvard, she received a job offer from the California Court of the M. Republic. She is a professional holding licenses in the domestic, Azure Harbor, and California regions! She gave up her job in the M. Republic to join our big family here! So let’s give a warm round of applause to Director Thornton!"

In just a few sentences, Director Linton highlighted all of Sienna Thornton’s strengths.

She practically has the highest academic qualifications among the Treaty and Law Department currently, and for the Second Division, which primarily deals with various trade disputes between the nation, the M. Republic, and the European Union, someone like Sienna, well-versed in Anglo-American law systems and WTO rules, might bring new directions and inspiration to the Treaty and Law Department.

The members present each harbored their own thoughts when Director Linton suddenly asked, "A couple of years ago, do you all still remember those cases of the ’Forrester Group’ that led the United States to reconsider the anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigation, only to eventually retract them?"