Chapter 8
Julian took a look at the iron bucket with black smoke, wondering if I was crazy.“Why don’t you just throw it away?”
“Fire purges better.” I replied.
He twisted his eyebrows. We stand wordlessly in the yard, the last ray of sunlight swallowed by darkness.
On Friday morning, the 4S shop called and told me my car was fixed. I went to get the car and remembered about the jacket. It was supposed to be washed and returned…
I called Gary, telling him that my car had been repaired. When I sent him the repair list and the cost, I added a work at the end: If I may ask, what’s your boss’s exact height, weight, measurements?
I asked that because I decided to get a matching suit and trousers to return. I owed them one.
I hadn’t received a reply for a long time. Perhaps even Gary wasn’t sure about his boss’s states? I didn’t think much of it
either.
As I approached the next corner, My phone buzzed with Finance’s call about audit discrepancies. My forehead healed and I drove to the office.
I had been absent for days. When I came to the project department, my men came to ask if I was fine. I hadn’t told them about my departure. I felt kind of sorry that they would have to deal with a new boss.
I went to the financial manager’s office. After coming back, I started clearing four weeks of backlog. The resignation letter sat buffering in the printer tray.
Before I
got
off work, I something that made me nauseous at the tea room.
“Guess what? Miss Crowe from the Crowe Corp is working in CEO’s suite now…”
“Does that mean Mr. Shaw is going to marry her?”
“Have you forgotten that Ms. Frost is Mr. Shaw’s girlfriend? What should Ms. Frost do if they get married?”
After exchanging glances and sighing in unison, they whispered over their coffee about Rita’s shamelessness, my plight, and Julian’s heartless demeanor.
I stood outside quietly listening. My knuckles whitened around the mug. I went back to my office and sat down, lost in thought. After a while, I stood up.
The resignation letter crinkled in my grip as I stabbed the elevator button. Early resignation equals early liberation.
I walked to Julian’s office. Roy rushed to stop me, looking nervous.“Ms. Frost, Mr. Shaw is in a meeting.”
I nodded and turned to make a show of going. After he let down his guard, I suddenly changed direction and walked quickly to the door. I took the handle, wrenched it open, and pushed through.
I was actually kind of annoyed with myself. Now that I was determined to leave him, what was there to be mad at him? I’d only make myself unhappy.
But I just couldn’t control myself. Perhaps this was why humans were so often enslaved by their emotions.
“Ah! Screams rang out from the office.
Rita, only wrapped in a bath towel, lying on Julian’s back, was startled. The smile on Julian’s face solidified. Roy looked desperate, covering his eyes while saying, “Ms. Frost, here’s the thing. Miss Crowe just showered after moving boxes. I was afraid you might misunderstand, so I stopped you…”
I tilted my head, saying, “A Harvard MBA reduced to playing pimp. How tragic.”
Without waiting for a response, I walked toward Julian and Rita.
< Chapter 8
Menu
Olivia, what are you doing?! How dare you break into your boss’s office? You know what? You’re fired! Fired!” Rita straightened up and cursed arrogantly.
I went to the desk, put down the resignation letter, and said to Julian in a normal tone, “I have told you about my resignation. There are a lot of things to prepare for my European trip, and I will not come to the company from tomorrow. Of course, I will be back in time to wrap up handovers.”
Julian did not dare to look me in the eye. “Whatever you want.”
Well, good. I looked up at Rita, and then Julian.“Do continue your… meeting?”
I withdrew my sardonic look and turned away. After a few steps, I heard Rita’s sharp cry. “It’s none of your business, Olivia! Julian doesn’t love you anymore! He loves me! Do you know how many nights we…”
Julian loudly stopped her.“Don’t say it again!”
I took a deep breath and then turned stiffly.“Let her talk, so I can hear how thick–skinned she can be.” Looking at Rita, I said, “Regardless of whom he loves, you’re the mistress. The fact that I’ve pushed open this door proves I can nail you both to the pillory of infamy as the scumbag and tramp you are. Understand?”
Don’t you dare say that!” Rita was furious and jumped at me.
slapped her in the face unceremoniously, and when she wanted to strike back, I pulled off her bath towel and pushed ner to the ground.
Before I could slap her in the face, Julian’s grip yanked me backward. My back met the desk corner–cold sweat
Irenched my back before the pain hit.
