Chapter 20
Stefan had overheard the argument and came over. Stepping to my side, he spoke in a low voice, “She has already laid down the rules. I can’t undermine her in front of everyone. But I’ve paid the fine, so you don’t have to leave.”
I shot him a cold glare and slammed my ID card onto the table. “Don’t bother. If you won’t fire me, then I’ll quit. I’m done.”
Grabbing my suitcase, I turned to leave. But he stopped me again.
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His expression darkened and he raised his voice in front of the whole office. “Caitlyn, stop being so dramatic.”
>
“Alicia’s rules are there to keep order. Isn’t the office running more smoothly lately?”
I rolled my eyes.
Smoothly?
Just yesterday, someone had gone off in the group chat. [Salespeople on business trips can only book hard seats on the train, stay in hostels for 51 nights straight and treat clients at street stalls because the meal allowance is capped at bucks.]
[Stefan thinks she’s saving the company money, but people are suffering.]
[How are we supposed to close deals worth millions or even tens of millions when we’re feeding clients meals that don’t even hit a hundred bucks?]}
[Alicia is clueless and Stefan is even worse for approving her nonsense. I’ve been away on business, barely set foot in the office this month and now they’re even limiting bathroom breaks–twice a day, ten minutes each. At this rate, the company’s going to implode.]}
I did not even bother acknowledging the new fine Alicia slapped on me for not silencing my phone. I turned my back on that circus and walked out of the company without once looking back.
When I got home, I collapsed into bed and slept until late afternoon. Then I dragged myself up and, for the first time in a while, cooked myself a decent meal.
Just as I laid the dishes on the table, I heard the sound of the door unlocking.
Stefan and Alicia waltzed in like they owned the place, sat down without a word and started helping themselves to the food.
I stared at them coldly. “I made this. What do you think you’re doing?”
Stefan frowned. “Didn’t you see the messages I sent?“}
I opened my phone. For the past month, ever since he hired Alicia, he had not messaged me once. But today, there were more than a dozen–all about her.”
First, he scolded me for embarrassing him.
Then he said I was too harsh and made Alicia cry.
And finally, he gave me an ultimatum: apologize or the engagement was off.
[You humiliated Alicia in public today. That’s on you. She did nothing wrong. Everything she does is for the company.]
[I’m bringing her home for dinner. Cook something decent. And apologize.]
He glariced into the soup and scoffed, which only added fuel to the fire.”
“I told you Alicia doesn’t like cilantro. Are you blind? Pick it out. All of it.”
Then, he picked up a piece of meat, gently blew on it and offered it to her. “This is Caitlyn’s specialty. Try it.”
She took the bite off his spoon, still pouting. “The food’s okay… but unless she apologizes in front of the whole company, I’m not forgiving her.“%
“How can I lead a team when she’s this defiant?”
Stefan turned to me again, his eyes blazing. “You heard her. Apologize to Alicia–right now. Or don’t bother coming back to work. And forget about the engagement too.”
We had once promised never to throw around the word breakup during fights.”
But fately, he had used it over and over again. Always because of Alicia Remington.”
And now, the two of them were openly flirting–right in front of me. My hands trembled as I clutched my phone. I was so furious, I nearly crushed it.
