Chapter 2

After graduating from college, I joined the Sawyer Group and started working for Simon.

As we were about to get engaged, Julia showed up.

She was the new intern and also Simon's secretary.

On her first day, she bought everyone coffee, flashing a cheerful smile as she said, "Nice to meet you guys. I'm so honored to work with you."

When she got to me, she suddenly paused.

"Oh my gosh." She covered her mouth and laughed. "You still use a Hello Kitty cup? That's kind of embarrassing."

Seeing me stay silent, she bit her lips. "Sorry, I can be too blunt. I didn't mean anything bad by it. By the way, how old are you? Isn't this kind of childish?

"I thought women in the workplace were supposed to be elegant, intelligent, and tasteful."

Everyone in the office looked at me.

My keyboard, figures, and monitor were all decorated with Hello Kitty stickers. What Simon used to jokingly call my comfort items was now being judged by everyone.

My ears buzzed, like something was burning inside my head.

It was my first time being mocked in public like that, and I felt completely embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'm really straightforward." She tilted her head, tapping her nails on my Minnie Mouse cup coaster. "You know it's a joke, right?"

I gripped my sleeves tightly.

"That's enough." Simon's voice rang out from behind me.

I turned and saw his stern face.

Sunlight came through the window behind him, lighting him up and reminding me of the boy who used to fight for me in middle school.

Julia pouted, looking annoyed. "Come on, I was only joking with Mandy. Mr. Sawyer, you're not seriously going to make a big deal out of this, are you?"

Simon said, "The office isn't for gossip, Julia. If you're so eager to chat, maybe you should quit."

Julia grumbled under her breath and went back to her desk.

*****

I didn't know when Simon and Julia had gotten so close.

Then, out of nowhere, the housekeeper started bringing lunch for three instead of two.

"I don't like any of these dishes," I said, my voice shaking.

Simon didn't bother to look up from his report. "We're eating salad today. Julia thinks we should have healthy food once in a while to stay fresh."

Julia slid into the seat next to me, coffee in hand. "Sorry about that, Mandy."

I stared at her.

She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh, I forgot you're not into salad, but eating healthy is good for you. You should give it a try more often. It can also help you lose weight."

She didn't say it directly, but I got what she meant.

"Julia, do you always act so familiar with people?" I said quietly. "I barely know you. Don't act like you're close to me. And by the way, I'm not worrying about my weight."

The office fell into a suffocating silence. Julia looked like she'd been humiliated, her eyes twitching.

Simon finally put down his papers and shot me a frown. "Mandy, you went too far."

The boy who once got into fights for me when people called me a crybaby was now taking someone else's side and telling me I was out of line.

"Is that what you think? Looks like I'm getting in the way of you two." I sneered, spinning around and storming off.

Simon instinctively pulled me into his arms, just like that time in junior high when those bullies trapped me in the alley.

However, this time, his hug smelled like someone else's perfume. He sounded impatient. "Alright, I'll have the housekeeper make your favorite food tomorrow. Don't be mad, okay?"

Julia's face instantly darkened.

Starting the very next day, Julia started coming after me harder.

I showed up at work with my Chanel bag, sporting a Stitch charm. She instantly put on an exaggerated gasp, her voice shrill. "What? Chanel with Stitch? Mandy, your taste is awful.

"Seriously, who likes that anymore? Cool girls never buy that."

A couple of the guys burst out laughing.

During lunch, I wiped down my fork with a wet wipe.

Julia immediately elbowed the guy next to her and imitated me in a fake sweet voice. "Gotta disinfect the fork, right? Who do you think you are, some noble princess? Oh, come on."

The guys made silly faces and played along like it was hilarious.

During the annual office rearrangement, I was carrying my monitor, my arms already sore, and paused to catch my breath.

Julia stood up and slapped the desk. "Look, our princess can't move her monitor. Any gentlemen want to give a hand?"

She and the guys were laughing hard, and some openly took photos and videos.

Simon would frown and say in a low voice, "Alright, that's enough. Don't take it too far."

However, Julia would giggle and wave it off. "Oh, come on, it's a joke. Mandy is always so serious. I'm trying to help her open up."

Simon paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, she really is a bit too introverted. Are girls these days all this sensitive?"

Julia burst out laughing and gave him a playful punch. "Hey, that's a stereotype. I'm different."

Simon smiled, showing admiration.

I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

Yeah, Simon always thought I was too sensitive, dramatic, and quiet. To him, liking cartoons was childish, being clean was obsessive, and being quiet was being introverted.

He used to accept all of these.

*****

I finally broke down.

That year, my parents and I went on vacation to Morvane for the New Year. The breeze was gentle, the sun was blazing, and I had a blast.

When I got back, I had a nice tan.

Usually, my skin would always return to its normal color after I stayed indoors for half a month, so I wasn't worried.

However, on my first day back at work, I walked into the office wearing a pink sweater, and Julia never took her eyes off me.

"Oh my gosh," she shrieked, covering her mouth in exaggerated shock. "Pink? Seriously? That is such a bad look on you."

Her laughter was piercing. "This is killing me. You call yourself a princess? Which princess looks like she spent a month at the beach without sunscreen?"

Then she turned to the guys next to her, waggling her eyebrows. "Look at her. She's totally the ugly duckling right now."