Chapter 2
"Who would dare mess with Mr. Guthrie's girl?"
"Even if she doesn't quit, she won't last long here."
"That's the third one already! Seriously, can't you girls watch yourselves? Quit pissing off Miss Summers all the time."
The gossip went on and on. But Mandy didn't care at all. She just lifted her chin with a smug grin, like all the gossip was just praise for her.
The look in her eyes said, "I make the rules here. What are you gonna do about it?"
One of my female coworkers hurried over and whispered to me, "Lynn, just tough it out. It'll blow over. Jobs are hard to come by these days."
I looked up and saw her in a plain gray shirt, no style, no flair.
Then I glanced down at my own white dress.
So that's how things work here.
Then I stood up and called Mandy out.
"Mandy, just how insecure do you have to be to force all the women here to dress like men?" I said.
"And just because you don't know the law doesn't mean the HR department doesn't.
"According to the law, unless there's major misconduct, you can't just fire someone."
Someone nearby snickered.
Mandy's expression darkened.
The HR director stared in anger.
"Who was laughing? Step forward!" Mandy snapped.
Of course, nobody owned up.
Mandy shot me a vicious glare and grabbed her phone again.
"Alright, you said it yourself—if there's major misconduct, you can get kicked out. Just watch how I get Stephen to deal with you," she snapped.
"Stephen, Lynn's giving me attitude and making the others laugh at me. Kick her out right now!" she yelled into the phone.
With that, she hung up, snatched the hot coffee right out of the HR director's hand, and without warning, splashed it all over me.
"Just wait. Stephen will have you out of here in no time," she sneered.
The burning heat spread across my skin.
No doubt, my skin must be scalded and red where the coffee hit.
But I didn't say a word. I just stared her down.
Then I glanced up at the security camera right above her head.
Mandy, clearly provoked, suddenly slapped me hard across the face.
"What are you staring at? Don't think that camera's gonna save you," she snapped.
"Listen up, Lynn. Even if the chairman, Mr. Sam Shaw himself walked in, I'd still slap you.
"So you think you know the law, huh? Go on, hit me back! Come on, let's throw down!"
She got even more aggressive, slapping me again, like she was trying to force me to fight back.
But just like she said, if I fought back, I'd be just as much at fault.
So I just dodged her, letting her go hysterical, screaming and shouting as much as she wanted.
Finally, Stephen came down himself, holding a termination letter.
Mandy ran straight into his arms, sobbing.
He casually handed the letter to the HR director, then gently took Mandy by the hand and spoke to her in a soothing voice.
This time, the HR director just tossed the letter at my feet.
"Lynn, you're fired!" he barked.
I glanced at the letter but didn't move.
It said I had "talked back to my boss, stirred up trouble with the others, and refused to cooperate with work assignments."
And that I'd "caused major losses for the company."
Stephen finished comforting Mandy, then finally looked up at me.
"Lynn Shaw, right? The CEO's assistant?" he said.
"I checked your file. No references, no connections, no work experience. Other than the prestige of your fancy school, you've got nothing going for you.
"Still, if you were willing to apologize to Mandy, I could've tolerated someone like you staying in my company.
"Too bad. Mandy gave you plenty of chances, and you wasted every single one."
He paused, his gaze radiating the same lofty arrogance as Mandy, like they were cut from the exact same cloth.
"So, pack your stuff and get out of my company!" he snapped.
I looked at this crazy couple and figured it wasn't worth wasting another word on them.
Nepotism, chaotic management, abuse of power, workplace bullying, misuse of authority.
Any one of these would be enough to get the branch office shut down.
"Fine," I said.
I finalized the branch office inspection report right at my desk and sent it straight to my dad.
Just as I was about to leave, a sudden shout came from behind me.
"Lynn, what are you typing? What's this branch audit report?" a girl from the office called out.
I shot her a look and didn't bother to answer.
I'd already messaged my dad, and his assistant, Leo Smith, would be here any minute.
"You'll find out soon enough," I said.
Just as I was about to leave, Mandy gave me a hard kick right in the middle of my back.
I crashed to my knees, but she grabbed me and hauled me right back up.
She went to town on my face, slapping me from side to side, her expression downright vicious.
"You bitch!" she spat.
"You're leaving and still trying to wipe out the company's top secrets.
"That's something Stephen and I worked so hard on!"
My face was slowly going numb, the pain fading away bit by bit.
With another careless slap, she caught my left ear, and now all I could hear was a muffled buzzing, like my head was stuffed with cotton.