Chapter 4 Watch Yourself
Mr. Hall paused for a moment before continuing, “But you’d better watch yourself. Don’t let people with bad intentions get the opportunity to start some outrageous rumor. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation.”
I didn’t say anything in response to that.
A clean conscience feared no accusation. I got into the company on my own merit and was able to stay this long because of my abilities. Moreover, I was able to survive working directly under Mr. Hall thanks to my top–tier bootlicking. So, what did I have to be afraid of?
As such, wearing my ten–dollar free–shipping T–shirt, I got out of Mr. Hall’s hundred – thousand–dollar Maserati and strode confidently through the company’s
front door.
The receptionist nearly dropped her jaw. As soon as she saw me enter the elevator, she grabbed her phone and opened a group chat. “Oh my gosh! April came to work today!”
“Isn’t that normal? Why are you so shocked?”
“She came out of Mr. Hall’s car.”
“Uh…”
“And I’m not mistaken. It’s that flashy blue Maserati we were talking about the other day.”
“Um…”
“She even got in the elevator with Mr. Hall.”
“What…”
“When will April start giving classes? I want to sign up…”
The gossip spread faster than the elevator moved.
By the time Mr. Hall and I reached the 28th floor, everyone in the secretarial department had already been staring at the elevator for a while. Mr. Hall went into his office while I headed to my desk, ready to start the day’s work.
Among the many who were itching to come over, Lindsay was the first to act. With a cup of coffee in hand, she knocked on my desk. “April, I heard you came to work in Mr. Hall’s car today. Well, aren’t you impressive?”
I looked up at her with genuine confusion. “What’s so impressive about that?”
Lindsay was at a loss for words. After a few seconds, she remarked sarcastically, “So, it’s true that you’ve bagged Mr. Hall. You used to not even dare look me in the eye, but it looks like you’ve grown a backbone now, huh?”
“Not really,” I said while organizing my files. “I’ve always talked like this. Is this your first time noticing?”
“You’d better pray you can keep up this smug attitude.” Leaning closer, she spat through gritted teeth, “Just you wait, April!”
With that, she strutted off haughtily, like a smug hen that had just won a fight.
Shaking my head, I opened a folder and began organizing today’s spreadsheets. As a secretary, I couldn’t be more familiar with Excel. I finished my work quickly, and with nothing else on my plate, I pulled out my tablet and started drafting a new project proposal.
That was right. Even though I was a secretary, I had always dreamed of becoming a project manager.
After Mr. Hall clocked in, he started looking into a few new investment projects. Since they piqued my interest, I wanted to try getting involved. After all, I was an MBA graduate from a world–class institute and was merely tricked into this job by a sly HR representative.
Back then, she told me that the secretarial department handled 80% of the company’s business, making it a great springboard into a project management role. Only after joining the secretarial department did I realize that the so–called 80% referred to coverage, not depth. In terms of depth, it was at most 1%. Basically, I just knew the project names.
At that thought, I sighed, focusing even harder on writing the proposal. While I was writing, someone knocked on my desk all of a sudden. I instinctively shielded my tablet and looked up.
“April, what are you spacing out for?” Lady Overlord was standing in front of me, looking displeased. “Did you not see the email? Why haven’t you replied?”
I checked my computer screen. The email came in just two minutes ago. Did she really need to come to my desk when it had only been two minutes? What was the rush?
Grumbling internally, I opened the email. It was a meeting confirmation email.
“The meeting is for the new project. Mr. Hall specifically asked for you to attend,” she said, barely concealing her displeasure. “I’ll send you the materials shortly. Make sure to do a good job. Don’t drop the ball.”
.
After she left, my coworkers whispered among themselves. “The new project? Isn’t that the one Lady Overlord has been following up? I heard she’s been eyeing a project management role for ages.”
“But a certain someone has cut in, eh?” another said with a smirk, casting a glance at me. “What’s the point of being a department head when you can’t beat someone with connections?”
They started giggling.
I was too caught up in the excitement of joining the meeting to care about their gossip,
All of a sudden, a soft cough sounded behind us. My coworkers ceased their laughter instantly and began stammering, “M–Mr. Hall.”
”
Mr. Hall said nothing at first, merely staring at them until their faces turned red with embarrassment. He then remarked in an unhurried s
told me the people here are lacking professionalism and slacking off during work hours, so I came to have a look.”
tone, “Ms. Sanders just
Chapter 4 Watch Yourbell
The two of them quickly apologized, “Sorry, Mr. Hall. We were wrong.”
“We won’t do it again, Mr. Hall.”
I watched from the sidelines, not expecting Mr. Hall to mention me at the next moment.
“Also, April is able to participate in the project because she has already put a lot of work into it. As for the two of you, you didn’t even meet your basic performance metrics last month. The next time you want to criticize others, make sure you’re qualified first. Got it?”
I nearly clapped for him on the spot. He was practically my workplace spokesperson.
“What are you smiling at? Got those materials ready yet?” Mr. Hall turned to me with a look of disdain. “The meeting’s in a few days. If you mess up what I assigned you, you can pack up your things and leave!”
I was speechless.
Anyone who believed that I was getting special treatment had to be blind. What part of this looked like special treatment? This was more like indentured labor, if anything.
I lowered my head in silence, shrinking down like a kid caught stealing cookies along with my coworkers.
After Mr. Hall left, one of the two women who got reprimanded let out a long sigh of relief before muttering, “Mr. Hall is really scary.”
I sincerely agreed, saying, “Super scary.”
She looked speechless. After pausing fora moment, she quietly asked, “Is he like this in private too?”
I gave a firm nod.
She gasped. “How could he act like that?”
My other coworker chimed in, “But you two are already… like that, and he still treats you this way? That’s horrible!”
“We’re not involved in that way at all,” I said, nearly raising my hand to swear. “We were just forced to quarantine together for a few days.”
“For real?” She stared at me skeptically. “But you came to work with him today in that flashy blue Maserati.”
“Oh, that’s because my apartment complex is now under lockdown as well.” I opened the notice from the apartment group chat without batting an eye. “So, I’m still temporarily staying at Mr. Hall’s place.”
Exchanging glances with each other, they smacked their thighs. “It’s true!”
“These past few days must’ve been tough for you. You’ve really been through a lot.” Their scrutinizing gazes turned sympathetic.
I almost teared up. “Not at all. I’m merely fulfilling my duty toward the people… I mean, I’m just fulfilling my duty toward Mr. Hall!”
Evidently, gossiping and slacking off on company time was just an instinct no office worker could resist.
Before the workday could even end, everyone, from the head of the HR department to the front desk receptionist, had already found out the actual truth behind Mr. Hall’s and my cohabitation.
“No wonder Mr. Hall hasn’t been yelling as much lately…” a previously silent coworker commented. “Here, drink this. You’ve done well.”
