Michael’s office was previously used for other purposes, so the soundproofing wasn’t all that great. For that reason, everyone heard our conversation. They most likely heard him hauling me over the coals loud and clear earlier.
I returned to my table morosely, still saddened by his attitude earlier.
“Are you okay, Anna?” Millie inquired in concern from across me upon seeing my despondency.
Sniffling, I feigned a nonchalant expression to mask the sorrow within me.
“I’m fine.”
I flashed Millie a forced smile, but even I myself found it utterly unconvincing.
“Gosh, Mr. Shaw was really blowing things out of proportion! It was just a design proposal, no? Was it really necessary for him to blow a gasket?” Millie muttered after stealing a glance at Michael’s office.
“Alright, that’s enough. You’d better hurry up with your work if you’ve got time to grumble. Otherwise, you might be the next unlucky person.”
While I no longer had anything to do with Michael, I was still perturbed to hear her speaking ill of him.
At my reminder, fear seemingly struck Millie. She hastily buried her head in work and dared not say a single word further.
With my mind a chaotic mess, I was simply hard-pressed to come up with any design proposal. I had to submit the new design proposal to Michael before the end of the workday, yet I was at sixes and sevens with no inspiration at all.
I spent the entire day zoning out in front of the computer, my thoughts a thousand miles away.
In the blink of an eye, evening fell, and it was about time to get off work. All my colleagues had already started packing up, but my computer screen was still blank. I hadn’t written even a single word.
“Anna, we’re off work now. Let’s leave together.”
After Millie was done tidying up her table, she invited me to get off work with her.
“You go ahead. I’ve got to stay for a bit since I’m not done with the proposal yet.”
Subsequently, I cast a glance at Michael’s office. He was still in the office now, so I would definitely get it from him tomorrow if I didn’t submit the design proposal today.
It wasn’t that I was a total novice at being reprimanded by my superior, but it felt particularly agonizing when it came from Michael. Thus, I decided to stay and work overtime to avoid angering him again when I came to work tomorrow. I must submit the new design proposal to him today!
Patting my face, I forced myself to concentrate and started on my work. In the next two hours, I sat in front of the computer and worked on the new design.
When I was finally done with the new design proposal, I printed it out. Then, I walked over to Michael’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Michael’s indifferent voice sounded from inside. Upon hearing his voice, my heart inevitably skipped a beat.
Pushing open the door, I entered his office. He was still sitting at his table, perusing documents. His serious expression as he worked was particularly beguiling. Indeed, the saying that men were most attractive when they were at work was no lie.
“What is it?”
I said nothing after stepping in, merely staring at him. Only when he looked up at me did I swiftly snap back to my senses.
“Um… This is the new design proposal I did today. Please have a look at it, Mr. Shaw.”
Gathering my wits about me, I hastily placed the document in my hand on his table.
Michael threw me a look with mixed emotions before picking up the document and scanning through it.
“Redo!”
That was the only crude and concise word from Michael, cutting straight to the point.
“But why? I’ve already amended it according to your suggestions earlier.”
Hearing the word “redo,” my heart lodged in my throat. I regarded him with chagrin in my eyes. What the hell? I’ve wracked my brains the entire day for this design proposal! Besides, I’ve also made the appropriate amendments according to his requirements. Yet, he merely gave me a one-worded response?
“It’s not acceptable because I said so! Anna Garcia, is this your attitude in working? All employees at Joyful Success are required to strive for perfection. If you can’t even withstand this bit of pressure, then just resign!”
As soon as his words fell, my eyes instantly filled with tears. By then, I could already tell that he was deliberately making life difficult for me. I initially thought we could have an amicable parting, but I never expected him to be such a petty man that he would target me at work.
“Mr. Shaw, I think we should be keeping our personal affairs separate from work. You can tell me frankly if you have any complaints against me, and we’ll resolve it in private. However, your action at present makes it obvious that you’re abusing your power to avenge a personal grudge,” I declared coldly.
I stared at him while suppressing the tears that threatened to fall at any moment.
I knew that a man like Michael had certainly never been rejected by any woman. Therefore, my decision yesterday was definitely a huge blow to his ego. It was only natural that he was pissed off, but I would never accept it if he were to pick on me in matters of work.
“Abusing my power to avenge a personal grudge? Anna Garcia, you think too highly of yourself. I, Michael Shaw, can have any woman I want. You’re just a former friend with benefits. Do you think there is a need for me to make life difficult for you?”
Michael sneered in derision as though he had heard a ludicrous joke. Getting to his feet, he sauntered over to me and looked down his nose into my eyes. At that moment, I could clearly discern the contempt and disdain in his ebony eyes.
His words were like a stab to the heart, every single word twisting the knife deeper.
Well, well… It turns out that I’m only a former friend with benefits to him. Considering his tone, it’s clear as day that he no longer cares about me. Or perhaps I’m only good for satiating his physical urges to him.
My eyes burned hotly, and my tears felt as though they were a second away from falling. Likewise, my heart hurt as though someone was crushing it in his palm.
Despite the agony coursing through me, I still feigned a dispassionate expression before him. “Since I’m only a former friend with benefits to you, why do you keep targeting me? Have I done anything wrong?”
“I only rejected your design proposal because there was a problem with your work. Do you think I’m the kind of person who blurs the line between personal and business?”
My words enraged Michael, and the look in his eyes became significantly colder.
“But I feel that this design proposal is already good enough. I used the entire day to come up with this design proposal, so how much more do you want from me?”
Ugh! He’s simply making things difficult for me! If this design is handed to our collaboration partner, it’ll definitely be approved. Yet, he’s rejecting it time and again. I really can’t tell whether he’s abusing his power to take his revenge on me.
“I want perfection, not improvisation. Anna Garcia, if that’s your attitude, I’d advise you to resign right away!”
Having listened to my words, Michael’s gaze turned all the more apathetic though his eyes blazed with anger. Every word out of his mouth pained me even greater.
