The sun is up and it brightly shined down upon the land. Healthy trimmed grass fields stretched out as far as the eyes can see. Everything seems lush and vibrant.
Life is just so...boring.
Everything seems so routine to a middle-aged lady. The only thing that makes the day a bit more fun is her husband's company, having one of their usual pastimes - golfing- at their favourite club.
"You know old man, our children are a constant cause of headache for me. Your daughter is a wild child and it is all your fault." An elegant middle-aged lady complains to her husband.
"Yes, it is all my fault." A good-looking middle-aged man is in mid-swing when all of a sudden, his wife started complaining. He just took the fault as usual.
"You need to be strict." As if, she wasn't to blame also.
"Hm. You are right." The husband stopped swinging his club and faced his wife. He needed to give all his attention to his wife, or else, he will get in trouble if he ever ignore her.
"I am always right. By the way, another one of our oldest son's friends is now a Dad."
"Mm."
"Speaking of baby, have you heard about the new addition to the Dee family? That old goat is gloating that they already have 2 grandsons and now a granddaughter. Tsk.. our eldest son is getting old and so are we. I mean, I'm still young, but you are getting old. Anyway, when will we get the chance to have grandkids?" The wife suddenly got irritated the moment she remembered the smug face of the old man of the Dee family.
"Hm, that is a concern." Now, the man can't help but think about grandchildren.
"Our other son constantly wanders around. He's always away and makes us worried. He didn't even let us stay informed of his current location or how he is faring out there. It isn't that hard to call us once in a while."
"Right."
"You should tell him to come home often to his old man and his young-looking beautiful mother." She sulks.
"Hm, that is part of his job as a…" Then he saw his wife's glare. "Well, he also needs to come home often and not make you worried."
"Good that you know what is important."
"Mm." The middle-aged man just agrees to whatever his wife says.
Their peaceful banter was interrupted when a resounding distinct sound was heard - it seems like someone got slapped. They looked at where the sound came from. And an old greasy fat man was seen getting mad at a young woman.
"You cheap slut! How dare you slap me! Do you think I won't do anything to you?!" The old man tries to hold the lady's arm.
"Go ahead, … Sir. You asked for a business meeting here and we agreed. I never agreed for you to harass me." A fairly tall lady successfully evaded the old man's grabby hand.
"Anne." A petite lady was seen calming the two down.
"Maya you step aside. I want to show this… gentleman - I don't know if can I even call him that, that I don't want his dirty greasy money. He can't just disrespect any woman like that."
"I know and I'm furious too. Let me handle this. What use am I as your manager and best friend if I can't even take care of this?" Maya consoled Anne as she stood in between the two. She then looked at the stout man in front of her. "Sir, what you did is inappropriate. If you don't stop threatening us, we are not afraid to go to court with you."
"Hah! Are you even capable of that? I don't think so. Immoral's! The two of you don't have respect." The man scornfully spat out.
"We have been more than courteous to you for as long as we - I can tolerate. Saying unsavoury words and touching someone inappropriately without consent is a crime that only someone without morals can do. And with what you have done, it is clear who that immoral person is, Sir." Anne remarked snidely.
"So what if I've said some words that you think are inappropriate? Besides, I have not touched you."
"You tried. And I'm so thankful that I thwarted your lascivious hands from touching me. If I wasn't as vigilant as I did, your dirty hands would have landed on me. Your wandering eyes are something I barely can tolerate, what more with your grabby bloated hands."
"Hah! Do you think you are so clean? It is your fault for wearing skimpy clothes. You are just inviting men to harass you."
For the record, Anne is wearing blue skort just shy below her knees and a white collared long sleeve shirt. Paired with a white visor and white golf shoes. There is nothing skimpy about it, like what the stout old man describes.
The two ladies glared at him sharply upon hearing what the man had just shamelessly uttered.
"Excuuuse me?!!! I don't see any skimpy clothing here… Sir." Maya was in disbelief.
'The gall of this old crusty fat man!' She furiously thought.
"Skimpy?!!! So what if a woman wears skimpy clothes, that isn't an invitation to harass them. That doesn't give you, or anyone else, the right to disrespect any woman or any person at that. It is some people like you that thought skimpy means cheap." Anne fired rapidly at one go.
"I dare you to say that again! You slut! You don't even have respect!" The fat old man pointed at Anne in anger.
"Sir. Please have some class. Your repeated insults are getting out of hand. Don't make me call you.… a pig. Sir." Maya sternly said.
"Well, that makes sense. But Maya, don't expect an animal to have some class. And sir, I said what I said. No matter how people clothed themselves, they will respect you if you respect them. And you… sir, you don't deserve it."
"!!!"
"Mr. Ting, don't assume things based on what anyone is wearing. So what if a woman wears clothes that show so much skin, it is their body. If it is what they are comfortable wearing, then so be it. People like you are the ones giving a bad meaning to it because it is what you all want. You just wanted something to act as a shield - a justification, in case you got in trouble. Own up your wrongdoing." She is so done with people shunning accountability.
"You.. you!" The old man can't even formulate any words for being humiliated.
"Clothes are just an expression of ones individuality. As long as they are not stepping on anyone and there is no malicious intent, then anyone can wear whatever they want. If you chose to be tempted and do immoral things just because of how women dress, then that is your fault. Don't blame it on anyone, blame yourself for being dirty-minded and acting upon your lascivious thoughts." Anne taunted.
"That's right." Maya nodded.
"I'll kill you two bitches… you won't ever get that endorsement!" The old man threatened while pointing menacingly at Anne.
"I don't need your dirty endorsement. My dignity can't be lowered and exchanged for some cheap people like you." Anne looked him up and down, showing a disgusted look on her face. "Come any closer and I won't hesitate to use this golf club to break something that will bring you immense pain." Anne waved the iron club - a driver, that she is holding. She will do what she said she will do if he ever chooses to forgo her advice.
All of a sudden, a rhythmic clapping was heard. They looked over to where it was and a middle-aged lady with an aura of regality is seen walking closer to them. They didn't notice the extra person due to them arguing.
"Well said." The elegant middle-aged lady smiled.
".." It took a few seconds for the fat old man to recognize who the middle-aged lady is.
"But, if I were you.. the moment anyone disrespected me, I will break their hands and anything else to make sure that he will never think about harassing anyone ever again." The middle-aged lady glanced at the old man. Despite calmly smiling, something about the aura and gaze sent chills to the spine, especially to the old man.
"This..she tempted me. She was offering herself to me in exchange for the endorsement deal." The man tried to make excuses.
Anne almost exploded. She tried to be as civil as she can. "Say that again, Sir? I have never given you any signal to harass me. None."
"I heard most of your arguments. Anyone can infer… that a fat old goat is trying to chew on fresh grass. Disgusting." The middle-aged lady sneered.
"Madam don't go too far. This is our problem and I would appreciate it if you let this one go. Save me some face. Just think about the collaboration that we have had. We might collaborate again in the future. Think about the one who will give you benefits."
"Oh? You have guts. Are you threatening me? Hmm? The collaboration between our companies was made due to a favour from your past president. It wasn't that profitable for us but we did it out of my husband's sentiments towards his senior back then. We don't need you, it was the other way around." The elegant middle-aged lady looked at the disgusting man briefly then as if to spite the man, she began praising Anne. "And you young lady, you are amazing. He deserves being slapped and much more. I like your little speech. You were on fire." The middle-aged lady smiled and gave a thumbs up to Anne. This incident added interest to her day.
Anne who was fuming a while ago was a bit flabbergasted. Who is this weird middle-aged lady, that suddenly popped out from nowhere?