Fraine waited for a little while until her colleagues left the restroom. She knew that they only came to gossip. Fortunately, the person they were lashing out with heard everything said clearly.
She lifted the corner of her mouth as she pushed the door open. Fraine only bears not to get out of the lavatory and confront them. She does her best not to lose control. Gratefully, she always kept her temperament in check.
After flushing the toilet, she stepped out of the lavatory, washed her hands, and dried them.
Fraine stared at her reflection in the mirror before she left the restroom, headed straight to the lift, and marched toward the President's office after she arrived at the top floor.
Serge signaled at Fraine that she could directly enter the office, as he had already received the order to send her in immediately when she arrived.
Fraine did not forget to knock twice before she pushed the door open.
"Mr. President?" she called out, standing by the door.
"Come in, Fraine. Please take a seat." The President offered the accent chair across from him. He was seated on an oval couch. He gestured his hand to the table. "Help yourself, Fraine. I have a coffee ready and some biscuits."
"Thank you, sir. But can we not beat around the bush? Do you know why I am taking so long to come here?"
President Galvez tried to understand Fraine, but he failed to guess what was on her mind.
"Did something happen?" he asked afterward.
"Three employees were chatting in the restroom for twenty minutes, so I am also stuck inside the lavatory. In my opinion, they've already finished more work within that period if they put less interest in gossiping about their colleague!"
The president smiled. "Alright. You were irritated, so does it mean this has something to do with you? Why would they gossip about you?"
"I guess it's not just the three of them, but the entire company was already gossiping that I am your mistress."
President Galvez is sipping on his cup when Fraine drops that grenade. He almost sprays the hot liquid in his mouth. Now, the old man was forced to swallow the coffee and cough twice to ease the burning feeling in his throat.
Fraine is a silent person. She always distances herself from gossip and turns deaf if her colleagues talk about someone else's life. However, she is mercilessly straightforward at times, and it will kill you on the spot.
"Okay. That was a total misunderstanding. I will get my assistant to investigate this matter."
"No need, sir. Someone saw you picked me up at the airport. It is where the gossip started."
"Ahem! But you are not the first employee my assistant picked up at the airport."
"But you were there, sir. So they had the conclusion that I was on leave to go to a different city and abort your child inside my womb!"
Once again, President Galvez was choked with his drink. Thankfully, it was mineral water he drank this time.
"That's outrageous!" He was infuriated by this gossip. He immediately called Serge and ordered him to look at the surveillance footage outside the restroom in Fraine's department.
After his assistant left the office, President Galvez fell silent. He pondered and admitted his mistake. It would be bizarre that he picked up Fraine himself.
True that he had a lunch meeting near the airport, but he could just wait in the car while Serge went to the VIP Lounge to pick up Fraine. However, he is reckless. This is his fault for putting Fraine in an unlikely situation.
"Alright. Don't worry about this matter, Fraine. We don't need to explain to anyone, as we did nothing wrong. Anyway, this gossip is just right on time for my announcement later."
"An announcement?" Fraine had a bad premonition, as everything seemed to point at her, and she was included in the announcement later.
"Just before you arrived, I ordered Serge to send a message to all the employees to gather in the function hall for a free lunch. After the meal, I will make an important announcement."
Fraine heaved a long sigh. 'I have a bad feeling about this.' She mused inwardly, looking at President Galvez warily.
"Sir, is this the reason you called me here?"
"Yes, Miss Michaels. I am giving you a new assignment, so I want you to review these documents."
Fraine's gaze lowered to the table when President Galvez pushed a stack of folders toward her. She picked up one folder and scanned the content of the documents.
"Sir?" Shocked was written on Fraine's face as she had a glimpse of the text in the documents. "Are you sure I can handle this?"
"Why not? You deserve the promotion. Serge is already handling your transfer. I also called the Building Maintenance workers to set up everything in your own office."
"Sir, have you realized it would only worsen the gossip and support their assumptions that I am your mistress?"
President Galvez clouded with such emotion in his eyes for a moment, but he concealed them immediately. He cleared his throat, then explained,
"Actually, Dale Enterprise poached you, Miss Michaels."
"What? Why would they be interested in me? I am just an ordinary employee." She may be in the Planning Department, but she was only a superintendent.
President Galvez looked at Fraine apologetically. His next words are a bomb in Fraine's ears.
"To be honest, Miss Michaels... Dale Enterprise would not renew the contract if I did not give in."
Fraine made an abrupt stand from her seat. She bellowed, "What kind of boss are you for selling your employee!?"
'Did he also want me to sleep with the client why I received those privileges throughout my vacation leave?'
She stayed in a luxurious hotel, dined in five-star restaurants, took a first-class cabin on the plane, even had a big bonus transferred to her bank account, etc…
She felt too frustrated at the thought that she had become a pawn by her boss. She had this suspicion that her trip was somewhat strange.
Clearing out her mind, Fraine breathes in and out. Her chest was heaving up and down as she tried to calm herself.
She could not believe that President Galvez could do this to her. He was a very kind and considerate boss to her these passing years. However, she didn't know she had to pay a high price in the end.
"You have no right to do this to me! Who are you to decide for me?"
If she had known, she would rather resign!