Fraine was in a daze after an hour of studying the new project cooperation.
Now she learned it was not only a partnership between G Company and Dale Enterprise; she wanted to resign instantly.
But on the one hand, she wondered what would happen if she lost her job. It caused her to be worried.
She may have little savings in the bank; however, she was talking about long-term survival while undergoing her treatment.
For many years, she was able to hide from the Lopezes. And the last time she visited Metro City, she was lucky not to bump into any of them, especially those from the South Island.
However, it was ironic that they were the ones who were coming to Shasha City. It made her wonder who would be their representative to oversee this project with her.
Fraine kneaded her forehead and hurled a long breath. She glanced at the clock on her computer screen to realize that there was only one hour before lunchtime, and they had to gather in the function hall soon.
"Why aren't you packing up yet?"
Fraine heard Mabel. She looked up and met her confounded eyes.
"There is nothing much to pack up," she told Mabel with a faint smile.
Mabel glanced at her table and understood what she meant. "Alright. Let Ian help you carry your stuff."
"Thanks." Fraine flashed a grateful smile after the talk.
She got the box she needed from the supply room. Fraine immediately gathered her things from the table and fit them in the box.
The General Manager came back as Fraine was packing up.
"I need you to come to my office!" The GM named three employees, which gave everyone the idea he would scold them.
Suddenly, silence fell in the room, watching their three colleagues following Mr. Greene, the General Manager, with curious eyes.
"What was that?"
"Maybe…"
They glanced at Fraine, assuming they were the employees she had mentioned gossiping in the restroom. They were itching to confirm if it was the issue, wishing to hear how the GM would have scolded them.
"I am sure they were the three employees gossiping in the restroom."
"I guess so, too!"
Gossip on the process….
After the company implemented a rule not to start an argument or fight in the company forum, some employees still created their private group chat to continue gossiping about anyone they hated in the company. In that way, no higher-ups could read their gossip.
"Gosh! Someone is in great favor of the President! Be careful, guys! Whoever is caught spreading gossip will lose her job! Better shut your mouth!"
"Yeah. Let's all better stop. We're still in the middle of work!"
Everyone agreed. They stopped chatting but threw weird glances in Fraine's direction, and she could actually feel their envy and strange gazes.
However, Fraine is the person who cares less about them and continues packing. She actually could not wait to leave that floor.
Moreover, she isn't interested in knowing how the Director would berate those three employees but is happy to be assigned to another work.
Happy?
For how long?
She requested to be just the temporary Executive Director of the new project's cooperation.
So what will happen after the boss finally finds a replacement for her?
Fraine tightens her jaw as confusion flashes in her eyes. She doesn't like to think that she would be forced to completely accept her promotion, so she could not return to this department.
Many teams are in the Planning Department, and her team is the most toxic.
Well, she'll worry about that later.
Soon, Fraine is done packing her things when her three colleagues come out from the Director's office and parade toward the assistant general manager's office.
She didn't wait for what would happen next. She gathered the folders in her arms and put her bag around her shoulder.
"Are you done, Fraine?"
Ian rushed to her table when he saw her preparing to leave.
"Yeah. I want to see my new office before we head to the function hall for free lunch," said Fraine, flipping her hair while taking graceful strides toward the executive elevator.
"Wow, Fraine! It will be my first time riding the executive elevator! If it weren't for your promotion. There will be no chance for me!" Following Fraine carrying her stuff, Ian exaggerates what he said.
"What's so good about this elevator?" said Fraine, flaunting her new ID in the air before tapping the elevator scanner. "Actually, there is nothing much exciting about it. It's just one thing that is a difference between the public elevator and the executives. This one right here has less toxic people riding in it."
It was a good thing that the elevator was already on their floor. The door opened right away. Ian, who only suppressed his laugh, burst out after they stepped inside the box.
"Fraine, I know you were cool! You should show this often!"
"I'm lazy." She muttered nonchalantly, leaning on the wall.
Ian grinned. In the two years he worked in the company, Fraine was timid to please her colleagues, especially the bosses.
Unlike most employees, they were trying hard to be in the excellent book of the bosses to earn favor and promotion.
However, Fraine, who is too lazy to work on building a fake good relationship with their colleagues, is the one who always receives a promotion. If Fraine accepted them every time, she might be their General Manager now.
Today, for the first time, he witnessed the lazy Fraine acting like she was living up to her new nickname—the rumored Mistress of the President. In which it was rare to see her engaging in gossip.
It didn't take long, and they finally arrived on the eighteenth floor. As a gentleman, Ian let Fraine get out of the elevator first.
Fraine traveled her eyes to the entire floor. There is a spacious lounge outside the elevator, and the Reception Desk is in the right corner, where she recognized the person standing behind the counter.
"Gladys?"
"Hello, Miss Fraine. I'll be the receptionist." Gladys greeted Fraine politely.
"Oh, you were here." Fraine smiled. "Good thing you and Mabel are working in the same company now."
Upon saying that, she noticed Gladys suddenly become anxious. She could see that something was wrong.
"Is Mabel not agreeing you will work here?" It was just a guess. But the way Gladys behaved, she assumed it was the case.
"Actually, Miss Fraine. I submitted my application to Dale Enterprise. And I only learned yesterday that they hired employees to fill a team they will set up here in Sasha City."
"Oh. I see. Mabel didn't know you were here then."
Gladys nodded. "I'm looking for a chance to tell her. I know she would disagree. But I also did not know I would be assigned here until yesterday. I thought I would be working in Mainland City."
"Well, surely she will understand," Fraine remembered the free lunch soon. Mabel will find out in just a matter of half an hour. But knowing Mabel, she is professional and never mixes her private affairs with work.
"I hope so, Miss Fraine. Well, I will lead you to your office."
"Alright. Thank you."
Gladys showed Fraine her own office. Behind them, Ian followed silently and frequently looked at Gladys.
"Tell me if you need anything, Miss Fraine. I heard the rest of the team will only show up tomorrow, including your assistant and secretary."
'My assistant and secretary? President Galvez seemed to flaunt my promotion this much.' Fraine wanted to raise a protest. However, she was already here. She'll see what will happen in the coming days.
"Thank you, Gladys. Since we're not officially operating our office, I think there is nothing for you to do for me."
"Okay. Miss Fraine. I will go back to my post now."
Fraine nodded her head. After Gladys left, just then Ian placed the box on the table.
"Fraine, is she Mabel's girlfriend?"
"Yeah. I am astounded that she would be on my team."
"Oh. I—"
"Thank you, Ian. You can go back now." Fraine dismissed the guy before he could say another word.
"Okay." Ian laughed awkwardly, scratching his left temple. Of course, he could sense Fraine didn't want to talk about Mabel's personal life. "See you around, Miss Fraine."
Fraine rolled her eyes when Ian sounded like a tease. They had been on the same team for two years already, and throughout time, they were addressing each other on a first-name basis.
She doesn't have the feeling of changing how he addresses her.
"Executive Director." Fraine read the sign on her office door. "Huh. How ironic."
It still confused her why the President insisted on her taking this promotion. She could not think of any reason because, for four years, she'd been working for the older man, and he never showed any perverted action toward her. Instead, he looked at her with kind eyes.
If ever the color of her eyes isn't like her father's. She would start to suspect that President Galvez is acting like a father to her.
"Alright." Fraine dismissed the weird thoughts.
Now that Ian had disappeared from her sight, she started to arrange her things on her table. It amazed her that President Galvez had already made her nameplate on the table.
"Wait…"
Fraine raised her head and looked at the office across from hers. She walked toward the door and read the sign.
The office belongs to the representative from the Lopez Corporation.
"Who did they send here?" She was curious to know, and her heart was hammering with the tension she was feeling.
'Could it be him?'
Zayn is the CEO of Lopez Corporation. So even if they sent someone else, the possibility he would come for a visit made her nervous already.
'Am I ready to face him?' Fraine asked herself.
It feels conflicted inside. She wanted to submit a resignation letter at that very moment. However, everything was sudden, and she was unprepared to be jobless.
'Fine. Whatever…'
Overthinking, Fraine's head throbbed, so she shrugged the thought immediately. She was about to turn around and walk back to her office when her gaze landed on the nameplate on the table.
"Holy crap! It's him!"
Why is she so unlucky this month?!