After Hannah's words, the secretaries returned to their lousy selves and they began chattering and laughing loudly. Right now, they were playing a game that Hannah was excluded from because she didn't know how to play. The secretaries didn't force her and instead, they all volunteered to teach her except Lillian of course.
Hannah sat at the head of the table and watched them play. The game was simple, there was music playing in the background and a bottle was passed from one person to another. If the music stops when you have the bottle, then you have to either drink or get a forehead flick.
Hannah, unknowingly, was relaxed while watching them play. At one point, she got involved and immediately passed the bottle to Dave before the music stopped.
Hannah wiped away the invisible sweat that formed on her forehead when the bottle was thrown into her hands. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She didn't want to drink and that forehead flick, she didn't want to experience it. Some of their foreheads were already red!
Everyone sighed in disappointment as the music stopped with Dave still losing this round. He has lost three times in a row. Hannah noticed that Dave has been distracted for a while now. He kept sighing and running his hand through his hair continuously.
"Okay, come here". Lilian gestured with her fingers and Dave bent over the table. In the next second, his forehead was flicked and he rubbed it furiously.
"Why do you have to flick so hard?". He whined and everyone laughed. "I'm not joining the next round". He said and leaned back in his seat, his forehead bright red as it had been flicked continuously. Dave stood up and started heading to the door.
"Where are you going?" One of them asked.
"To get some ice. I can't let this ugly bruise ruin my gorgeous face!" Dave remarked and everyone laughed. He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"Now let's get back to the game".
The music started again and the bottle moved around the table. With a signal of her eyes, the music stopped and Lillian smiled seeing the bottle in Hannah's hands. Her goal was to get Hannah drunk so that Hannah could embarrass herself. It was obvious that Hannah's forehead would not be flicked and the only way was for her to drink. The first attempt flopped but now, Hannah has no way of escape.
Hannah blinked multiple times as the room went silent with the bottle in her hands. She glanced at the secretaries who had their eyes fixed on her like she was some rare gold piece in the mud. She really didn't want to get that forehead flick!
"Okay now, drink up!" Lilian shouted and all the employees turned to look at her in shock. "What is with that look? She lost so she has to drink. Or would you prefer a forehead flick?" She turned to Hannah and asked.
From the victorious smile on her face, Hannah knew that Lillian was basking in her discomfort.
"Come on now Lily, Mr. Miller won't be happy if she drinks and we can't hurt her forehead and ruin her precious face. What if it turns into an ugly bruise, Mr. Miller would definitely punish us". Katherine spoke and this was the first thing coming out of Katherine's mouth that Hannah appreciated.
"It's just a glass, what's the worst that could happen?" Lilian sneered as she looked challengingly at Hannah.
Cold sweats broke out on the secretaries' bodies as Lilian spoke with no intention of stopping. They had tried their best to make sure that the bottle doesn't end up in Hannah's hand so how did this happen?
"Since it's her first time, Hannah would be pardoned but the next time, we won't let you off". Said Katherine jokingly and everyone agreed.
The music started again and when it stopped, the bottle was back in Hannah's hands!
"Now drink up!" Lilian clapped excitedly. She was the only one happy in this situation.
Hannah gulped and her shaky hand reached for the glass in front of her. In one swift move, she gulped down the alcohol, feeling the burn of the liquid in her throat.
"That's enough. Let's not play this game anymore". Katherine stated. She didn't want Hannah to lose every round and end up getting drunk. "Let's talk instead. Since Hannah is new to our group, we will ask her questions and she has to give us the right answer. Is that okay?" The last question was directed at Hannah and she nodded. Surely, nothing bad would come out of answering questions.
"How did you manage to stay as Mr. Miller's secretary for so long". A question popped out from the group. Hannah did not even see who the person was.
All the secretaries turned to Hannah with curiosity etched on their faces. To say that they were not curious was a lie. As far as they knew, no one had lasted for more than two weeks as Axel's secretary. And Hannah has been there for months, so they were curious to know her secret.
"Isn't it obvious?" Lilian sneered. "She spreads her legs for him. To think they are the only ones on the top floor…" Lilian tsked, shaking her head from side to side.
"Oh? Is that what you did? Let me guess, he rejected you and that's why you ended up at the front desk". Hannah retorted and watched as Lilian's nostrils flared in anger.
"You…" Lilian was furious as she pointed at Hannah. She would have jumped at her if not for Katherine who was holding her down.
"I wonder what Mr. Miller would do to you when he finds out about this…"
Immediately they heard her, all the secretaries apologized immediately. If Axel gets angry, there is no saying what he would do to them. Some of them even scolded Lilian and blamed her for everything. They shouldn't have brought her with them in the first place!
Hannah saw the pleading looks on their faces and she felt bad again. She only meant to scare Lilian but all the employees were scared. It was all Axel's fault!
"Don't…" Hannah stopped talking when her eyes caught something or better still, someone, through the transparent wall. "Excuse me". She said and without looking at their faces, she left the room.