Ren Ying stood frozen, her eyes widening as her friend's words finally sank in.
The sight of Mrs. Yang visiting the office in person was a rare occurrence, and it always signaled one thing – huge trouble. Amongst her colleagues in the secretary department, Mrs. Yang had earned the infamous nickname "Psycho." Her reputation preceded her, known for her intimidating and violent demeanor. She never hesitated to resort to actual physical abuse when confronted with someone she found unpleasant or irritating.
Her audacious behavior went unchecked, as she held a special status within the company. After all, she was the beloved younger sister of the company's CEO.
Ren Ying hesitated before her boss's office door, taking a deep, steadying breath. Her day was off to an unexpected and unpleasantly challenging start.
'Alright, I need to approach this calmly, even if it means enduring her anger. I just want to resolve this quickly so she can leave without wreaking havoc again.'
With another sigh, she mustered her courage and rapped gently on the glass door. Pushing it open, she entered, wearing a confident smile, ready to greet her employers. However, pleasantries were swiftly discarded.
"So, this is the bitch you've been fooling around with? Another secretary, huh? Your taste is rather predictable!"
Ren Ying found herself frozen again, utterly taken aback, as Mrs. Yang advanced towards her. The expression on her surgically altered face was nothing short of horrifying. Behind the oversized black cat-eye frames, her wide eyes scanned Ren Ying's body frantically, pausing when they landed on the brand-new dress shirt clutched under her arm.
With a swift and forceful motion, Mrs. Yang snatched the shirt from Ren Ying's grasp, scrutinizing it for a few seconds before flinging it back at her and hitting her face.
"How many of these has she bought for you already? Couldn't even wait to wipe off your lipstick before jumping on a married man?"
Once again, Ren Ying found herself rendered speechless. She had been prepared to defend her bumbling boss, ready to craft excuses and fabricate stories to exonerate him from any affairs. However, she never anticipated being accused of participating in one herself.
The accusation was utterly outrageous, particularly considering her impeccable reputation within the office.
Slowly, she turned her gaze towards Mr. Yang, who had remained quietly by his desk throughout the entire ordeal. His tanned face bore a complex blend of guilt and mild relief. As their eyes locked, he merely shrugged his shoulders and offered her a somewhat apologetic smile.
'Is that all I get in a situation like this? A mere shrug and a guilty smile? What a jerk.'
Ren Ying's eyes had not gone unnoticed by Mrs. Yang, who promptly seized the secretary by the chin, compelling her to meet her gaze once more.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you! How dare you fix your eyes on him right in front of me?!"
With an abrupt motion, Ren Ying yanked her face free from Mrs. Yang's grip. The anger within her was now soaring.
Clutching her fists tightly, she made an effort to regain her composure. She then deliberately shifted her gaze away from Mrs. Yang, who continued to hurl unfounded accusations her way amidst her shouting.
Throughout her adult life, there had been few situations where Ren Ying felt compelled to harness her anger, and this was undeniably one of them. She had to exercise restraint, to govern her emotions with precision. Speaking or acting rashly was out of the question if she had any hopes of retaining her job. After all, if she could manage to get through this terrible situation peacefully, she might still get a chance to work for someone else instead of Mr. Yang.
Mrs. Yang, visibly agitated by Ren Ying's newfound silence and lack of attention, reached the breaking point.
And then it happened. A resounding slap echoed through the room.
The secretary's contemplation was abruptly shattered by a forceful slap landing squarely on her left cheek. The impact left her skin tingling, as if scalded by boiling water.
Utterly bewildered, she instinctively pressed her palm against the burning skin, shooting Mrs. Yang a decidedly judgmental look. This glance only seemed to further enrage the already furious woman.
"First, you insult me by blatantly ignoring my words, and now you have the audacity to glare at me like this?!"
Before Ren Ying could muster any different reaction, Mrs. Yang had already grabbed her by the wrist and was dragging her towards the exit of her husband's office as if she were a criminal, headed for what felt like a public humiliation session.
And she succeeded.
Numerous pairs of eyes immediately fixated on the unfolding scene as Mrs. Yang donned a self-satisfied smirk and barked in a commanding tone,
"Call for the Head Secretary here immediately!"
From around the corner of the hallway, a tall, slender woman emerged, clad in a sharp black pantsuit, her long, straight black hair neatly pulled back. She seemed to materialize as if by some enchantment, then hastened her steps to join Mrs. Yang and the hapless secretary she held hostage. Her young face betrayed a blend of fear and sheer confusion.
"Mrs. Yang? What's happening here?"
The Head Secretary arched her thin eyebrows, her gaze first falling on Ren Ying's red cheek and then returning to Mrs. Yang, who seethed with rage. The latter finally released the secretary's hand and spoke, her voice now carrying a tone of calm authority, though tinged with seriousness,
"Ms. Zhang, effective immediately, Ms. Ren is terminated from her position here. Escort her out of the building, and ensure that she doesn't secure another well-compensated secretary job ever again."
Her decree elicited a disquieting reaction from all those unfortunate enough to witness the unfolding drama. Even Ms. Zhang widened her eyes, baffled by the irrationality of the directive. She finally mustered a response,
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Yang, but could you please clarify what Ms. Ren has done? She has an impeccable reputation and is one of the most qualified employees—"
The Head Secretary found herself unable to complete her sentence, as Mrs. Yang clicked her tongue annoyingly and then raised her voice significantly, ensuring that her words reached every person present in the hallway,
"If this girl is not terminated immediately, I will dismiss everyone from the Secretary Department. Is that clear?"
Stunned, Ms. Zhang turned her gaze towards Ren Ying, almost as if seeking her approval for this heart-wrenching decision. In the case of anyone else, such audacious threats might have been easily brushed aside. However, when Mrs. Yang issued such a dire ultimatum, everyone present understood that these were not hollow words.
Consequently, with a brief, barely audible sigh, Ren Ying closed her eyes and offered a subtle nod, reluctantly granting her coerced consent. The Head Secretary reciprocated with a nod of her own, finally replying in a hushed and somber tone,
"As you wish, madam."