Back in the office, Charlotte Hayes, or Lottie as her friends called her, was deep in thought. She had been considering leaving her job, but the thought of the $200,000 penalty for breaking her contract was terrifying. Deciding to stay, she turned on her computer and stared at the screen, lost in thought. Just then, her phone rang, playing a familiar tune. It was her best friend, Olivia Johnson, or Liv as she was known. Lottie, who had been bottling up her frustrations, couldn’t help but smile as she answered the call, feigning a lazy tone.
“Hey, Miss Liv, you’ve been so caught up with your love life lately, I thought you’d forgotten about me!”
Liv’s teasing voice came through the phone. “I haven’t! I’m calling you now, aren’t I? Where are you? Want to hang out?”
Lottie sighed dramatically. “I don’t have time for fun. I’m at work.”
“Wow! You got a job? Where are you working? What’s your position?” Liv’s voice was filled with excitement, followed by a barrage of questions.
Lottie rolled her eyes, much calmer compared to Liv’s enthusiasm. She simply stated the location of her company. “I’m in the Midtown area.”
Liv’s voice was accompanied by the sound of car horns, indicating she was in a bustling area. “Really? I’m at Starbucks in Midtown with Emma. Want to join us for a coffee? It’s been ages since we last chatted!”
“Now? I’m at work, Liv,” Lottie chuckled. Being with her friends was when she felt most relaxed and happy. Liv and Emma had been her best friends since elementary school, and they had been inseparable throughout college, sharing the best years of their lives.
The three of them chatted for a while, discussing Liv’s new boyfriend, sharing interesting stories, and even delving into some personal topics. Just as they were getting into the conversation, Lottie’s office phone rang. She quickly ended the call. “I have to go, I’ve got another call.”
Picking up the phone, she was informed by the receptionist that there was a package for Ethan Grant, and she needed to come down to collect it. After her chat with her friends, Lottie felt her life was once again filled with joy and positivity. She tidied up her desk and headed out the glass door.
As she walked, she noticed her colleagues still giving her strange looks. But instead of avoiding them, she responded with a calm smile, walking confidently. Her light gray suit perfectly accentuated her figure, and her fresh, elegant face exuded a pure aura, like a delicate narcissus blooming in a dull office, quietly spreading its fragrance.
At the reception, she signed for the package and waited for the elevator, counting the floors. When the elevator doors opened, she saw two middle-aged women holding cardboard boxes, their faces pale. When they saw Lottie standing at the elevator door, their sharp eyes immediately filled with anger, glaring at her. Lottie was puzzled and was about to step into the elevator when one of the women grabbed her arm. She turned to see the older woman looking at her with a pleading expression, whispering an apology.
“Miss Hayes, I’m really sorry about what happened at noon today.”
Lottie looked at her, confused. “Do I know you?”
The other woman, visibly annoyed, snapped at the older woman. “Skyler, why are you apologizing to her? She’s the one who got us into this mess. Why are you begging this snake?”
Lottie frowned. The voices sounded familiar, and then it hit her—these were the women who had slandered her in the restroom earlier. She was surprised to see them holding boxes filled with their personal belongings, as if they were leaving. Were they being fired?
As Lottie was processing this, Skyler, ignoring the other woman’s protests, forced a smile and said, “Miss Hayes, you’re a kind person. We misunderstood you, and we were wrong. Please, could you speak to Mr. Grant on our behalf? I have two children to support, and my husband is unemployed. I can’t afford to lose this job.”
Lottie was shocked. She hadn’t expected that mentioning the incident to Alexander Grant, or Alex as he was known, would lead to their dismissal. While she disliked these women, she hadn’t asked for them to be fired. Seeing Skyler on the verge of tears, Lottie’s heart softened. She was naturally compassionate, and Skyler’s desperate plea stirred sympathy within her. But as an outsider, how could she help?
After a moment of thought, she bit her lower lip and said weakly, “Skyler, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“How can you say that? Miss Hayes, you’re the only one who can help us now. If you speak to Mr. Grant, he’ll listen to you. Your words carry weight with him,” Skyler said urgently, while the other woman’s anger seemed to subside, her gaze now filled with desperation. This job was crucial for them.
Lottie forced a smile, feeling torn but trying to comfort them. “I’ll try, but I don’t know where Mr. Grant is.”
“He should be in his office on the 21st floor. You can go up and see him,” Skyler quickly replied.
Seeing their anxious expressions, Lottie couldn’t refuse. Despite their past behavior, they had already been punished. If she could help, she would. At least if they were to work together in the future, there would be some goodwill. Lottie stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the 21st floor, and as the doors closed, she let out a deep breath.
Watching the numbers change rapidly, her heart was in her throat. From the way Alex had dismissed Skyler and her colleague, it was clear he was a cold, strict, and unyielding man. If it weren’t for Skyler’s plea, she wouldn’t have approached him.
But one thing puzzled Lottie—why had Alex fired them? Was it to protect her? The thought made her blush, a warm feeling of being valued and protected washing over her.
Standing outside the 21st floor, she pushed open the large glass door to reveal a luxurious office. There, leaning against his desk, was Alex, sipping red wine with a playful smirk on his handsome face, his deep, mysterious eyes filled with an alluring charm.
“Mr. Grant…” Lottie lowered her head, trying to calm her racing heart.
“What can I do for you?” Alex swirled his wine glass, his tone casual. He was slightly surprised to see her here.
“I’m here about Skyler. I think they made a mistake, but they shouldn’t be fired… They’ve been with the company for a long time and have a lot of experience…”
Before she could finish, Alex interrupted with a mocking tone. “You’re here to plead for them?”
“I… yes, if you did this for me…” Lottie’s voice was soft, the thought that he might have done this for her filled her with a warm, ambiguous feeling.
Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly, amused by her assumption. For her? Did she really think he fired those two because of her? What a foolish idea. He cut her off again, his voice cold. “You’re mistaken. I didn’t fire them to protect you. I did it to protect myself.”
His words hit Lottie like a bomb, exploding in her chest. Her eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip, feeling embarrassed and ashamed for her presumptuous thoughts. Alex seemed like a cloud in the sky, while she was just mud on the ground—completely different beings. She wished she could disappear.
“I… I’m sorry to bother you…” Lottie stammered an apology, not daring to look at Alex, and fled the room like a frightened rabbit.
Watching Lottie stumble out, Alex’s lips curled into a playful smile.
As the elevator descended, Lottie’s ears were still burning. Alex’s mocking gaze felt like a slap in the face, leaving her too embarrassed to face anyone. She felt utterly humiliated.
Back on the first floor, Skyler and her colleague could tell from Lottie’s expression that their plea had failed. The other woman sneered, “Skyler, I told you not to waste your time begging a snake for help.”
Lottie was taken aback by the woman’s sudden change in attitude. She glared at her, holding back her anger, and said calmly, “Mr. Grant said it’s company policy. I’m afraid I can’t help.”
Skyler sighed, looking defeated, and without a word, she walked out of the building with her box. The other woman shot Lottie a furious look, spat at her, and cursed, “You despicable snake.”
With that, they disappeared out the door. Lottie stood there for a moment, took a deep breath, and stepped back into the elevator. The rapid changes in the office were all too real for the white-collar workers, and Lottie couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the two women.