Chapter 12

"During your interview, didn't the HR department tell you that the janitorial department should follow the assignments of the security department? Or do you no longer want to work here?" Dale threatened. He suddenly adopted an authoritative tone, using his position as a security guard. He was right. During the interview, the HR department informed Willow that the security department might assign janitors to perform cleaning duties, and that they needed to cooperate. Willow had just started her job, and the pay was decent. If she lost her job now, it wouldn't be easy to find another one so quickly. With four children at home, there was no certainty about having enough money for milk or warm clothes. In fact, the eleven thousand she had worked so hard to earn yesterday had been squandered by her mother overnight. Their once modest home had turned into one of destitution. Without money, her children would go hungry and cold. Thinking of her adorable children, Willow’s heart softened. She could only suppress her anger for now. She didn't have the luxury of being willful. Even if she felt wronged, she had to endure it for now to keep her job. "Fine! I'll do my job. Keep your hands to yourself!" Willow retorted irritably at Dale, and deliberately created some distance between them. She stormed out of the office. The first-floor restroom was indeed a mess. Just by looking at the vomit, she could tell what the person had eaten. The half-digested food mixed with stomach mucus emitted an unpleasant, pungent odor. Seeing it, her stomach churned. She nearly retched, but she managed to control herself. Fighting her discomfort, she cleaned the area thoroughly. In just a short time, the floor was clean and bright. The fragrance of soap covered up the offensive smell. Willow put down the mop, and thoroughly washed her hands. She only stopped when her hands were thick with the scent of handwash. Being a janitor wasn't as easy as it seemed, and high wages weren't as easy to obtain either. With no educational background, she had to endure the hardships of life. She was determined to provide a better life for her four children, and ensure they received a good education. At the very least, they needed to obtain a university degree. Otherwise, they would grow up enduring hardship like her, with limited earning potential. It was because of this determination that she started teaching her children from a young age. Even though they were only four years old, they already recognized many words—much more than other children their age. Willow was about to take the elevator to the tenth floor when Dale appeared and blocked her at the entrance. "Lara,” he said, “as long as you follow me, I'll help you find an easier job. You won't have to do dirty or tiring work. I'll find someone else to do it in your stead. You can earn eighteen thousand a month effortlessly. It's a great deal, isn't it? I don't think you'd be foolish enough to refuse." Willow used Lara's identity card while working at Hughes Corporation. Seeing Dale’s repulsive face, Willow's suppressed anger erupted. She snapped, "Your face is even more disgusting than that vomit! Look at yourself in a mirror for once. Your bloated face is greasy and oily. I bet even your private parts have rotted by now! Filthy and foul-smelling! Yet, you have the audacity to hit on women? Have a bit of self-awareness, would you?" Having said her piece, Willow glared at him, infuriated. She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to close the door. Dale stood outside the elevator, looking flustered and bewildered. After half a second, he finally reacted. He was left speechless and humiliated after being rejected and berated by Willow. Infuriated, Dale turned and walked away. At that very moment, Jasper and his secretary, Edith, had just entered from the outside. Jasper had watched the entire scene unfold. Jasper was tall, his demeanor cold and imposing. His eyes held an indifferent glint. Edith hurriedly said, "Sir, I'll immediately contact the HR department to dismiss Lara. She’s arrogant and disrespectful." She was about to make the call, but Jasper's icy voice stopped her. "No need. She's insignificant. Why bother with her?" With that, he entered the elevator. Edith paused for a moment, then quickly followed him. She had thought this was a perfect opportunity to fire Willow. Unexpectedly, the termination didn’t succeed. In the afternoon, Willow was dozing off in her chair when she received an internal call from the janitorial department. "Lara, the CEO's conference room needs cleaning. Hurry over." "Understood, I'm heading there now." Willow wiped the drool from her mouth, got up, and quickly went to the top floor. There, the conference room's door was closed. She knocked on the door. "Come in," someone from inside said. Willow entered with her cleaning tools. The conference room had an elegant atmosphere. Executives in black suits sat around the conference table. There was a porcelain teacup containing fragrant tea next to each person. They were all busy with stacks of documents. Jasper sat at the head of the elongated conference table, the position representing the highest authority. His black suit was impeccably clean, devoid of a single wrinkle. His long legs were casually crossed, and his composed, sharp features exuded an air of elegance that indicated he was an elite in society. Standing beside him was a sharply dressed man with an affable expression, wearing the official smile of a professional. He was likely Jasper's assistant. The entire conference room felt solemn and oppressive, exuding an air of scholarly refinement. This kind of atmosphere subconsciously made Willow feel serious and noble. She lowered her head, trying to reduce her presence as she quietly walked in. Then, she swept up the crumpled paper balls strewn on the floor. See? Only the successful and educated could work at a place like this. She lacked education, and could only do the most basic jobs. Because she had missed out on university, she would never have a chance to become a white-collar worker for the rest of her life. She finished her junior year in college. Even though she was capable of many white-collar jobs, a graduation certificate was a barrier she couldn't overcome. Without that certificate, she couldn't even qualify for interviews. Moreover, she had no connections to rely on. She could only look for jobs that didn't require an education. The catch was, most of those jobs were physically demanding and challenging. Even so, she had no regrets. She might have lost her university diploma, but she gained four adorable treasures. She was the happiest person in the world. No matter her job, she faced each day with optimism and cheerfulness. Willow diligently and carefully swept the floor. A senior executive was presenting his proposal. Jasper seemed displeased—he tore a page from the proposal, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it on the ground. He snarled coldly, "Trash. Redo it!" The crumpled paper ball hit Willow's head before rolling onto the ground. She could feel the tense atmosphere and the icy pressure around Jasper. She kept her head down, and swept away the paper ball before cleaning other areas. Jasper took his work quite seriously, and was very stern during meetings. None of the employees dared to even breathe loudly. Willow suddenly felt a bit sympathetic toward them. Working under Jasper was definitely not an easy task. One after another, people presented their proposals—only to have them all rejected by Jasper. Paper balls littered the ground, and Willow diligently swept them away one by one. After a long time, the meeting finally ended. The attending employees packed their belongings, and hurriedly left the conference room. Willow began collecting the teacups. Jasper remained seated, his sharp gaze fixed on her. His intense gaze made her uneasy; her hair stood on end, and her skin prickled. She had no choice but to steady her breathing and focus on clearing the teacups. Once she finished, she could leave the conference room and escape the oppressive air this man exuded. In her haste, one cup slipped from her tray and fell to the ground. It shattered into pieces with a crisp crash. Willow's nerves jolted. It was over. Jasper definitely wouldn't let this go!