Chapter 3 Dismissal

They moved toward the bathroom, where the shower ran like a burst of rain. Suddenly, Emelie's mind drifted to their first meeting three years ago, on a similar rainy day. Her family once ran a modest supermarket. They weren't wealthy, but they lived a stable and comfortable life as a family of five. Unexpectedly, her father fell into a trap that plunged them into a debt of 5 million dollars. He was forced to sell the supermarket, their home, and any sellable items. Yet, they were still 3 million dollars short. At their wit's end, the person who set the trap showed his true intentions, demanding she use her own body to repay the debt. Her parents tacitly consented. On a rainy night, she fled in panic. The roaring engines of motorcycles sounded behind her, like predators toying with their prey. She lost her shoes and her hair was disheveled. Ahead of her was endless darkness, void of any light. She then fell to the ground, surrounded by motorcycles. She believed her life was over. It was at that moment a business car arrived, blocking her view. She looked up and saw the car door open. A pair of polished leather shoes stepped into a puddle. His trousers were impeccably tailored, and he covered Emelie with a large black umbrella, exuding an air of detached nobility as he offered her protection. He declared, "She's with me. Who would dare to lay a hand on her?" The initial meeting was so stunning that she revisited and embellished the scene in her dreams countless times, ingraining it deeply, and making it unforgettable. After the shower, Emelie left the bathroom, her body still damp. She popped a candy in her mouth before looking for clean clothes to change, while William continued his shower. She pondered whether to tell William about her pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage. However, she decided against it after a brief few minutes of contemplation. When he saved her three years ago and kept her safe, he made it clear that she shouldn't cause him any trouble. She was a tool to him, useful in both his personal and work life and a tool must know its place. Moreover, his interest in another woman meant he would care even less, making her revelation pointless. … The next day, Emelie went to work as usual. The CEO's secretarial team consisted of three secretaries, each responsible for various facets of William's workload. Emelie hadn't actually abandoned her duties as she had submitted her leave form to HR right before being rushed away by the ambulance. Despite her leave, she addressed the critical documents while in the hospital. Yet some daily tasks had piled up, keeping her occupied all morning without a moment to spare for lunch. By 2 pm, she was visited by the finance department's manager, who reported a problem with one of the documents—an incorrect decimal point placement. Emelie frowned and quickly reviewed the document. "This doesn't seem like something I did." "It was completed by the new assistant, Daphne," said the finance manager. After a brief pause, Emelie assured the finance manager, saying, "I have a good rapport with Mr. Garrett. I'll take care of this mistake." The manager said in a low voice, "Someone needs to be held accountable for such a grave mistake, regardless of any fix." Emelie expressionlessly replied, "Whoever made the error should be responsible for it." The company's policy was straightforward—a significant mistake within the first month of employment could lead to immediate termination. Consequently, the HR department quickly issued a notification to Daphne. Emelie caught a brief break from her packed schedule and observed Daphne slowly packing her things, tearful and moving with hesitation. The secretariat office was always busy with activities, hardly anyone spared a moment to consider the situation of an unexpectedly ousted assistant. Daphne left the secretariat with a box in her hand and stumbled upon William. Ten minutes later, Emelie was summoned to the CEO's office. She entered the CEO's office with the documents in her hands and immediately saw Daphne standing to the side. William was sitting in his chair with a pen and a cold gaze, simply commanded, "Explain."