It wasn’t long before I was summoned by the head of the accounting department, who happens to also be my team leader. When I told him what happened, he was speechless for just two minutes before making a three-sixty on me.
“You shouldn’t have hit her under any circumstances.” He said then cleared his throat.
When he said that, it was like I heard the clashing of cymbals.
“What? I didn’t hit her first. She pushed me.”
“Even then, you should have just let her rant and leave. Honestly Catherine, your presence in my team has been giving me a lot of headaches. I have tried to be fair and protect you in the past months, but with what you did today, I don’t know if I can keep protecting you.”
First, what the fuck was he talking about? Since my appointment was confirmed, I have endured a series of bullying from several staff members. Some from my department, and mostly from the CEO’s office. In all these, I made sure not to make any mistakes in my work, and I tried to avoid these people. In no way have I done anything that needed his attention or protection.
Contrary to giving him trouble, I was the sole reason why the department had a two percent increase in revenue in the last quarter. Not only am I bringing in 70 percent of my team’s target as an agent, I have been sharing the bonuses that came with it with everyone in the office. So, what the fuck was he talking about?
I stared at him in confusion, but he wouldn’t even meet my gaze.
“Mr, Henry, I don’t understand. How did you protect me? What did I do in the past months that you protected me from?”
He shook his head and waved his hand, brushing it off. “You don’t have to worry about that. It’s in the past. Just know that Grace is taking this matter to the headquarters and I will not be able to shield you this time around.”
“…”
I knew it.
None of the girls working as Hoseok’s secretaries and special assistants are ordinary. This was the reason why I ignored their bullying all this while. I wanted to keep my job, so I had to. Now that I felt fed up and ready to give up, it didn’t matter anymore.
“I understand.” I nodded. “Is that all, sir?” I couldn’t keep the snort out of my voice. He gave me a grave look, huffed, then waved me off.
Turning around, I returned to my office where my four colleagues were busy gossiping. The moment I entered, they all stopped talking. They exchanged knowing glances, and the one who had previously reprimanded me for hitting Grace chuckled.
Suppressing the urge to grab her hair and smack her face on her desk, I fisted my fingers and returned to my seat.
Just as I was rounding up for the day, I received a summoning notice in my email. It was from HR.
“I can’t believe this!” Emilia sneered the moment I filled her in. “Just tell Hoseok. Let him handle it!” She repeated for the umpteenth time, but I shook my head and popped a slice of watermelon into my mouth.
“I don’t understand. Why do you have to choose the hard way? Are you masochistic?” She asked exasperatedly, making me chuckle. She has no idea how close to the truth that is.
“Hoseok will only make things worse.”
“How? I am sure he will stand by you. I am sure he will do anything to protect you. How does that make things worse?”
Meeting her eyes, I knew she thought I was crazy for not letting him handle business for me.
“He is like him, Emilia.” I groaned.
“Like who?”
“He is possessive with a volatile temper just like him. I have rejected him several times, yet, he is pretending like I didn’t. If…”
“Wait!” She raised her hands, stopping my words “I don’t understand. I thought we agreed just last weekend that you will stop rejecting him. We agreed that you will use him to rebound, didn’t we? ” Emilia got to her feet and exclaimed, her eyes blazing with shock.
“That was before Grace’s drama started. I really can’t accept him anymore.” I repeated.
“Even if you are going to reject him, you should still tell him what is going on. He is the only one who can stop this. What if they fire you?”
“I have written my resignation notice. I am just waiting to hand it in. The way this incident ends will determine if I will continue working there or not.” I announced, resolutely.
“You have really thought this out haven’t you?” Emilia asked in a resigned voice.
“Yes.”
“But…?” She said, giving me a pointed look. “I can sense more, Kata. Spill it.” She sniggered.
“I just don’t think resigning will be enough. He is just like Huracio. Possessive and consuming. I don’t want to be in that position anymore. I have to be in control.”
“…”
Emilia stared at me for a couple of minutes. Her eyes were a tell tale of what she was thinking. She thought I had run mad and somehow, she was just getting to know about it.
“So, you are rejecting Hoseok because he is like Huracio?” She finally broke the silence.
“Yes.”
“What’s wrong with that?” She asked, sounding incredulous. “Huracio loved you very much. I wasn’t sure of his feelings until you went missing. I watched him suffer for two years. How is having someone who loves you that much a bad thing?”
She didn’t know it but her words hurt. They hurt pretty badly because I know how much he searched for me. Each time he was rushed to the hospital for collapsing, I was informed. The day he heard of my death, I was sent a clip of his ashened face. I saw tears running down his cheeks while his lips trembled in silent whimpers of grief. That day, I nearly went back on my word and returned. I couldn’t bear to see him suffer, and I also wanted to kill him. My mind was in utter chaos.
“Kata, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay.” I sniffed and wiped my tears.
“I really can’t Emilia. You can’t understand it. If I let myself fall for Hoseok and he hurts me, what will I do? How will I survive another heartbreak?” I asked her, trying to focus on Hoseok, and bury my tumultuous feelings for Huracio.
“Katalina, you are getting ahead of yourself. You are just going to rebound with him. Don’t fall for him.” Emilia tried to remind me.
“What if I do? What should I do then?”
“When we get to that bridge we will cross it, Katalina. Just survive this incident first. You need this job!”
Not knowing how to make her understand, and not wanting to lie to her, I stood up, walked over to David. I scooped him into my hand and headed for his bedroom.
That night, I didn’t sleep at all. Just like Emilia said, I need this job. Though I have offers from peopleike Williams, and some other young masters, none of those jobs were things I can take. It would be like flying from frying pan to fire because all their bosses also wanted to date me.
Sometimes I wonder how I became someone these men wanted. I have nothing to offer, and I am a single mother.
Shouldn’t they be looking down on me?