10 on the dot, I was seated in the conference hall, facing four people from the HR office. Two are from TopLink, while the rest are from the headquarters.
Grace was also present, but she looked so smug, no one would believe she was just a special assistant and not one of the company’s executives.
Last night, I convinced myself that I wouldn’t be scared, but seated there, facing those cold looking people, my heart couldn’t help but tremble…
“Having gone through your complaint letter, we have done our investigations and found most of the complaints here unfounded. There is no evidence to support your claims.” The woman from Headquarters solemnly said.
“What do you mean? There are many people who witnessed these things. Did you ask them or just decide that whatever Grace says is the truth?” I couldn’t help but snap at her. I turned to TopLink’s head of HR, but his eyes were glaring at me. “Sir, how come they can’t find any evidence?” I continued, unfazed by his angry looks.
“You will mind your words and attitude, Miss Cook.” The head of TopLink HR department sneered at me angrily.
“Can you see that? That’s how she has been walking over everyone.” Grace leaned forward and started saying. “Just because the CEO gave her a little face, she believes she can address people anyhow. I am telling you now, everything she wrote in that letter is a lie. As for what happened yesterday, I only did that because I am fed up with her lies.”
After listening to her rants, the four HRs nodded and turned blazing gazes of anger and contempt at me.
What a charade. I had the urge to laugh, stand up, and walk out, but I needed to see things to the end. I wanted to know what the end game would be. Would they punish me, or straight up fire me? Whichever came first, I was determined to leave, therefore, there was no reason to be reasonable with these clowns.
“Miss Cook. I am so disappointed in you.” The HR from TopLink complained, sounding very hurt and demure. “I have spoken to you several times about your manners. This is what happens when you rush through your education without proper guidance. I will advise you to apply for an etiquette class after things settle down. It will go a little way in helping you handle the corporate world better.”
“…”
My jaws literally dropped.
“Ms, Moline, what the hell are you talking about?”
If anyone would reprimand me or have anything bad to say about me, it shouldn’t be this bitch! Yes, she did call me aside to talk to me about my situation at work, but each time she called me to talk, all she did was encourage me to bear it. She even said that everyone bullying me was just jealous and I shouldn’t let them discourage me from going for the CEO.
I still can’t believe the twists and turns of her mouth.
“What else can I be talking about, if not your amoral ways and rudeness?” She snapped at me. Her eyes were suddenly blazing with righteous anger.
“Enough!” The HR from Headquarter, raised her hand up and snapped.
“As I was saying, There is no evidence to support your claims. Therefore, we can only throw these accusations out. As for what happened yesterday, it is indeed Grace’s fault for hitting you first and she will be punished. But you will also be reprimanded for making the workplace hostile and unconducive for your colleagues.”
“I don’t understand? When and how did I make this place hostile? I am the one getting bullied!” Despite deciding to leave, I still feel exasperated at the ridiculous words coming out of this woman’s mouth.
“If you want, we have video evidence of how you spread false accusations and make indirect threats against your colleagues in the office.” The woman casually shrugged.
“What? You have video evidence of that, but you don’t have evidence of all the bullying I have been experiencing for the past three months? Unbelievable.”
“Will you like to see if?”
“Sure.” I shrugged. At this point, I didn’t know what to think any more.
The only HR personnel who was yet to open his mouth stood up. He went to the presentation board and started operating the system and projector on the table. Soon, the video of my office came up, and in those videos, I was telling my colleagues that I knew one of them was the one who released my information and movements to Williams’s girlfriend. I told them I would find out and when I do I would show no mercy.
This was something that happened yesterday before I left the office. I couldn’t believe that HR would present that as threats. My Jaws first dropped, but suddenly, laughter bubbled in my throat as the shock of their impunity subsided, and the absurdity of it all became more apparent to me. It was ridiculous and funny.
“Really? Hehehe!” I bursted out laughing, making no attempt to suppress my feelings.
They all gave each other a strange look, not knowing how to react to my reaction.
Grace in particular was shocked. She probably expected me to either beg, or throw tantrums. I don’t know, but she clearly didn’t expect me to be laughing in HR’s face like this.
“Have you gone insane?” She sneered.
“Ms Cook, I will be forced to implement more sanctions if you continue to show more disrespect to my person and office.” The woman from the headquarters snapped at me, cutting Grace short.
“This is just too rich!” I chuckled, unable to completely suppress my laughter. How could I, when they all looked like clowns?
Just then, Freddy, Hoseok’s personal assistant barged into the room.
“Excuse me.” He said, then walked over to the computer. He inserted a memory card and started operating the projector.
Everyone watched in silence as the first case of bullying happened to me.
That day, I was walking along the corridor when someone tripped me. Because there were five ladies who could have done it, I was never able to find out who actually did it among them. But watching that video, I finally put a name to that foot. After that was a video where Grace had intentionally bumped into me, upending a cup of scalding coffee on my chest. This incident sent me to the ER and the wound took weeks to heal. She has given a fake apology insisting that it was an accident…
“What is this?” TopLink head of HR sat up and asked. His voice was so tight that I almost missed his words.
“I heard that you were investigating several cases of bullying that had been happening here for three months. I just thought I could help.”
Everyone in the room, including me, was shocked. The head of HR turned white. He started realizing that he might have sided with the wrong staff.
“As you can see, two cases have ran by. In both cases, Ms Cook was targeted. If we continue watching, we will get to see seven more of such cases.” Freddy continued. He then fast-forwarded the video until it got to a scene in my office.
In the clip, after I left the office one evening, the three bitches I shared the office with snooped into my system. That was how they got my plans and movements. The next scene was of one of them delivering my schedule to Grace.
By the time that scene folded, my jaws were once again on the floor. Though I was certain it was them, I had no evidence. How in hell did they get my password?
Freddy removed the card, walked over to the HR from Headquarters in measured steps and placed it in front of her.
“CEO Hoseok asked me to give you this.”
He then turned to me with a solemn expression. “Ms Cook, The CEO will like to see you in his office when you are done here.”
“Yes.” I nodded in befuddlement.
Once he was done, he turned around and left the room.
“…”
What the actual fuck just happened? I muttered to myself in shock.
Only a daft person wouldn’t know that Hoseok had specifically sent his personal assistant to intervene. All the evidence the HR office couldn’t find was suddenly provided by him.