Arriving at the marketing department, Vicky brought Summer straight into the manager’s office. Middle-aged and thin at the top, the manager smiled like a Cheshire cat at Summer, looking greasy.
“Miss Jarrett, how may I help you?” The manager said to Vicky.
With her arms folded across her chest, Vicky pointed at Summer with her chin. “This is the new marketing surveyor. Make sure you take good care of her.”
The way she said it felt distant and indifferent. The manager thought he had gotten her hint. He said, “I will surely ‘take good care’ of her.”
“I know you won’t let me down.” Vicky shot Summer a glance and left. The manager was now even more convinced that Vicky wanted him to ‘take care’ of Summer.
“I will, Miss Jarrett!” The manager walked her out, all smiling. After Vicky left, he turned around and looked at Summer, his face different and looking solemn. “What’s your name?”
“Summer Jarrett.”
The manager returned to his chair and sat behind the desk, starting to scan her from head to toe, Heaven knows what was going on in his head. “You have Jarrett as your surname? What is your relationship with the Emerson family?”
Already feeling disgusted by his leer, Summer gave him a cold answer. “We are somehow related.”
The manager thought she was just a flattering blockhead. No wonder Jarrett Group’s performance was so so all these years. Somehow related? It may as well meant not that related.
Thinking that he had figured it all out, his smile became even lascivious. “Good. Give your best and I’ll make it worth your while.”
The strong sexual undertone in his voice was nauseating. But Summer said nothing. And she was brought to her cubicle.
After a brief intro, Summer stood down and started to notice stares around her. They were just wondering who this beautiful new colleague was that the second lady had to bring her down here in person.
But Summer could not have cared less. Since there were few things she could do now, she took a photo, sent it over to Jessica, and began to type away.
“It’s my first day here at Jarrett Group.”
“What position did they give you? Vice president?”
“Marketing surveyor. ”
Jessica replied with a Confused-Nick-Young emoticon, which basically was a picture of a guy with a string of question marks over his head. And then she wrote, “You’d be better off becoming my assistant. I’ll give you a 50-grand annual salary.”
Summer nearly laughed out loud. No one was going to pay that kind of money for an assistant.
Then one colleague came over and said, “Summer, the manager asks for you. In his office. He’s got something to tell you.”
“Okay, I know. Thank you.” Summer smiled.
Then she noticed that this colleague seemingly had something else to say. Summer waited but only getting a “Good luck” look from her.
Not that she was afraid. By the looks of it, the manager was only an inept and lascivious ball licker. And she had something up her sleeve.
…
Summer gave it two knocks and went inside the manager’s office.
“Summer, come over here. These are the files I’ve just sorted out. Take them and have a look.”
So quick trying to be acquainted already? “Thank you.”
When Summer reached to take the files, the manager grabbed her hand, saying, “No hurry. Let’s talk about work.”
Summer kept calm and pulled her hand back, but the manager would not let her go. “Sit over here so we can talk more comfortably.”
“Please let go of my hand.” Summer’s expression turned slightly cold.
The manager thought he had given out enough hints. Little did he expect Summer was so uncooperative.
His expression collapsed, and he pulled Summer toward him while his other hand grabbed her waist, his face overeager. “You heard what Miss Jarrett said. If you’re cooperative and please me, I won’t make things hard for you.”
“Really?” Summer smiled at him, reaching her hand into her overcoat pocket.
Thinking that she finally gave in, the manager leaned over to kiss her. But before he could do so, a rush of numbness spread throughout his body, his eyes wide open as he pointed at her, managing to utter a “You…” before collapsing to the floor with a thud.
Summer tucked away the Taser, took the files, stepped on and over the manager and sashayed out the door. Having gone through the Violet Gold Club experience, she had wised up to it.
Seeing Summer emerging from the office so soon, the colleagues outside looked on with disbelief. Summer said nothing. She just smiled back at them. As soon as she sat down, her phone rang.
She looked at the number; it seemed a little familiar but felt strange. She did not want to answer. But since they saw each other every day, she picked up reluctantly. “Anything?”
Leonardo sensed the indifference in her voice and all of a sudden regretted; he should not have told her he was her husband’s cousin. But then, if she knew he was Leonardo since day one, they would not have so many interesting things happen between them.
“How is your first day at work?” Leonardo kept his voice flat as usual.
Summer paused halfway flipping through the file, was surprised by and wondering about his action: he was concerned about her first day at work? She closed the file. “You calling just to say this?”
“Don’t forget that you still owe me dinner. How about tonight? I’m coming to get you when you’re off work.” The line went dead; he was not giving her an option.
Summer began to wonder, she had just jabbed “Douglas” this morning, and he was supposed to be pissed off and going to find a way for revenge. It surprised her that he was all nice and calm as if nothing had happened before. And this gave her the heebie-jeebies.
“Somebody, please help! The manager has collapsed!” From not far away, a woman was calling for help from the doorway of the manager’s office.
Summer kept her head low to minimize her presence. At last, the manager was carried to the hospital. She reached to feel the Taser in her pocket. Wow, what a gun, she thought, it could send the baldy to the hospital.
The manager would not be back anytime soon, it seemed. So Summer had a rather peaceful moment for the rest of the day.
…
Off work, Summer bumped into Vicky in front of the elevator. After reading the files for the entire day, Summer was a little drained. She was not prepared to get into any argument with Vicky now. So she stepped aside and let everyone else use the elevator.
Vicky did not enter the elevator but waited. Now there were only two of them, and no one said a word.
The next elevator arrived, and they both went inside. When the elevator moved, Vicky looked over at Summer and asked casually, “Are chauffeur from the Emerson family fetching you? If not, we can give you a ride since Jerome and I are going for dinner.”
Summer glanced at her with a rather surprised look. Jerome and Vicky had mended their relationship?
Knowing that Summer was looking at her, the corner of Vicky’s lips arched in a smile.
“No,” replied Summer. Then she suddenly remembered that “Douglas” was coming to get her.