Chapter 14
1154 Words
Rachel
I was on cloud nine as I drove back home. When I left the Steel Cell Group's premises, I didn't meet Patricia.
I was thankful, I didn't want to see her annoying face anyway.
It seemed like the punishment she had gotten from the Human Resource Department had deterred her.
It was better for her to stay away from me.
I arrived at my house and I went upstairs to my room for a shower. After I was done, I went downstairs to help my mother with dinner.
"How did the interview go?" My mother asked as she passed the onions to me.
I peeled the onions and rinsed it. I put it on the chopping board and I began to cut it into tiny bits.
"I got the job but there was a minor hiccup." I said as the sound of the knife hitting the board echoed in the kitchen.
My mother left the eggs she was frying and she lowered the gas intensity.
She turned to face me with her hands on her hips.
"What happened? Did anyone bully you?" She asked with a frown in her face.
I chuckled.
My mother was acting like she would storm to the Steel Cell Group any moment now.
Mama bear mode activated.
"Mom, please calm down. Don't you trust your daughter? I can not take any loss." I said with a smile.
My mother had a look of resignation on her face.
"Did you beat anyone up again?" My mother said before she went back to her cooking.
I dropped the knife and held my chest in mock horror. My eyes widened as I look at my mother.
My mother did not turn back to look at me.
"Am I a girl that settles matters with her fists? You are making me out to be a macho girl!" I joked.
I pushed the chopped onions on the cutting board to my mother.
"Yes." My mother's reply was succinct.
I shook my head in amusement.
"So this is how you would give me away in public. I didn't fight with my fists, I used my words like you advised." I said as I leaned on the countertop.
The cool temperature of the countertop seeped into my arms.
"The story is funny. The woman is the secretary of the person that was supposed to interview me. She attacked me aggressively because of a mistake her superior made." I continued, "I did not know her from anywhere. She just saw me and decided she would try to make life harder for me."
"Why would she pick on you?" My mother asked.
I shrugged, "I would like to know too."
"I was hearing something about someone beating up another person." Norman's head peeked into the kitchen.
I didn't know he was back from work.
He walked into the kitchen fully and he joined me to lean on the countertop.
"Who did you beat up, Rachel?" Norman asked with a certain tone.
He stared at me pointedly.
"What? You are saying the exact same thing mom said! Am I a brute to you? So, in your eyes, I am a person that waves her fists everywhere." I exclaimed and I stared at Norman with fiery eyes.
Norman coughed awkwardly, "No need for irrelevant questions. Just tell us about the person that ended up as your opponent."
"I made sure I did not let her take any advantage. Chase solved the rest with his powers." I finished.
"Chase?" Confusion was hanging on Norman's words, "How did Chase get mixed up with the face-off you had?"
I rubbed my forehead.
It seemed like I made a mistake. I had forgotten that I had to keep my intent to make Chase my man from my brother.
Norman can be very assertive if he wants to get to the bottom of things. I was not ready to be hounded so I had to spill the beans.
Still, the amount of information I would reveal depended on me.
"I am interested in finance and I figured out that Chase is the best person to learn it from. I applied for the position of his secretary." I explained.
"Rachel, please help me with the dishes." My mother requested as she switched the gas cookers off.
"That's good. Chase would be able to look out for you." Norman said before he helped our mother carry some of the meals to the dining table.
Soon, the table was set and we sat down for our meal.
"If the job get too stressful for you, leave. There would be other ways to accomplish what you want to realize." My mother said after she ate a few bites from her food.
Dad's job caused him to work overtime so he would be coming later.
I nodded.
I understood my mother's concerns but I knew I might stick with the job even if it makes me uncomfortable. I am resilient and I wasn't a soft persimmon that anyone can knead as they want.
Patricia should ask Julie, her predecessor. Julie would tell her all about me.
The best thing that can happen is retaliating whenever anybody does something to hurt me.
"Mom, don't worry." I assured her, "I won't let anybody bully me."
Norman did not bother to add anything in our conversation. He was just shovelling food into his mouth.
My mind could not help straying to the words Chase told me in his office. Even Patricia appeared in my thoughts.
I don't know if Patricia have those that support her in the Steel Cell Group. I have to be wary.
I could not forget the plan Ted and Julie concocted to destroy me. I can not let something like that repeat itself.
I had to be careful.
Besides, the close relationship between I and Chase had been revealed.
I don't know what my coworkers would do with that information.
They might treat me like a normal colleague or they might do something to hurt me.
I have to be careful and cautious.
I went upstairs to my room to continue with my study of the materials my mother gave me.
Since I have already achieved my goal of becoming Chase's secretary, it was time to take things to the next level.
Patricia and the other women that was interested in Chase in the Steel Cell Group made me wary.
It was giving me warning signs.
I had more competition and I had to be aware that those women would do anything to make me drop out of the game.
Chase's charms was something women can't resist and they would do anything—it didn't matter if it was good or bad—to get him to be their partner.
I knew the workings of these women's minds because I was similar to them too.
I would do anything within the boundaries of my dignity to get Chase.
- Writer
