Chapter 4: Party Pooper
935 Words
"Can I call you Kelly?"
"Sure, and what should I call you? Or should I call you Big Boss like Erin does?"
"Oh, no way, that's just for the showroom staff. You can call me Clarkson. My name is Clarkson, or you could call me... darling, I wouldn't mind."
Clarkson teased playfully, but because of his friendly demeanor and charming smile, it didn't make the listener feel uncomfortable.
"Then I'll call you Clark."
"Sure thing. By the way, what would you like to drink, Kelly?"
"What's this, boss? There are two of us, but you only asked Kelly. That's not fair," Erin playfully complained before winking at her friend, who seemed to have caught the boss's eye from the first meeting. Meanwhile, she had her sights set on one of the boss's friends sitting nearby. It seemed everyone had their target without overlapping.
As the night deepened, the atmosphere in the bar became more lively. The upbeat music encouraged everyone to show off their dance moves enthusiastically. Kelly and Erin became the stars of the floor, with guys continuously asking them to dance, especially Clarkson, who stayed close to the two girls like a bodyguard.
Kelly hadn't gone out at night like this in a long time since she started working at the company. The boss of her friend was so fun and easygoing that it eased her nervousness and made her feel at ease with him. Clarkson was a charming guy and very attentive.
"Here's your margarita, Kelly," he suddenly handed her a beautifully colored cocktail glass after returning to the table.
"Thank you," she replied, taking a sip of the cocktail, feeling a pleasant warmth spreading through her body more than the previous glass she had had. It might have been because this one had more tequila or alcohol, or perhaps because she had drunk more than usual tonight due to the fun and atmosphere. But she could still maintain her composure and wasn't drunk.
"I heard from Erin that you're a personal assistant to an executive now, Kelly?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever wanted to try working somewhere else for a change?" Clarkson asked with a smile.
"I have thought about it."
"Oh... just thought about it?"
Kelly took an elegant sip of her margarita. How could she say that she had sent out applications everywhere, but no one contacted her, or if they did, the salary offered was very low?
"Well, if there's a place that's better and more interesting, I'd like to give it a shot," she replied, half-seriously.
"If you're interested..." he said, pulling out a business card and handing it to her, "you can call me anytime, or we can exchange LINE IDs to chat. It doesn't have to be about work."
Kelly accepted his business card and agreed to add him on LINE, smiling cautiously but not averse to keeping the connection for future opportunities.
In case her tyrannical boss ever decided to fire her, at least she'd have more options and wouldn't end up jobless.
As she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly vibrated, snapping her back to reality. Seeing the name on the screen, her stylish face immediately showed annoyance.
'Second Dad'—who else could it be at this hour? Work ended long ago, and she wasn't in the mood for overtime today, so she deliberately ignored it.
"Not answering?"
"It's an unknown number. I suspect it's a scammer." Clarkson nodded in understanding.
Not even two seconds later, Kelly's phone vibrated again, this time from a truly unknown number with no name. She squinted at it, hesitating, but curiosity made her answer.
"Why did you hang up on me?"
The secretary jumped in surprise, nearly dropping her phone, until she heard the chilling voice ask again. Regaining her composure, she quickly nodded apologetically to Clarkson, indicating she had to take the call, then stepped outside to escape the loud music.
"Yes, boss."
"Come pick me up." Hearing this made her want to pout. Did he think she was his secretary or his chauffeur?
"Then I'll call Uncle Alex, the driver, for you."
"No! I want you to come pick me up yourself. Come right now!" He ordered and hung up as usual, not even waiting for her to refuse.
"This lousy boss! Is this the right time?"
Kelly accidentally cursed, clenching her fists tightly, wanting to scream out loud. It was rare for her to have a chance to shine and enjoy herself, but there was always something that came along to ruin her happiness.
Could she just skip it?
She could only think about it since she hadn't found a new job yet, and she hadn't agreed to the offer from Clarkson. What else could she do but...
Resigned herself to following that lousy boss's orders. She quickly dialed her dear friend.
"Erin, I'm leaving early. Please tell Mr. Clark I'm sorry for not saying goodbye."
"Oh! What happened? Why are you leaving me halfway? Where are you now?"
"I'm out already, waiting for a taxi in front of the bar."
"Where are you going? I'll take you." Erin asked worriedly.
"It's my boss. He told me to pick him up from the party. He wouldn't let me call the driver; I have to pick him up myself. So dictatorial." She complained angrily before spotting a taxi and quickly waving it down.
"Hey, the taxi's here. We'll talk later."
"Alright, alright. Call me if anything comes up." Kelly could only sigh before ending the call with her friend reluctantly.
Why did this lousy boss always have to interfere whenever things were going well?!
- Writer
