Betrayed By Rejected Lover, Married A Billionaire

Chapter 13. Time to Move on

Jennifer, dazed, could not say anything. So the manager continued. “Jennifer Hill, you are suspended for a week without pay for falsely accusing Catherine of damaging the fabric. Also, you have to pay for the damaged clothes.”

When Jennifer heard the verdict, she was stunned and cried out. “Sir, please forgive me. It won’t happen again.”

“You bet it won’t happen again. If it does, you’ll kiss your job goodbye. Go back to work, HR will email you later."

The manager called, "Catherine! On behalf of Pampered Designs, please accept our apology. Go back to work.”

Relieved at the turn of events. Catherine nodded and left. On the way to their office, Jennifer glared at Catherine and cried bitterly. “I assure you this matter is not over yet.”

...

Catherine is at home and is doing a self-appraisal after the spate of continuous unlucky events at work.

She thought. 'Why is the whole world against me? What did I do wrong to Ma'am Jackie and Jennifer? Even the clients are against me. Hmm… maybe I should try another place. Yes, that’s what I should do. Get another job.'

Another week at Pampered Designs Company's Production Department.

As if to validate Catherine's beliefs about getting a job elsewhere, Jeniffer Hill, her supervisor, became more nasty to her.

Jennifer, looking fierce as if she had had a fight with the devil over the weekend, stood at the entrance door to her team's office.

Just as Catherine entered the room, Jennifer barked. “Miss Catherine, report to my office now.”

“I will be there shortly, Miss Hill,” Catherine said. She went first to keep her bag at her desk and to the washroom to ensure she was looking decent, before going to see Jennifer.

“Miss Hill, do you have any new tasks for me?”

Jennifer's face darkened. “We have many orders from several customers. I am sending you five pieces of male pants with their materials and measurements. No mistakes, and I want them all sewn today before you close. Make sure you observe Pampered Design's best quality guidelines. Dismissed.”

Catherine's eyes widened. She was speechless. Senior bespoke tailors in Jennifer's team usually sewed a maximum of three trousers before closing hours. She knew Jennifer was targeting her.

Catherine didn't complain and began the work immediately. At midday, she had finished the five pants and was putting the finishing touches on them.

At this time, Jennifer, wearing a mischievous grin, brought two more pants fabrics and threw them on Catherine's desk.

“Catherine, please stitch these fresh requests. You are aware that Daniel didn't come in today. Unfortunately, we must deliver these two orders this evening.”

Catherine didn't mind. She silently went to work. Before 3 p.m., she was done with the seven orders, all impeccably designed.

Unknown to Jennifer, the manager learned about what was happening and came to her unit.

“Catherine, I noticed you haven't left your seat today. Do you have many orders?”

“Yes! Miss Hill brought seven new orders that urgently needed delivering today.”

The manager furrowed his brow.

“What! How could one person sew seven designs in 8 hours? Jennifer, are we forgetting quality?

Jennifer, caught unawares, tried to defend her instructions to Catherine. Smiling sheepishly, she said, “Not at all, Manager. We must fulfill those orders today.”

The manager, unimpressed by Jennifers reply, turned to Catherine. “Can you finish sewing the pants before 4:00 p.m.?”

Catherine replied cheerily. “I can manage. Rest assured, quality will be not be an issue. The truth is that, as of now, they are ready for delivery. Here they are.”

The manager’s eyes were twinkling. He couldn't believe the pants were all done and packaged. “That's incredible, you deserve a salary upgrade. I’ll recommend that to management right away.”

Catherine was euphoric as she gave Jennifer a wily look. “I appreciate that manager. I will increase my contribution to this company.”

If eyes could kill, Jennifer would have killed Catherine.

Daily, Jeniffer overloaded Catherine with work to try and spoil her reputation as a diligent staff member before top management, without succeeding. She became more obnoxious and careless.

At this time, it was Friday, fifteen minutes before the closing hour, when Jeniffer, grinning mischievously, approached Catherine.

“You have been selected to work on these designs. Delivery is on Monday evening. These four blouses and seven skirt suits are for our VIPs. We mustn't disappoint them.”

Catherine, who had never shirked her responsibilities up till now, smiling, asked. “Are you joking, Miss Hill?”

Jennifer scowled and, to justify herself, showed Catherine the order sheet. “I can't joke about such a thing. Here are their delivery dates.”

Catherine observed and pointed to the date the orders came in. “Why? These requests came a fortnight ago. Why bring them up now at the closing hour?”

Jennifer outsmarted and was stunned. “I am sure there is a mistake. We just received them.”

Catherine knew it was Jennifer's ploy to punish her. “I can't sew them until Monday. My weekends are sacred. I have an appointment with my doctor.

Jennifer tried to impose her authority. “You must come to work on Saturday; else, you will get a query for dereliction of duty.”

“Sorry to disappoint you. I am unable to come to work. Find someone else or do it yourself, Miss Hill.”

When she heard Catherine's reply, Jennifer's face and ears turned red. She went to her table and hurriedly typed on her computer and printed out a memo. “Take this query and reply now.”

Catherine took the query and, without reading it, went to report the matter to the Production Manager, who promptly summoned Jennifer.

“Miss Hill, I have watched you take on Catherine since she joined the Pampered Designs Production Unit. You are clearly out of line this time. You must come to work tomorrow to fulfill those orders yourself. If you fail to complete them put your resignation letter on my desk on Monday morning. Now go.”

Jennifer paled and hurriedly left the manager’s office grumbling at the turn of events against her.

Speaking to Catherine, the manager said, “Catherine, sorry for the way Jennifer has oppressed you these past months. Today, her bullying stops. Accept my apologies.”

Catherine answered. “With all due respect sir. Don't be alarmed, I have decided to leave Pampered when the month ends. I am fed up with Jennifer's tantrums. I shall submit my resignation tonight.”

The manager was touched. “I understand your plight. Let's talk about your resignation next week.”

Catherine left with her head high. She thought, ‘I wonder why the manager didn't do anything to stop Miss Hill after discovering she was bullying me these past months. I think it's time to move on.’

Although Jennifer avoided starting any more trouble for Catherine, she submitted her resignation letter to HR. When the month ended, she left.

Running to a new place does not translate to a trouble-free lifestyle. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know. Can Catherine cope with the new environment and troubles that are sure to come?