Not Anymore

On Your Knees

Hours later, at Walmar Corp., guests gathered in the expansive conference room. Murmurs and discussions filled the air as people drank and talked.

High-ranking members of society had arrived.

The party was a prestigious social event, inviting only the city's most prominent individuals.Inside the spacious room, Chris sat in a corner, his expression vacant, his posture defeated. He slumped against the wall with one shoulder hanging low, exhaustion etched across his features.Around him, guests chatted, laughed, and enjoyed themselves with the fine wine and refreshments he had prepared.

Beside him lay a half-empty glass of peach juice, his hand dangling aimlessly from the table.As he observed the happy expressions around him, Chris couldn't help but feel glum. He had worked this hard, yet received no appreciation. He was slowly growing tired of it all.An all-too-familiar voice shattered his concentration, turning things from bad to worse."Look who it is! The loser who craves swan's meat even though he knows he's totally worthless."He didn't have to turn around to identify the speaker. He recognized that voice too well.Without turning, Chris called out, his tone cold. "What do you want, Jennifer?""You piece of s**t, you dare address me like that?" she snapped. "You want me to tell on you? You know she's my bestie, don't you? I can have her punish you really well, just like last time, remember." The shamelessness in her voice made his face darken.He gritted his teeth as he spoke under his breath. "I asked you what you wanted, Jennifer, so if you don't need anything, be on your way.""Humph!" She huffed, pushing her slightly minimal chest forward and glaring at him."Look here, Chris, even if you like and have always been fawning over my friend, just like I've been telling you all these years, she will never love you back," she said. "So why don't you just go curl up somewhere and die?"Chris didn't react. He was used to her harsh words. But they still hurt."What did you say?" He got flustered."You want to hit me? Did I make you mad? Do you want to hit me?" she taunted, still pushing her undersized chest forward. "Go on, let's see if you dare, coward."Chris met her gaze and lingered but soon looked away, a bitter, long sigh escaping his lips."I don't have time for this," he said, looking away."Just like I thought, coward," she mumbled triumphantly, smirking at her friends who reflected her action."What are you guys doing? What is going on here?" The voice, which everyone in the two warring groups recognized, cut through the tension like a hot knife through butter.They all swirled around, except for Chris, who was too tired to move."Oh bestie, this employee of yours was being so rude," Jennifer said. "He even wanted to chase me out of this party." She paused, then winked at Chris before fawning back to her friend. "You have to stand up for me, bestie."Chris stared in disbelief.Irene stared down at Chris, who was just looking up at the group in disbelief. "Is it true?" she asked, clearly flustered.He opened his mouth to speak, but even before the words formed, Jennifer was at it again."You have to believe me." She made a gesture as if to cry."How could you? I thought I could trust you," Irene said, shaking her head. "Why do you always have to bully her every time? You really disappoint me."Chris slowly rose and pointed at himself. "I bullied her?" he asked in disbelief. "You are going to believe her words just like that? Without even investigating what really happened?" Disappointment laden his words."What do you want me to do, Chris?" she demanded. "Every time at occasions like this, you always find trouble with her. How am I supposed to trust or believe you? I am very disappointed in you. Now apologize to her right this instant."

Her chest heaved back and forth with anger.Chris stared at her in disbelief. He lifted himself up, his mouth opening and closing as disbelief colored his features.Marlin stepped in and stood beside Irene, too close.Other guests watched the drama from their vantage points, murmuring and shaking their heads."Irene dear, looks like your secretary doesn't seem really convinced about your authority," Marlin said, smirking towards Chris, adding more fuel to the already raging flame. "I don't think he is going to do what you asked him to."She seemed quite convinced by his statement. The next second, she moved ahead and slapped Chris directly in the face. The room went silent.Chris clutched his reddened cheek as he stared at her in disbelief."Didn't I tell you to apologize? On your knees now," she yelled, her body rocking with raw anger.Chris lifted his other hand and pointed at himself. "You want me to kneel in front of everyone and apologize to her for something I didn't do?" he asked in disbelief."Humph!" She huffed and glared at him. "Still making excuses. Can't you ever own up to your mistakes? You're so pathetic.""He still isn't listening, bestie?" Jennifer mumbled."Kneel, if you want to keep your job," she roared.Chris lifted his eyes and locked them with hers. There was nothing in those beautiful cold eyes—only cold indifference and disgust. "I can't believe I have been so blind," he said, shaking his head as he dropped to his knees."What was that!" she asked."Nothing, ma'am." Then he swirled around to face Jennifer. "I apologize for my overstepping earlier," he said, bowing.No one could believe it, and murmurs quickly broke through the assembly."He actually knelt?" one person asked."Yeah, what else can you expect? He's a lovesick coward who does everything she orders him to," a man said, shaking his head."He is so pitiful. A full-grown man kneeling in public just to chase clout? Pathetic." Similar discussions and murmurs followed as many expressed how frustrated and disgusted they were with his behavior.In one corner, his fellow employees watched this with bitter fury."I can't believe Mr. Eaton has had to be humiliated again for that ill-bred woman," a woman said."Keep it down. What if someone heard you?" her friend whispered."What if they did? I don't care. This man has toiled for this company for four whole years, and this is how they repay him?" she said, frustration mounting.

The new employee was with them and heard all this. His ears perked up with interest as he leaned closer and asked, "Why doesn't he just quit?"Everyone turned their gazes toward him and unanimously let out sighs."Oh, I guess you are new?" the first woman said.The man frowned and curiously leaned even closer."Well, it's a uh…" she paused. "It's known throughout the city that the Queen of Walmar never goes anywhere or does anything without her robin. That's Mr. Eaton." She paused once again, and as if she feared someone unintended might be listening in on her story, she looked around.Finally, she continued, "Mr. Eaton, just like the rumors say, is the muscle behind the famous Queen of Walmar. He did everything there was to do to make sure that Walmar succeeded before it got launched and listed.""Well, I am one of the few remaining older employees of Walmar. Mr. Eaton used to work like a demon," she said. "He would even extend for three consecutive days to ensure everything was running well. The man even lost weight and his health deteriorated, until before the launch of the company, he was hospitalized for three days. He still managed to attend the launching meeting. But unfortunately for him, he was never appreciated, and there was no pay raise. He was only entitled to be her secretary."She sighed. "Although not many know what is and has always been his drive to do all this for someone without question, I think it's a matter of unrequited love," she paused and leaned in closer as she whispered.

"What?" A unanimous gasp rang through the group as they stared at her in disbelief."How is that even possible?" one person asked."I think you are tripping, Cathy," another echoed.But Cathy shrugged and kept her gaze stern.What no one knew was that Cathy had a secret.

Although many saw and assumed she was a rumor monger, that wasn't entirely true.She knew something no one in the group knew, something she had seen and overheard by mistake, but it had been sealed and hammered into her mind.She wasn't lying, and she was sure about it.