I did not go to work the next day and took a few days off. Normally, I would never apply for leave unless there was an emergency. After all, I would be earning less if I did not work.
However, that was an exception. My face was still swollen. I did not want to be the center of attention in the company, nor did I want anyone to find out that I had been taken to the police station. After all, that was not something to talk about openly.
Natalie took a few days off as well, presumably sharing my sentiments. The two of us stayed in her house to rest and recuperate. During that time, Yuval sent me food every day. Of course, he brought Natalie’s portions as well.
After three days, the wound on my face was finally less visible. Only then did I return to work. The moment I stepped foot into the building, Millie came forward to pester me, questioning where I had gone for the past few days. I came up with a random excuse, saying that I was unwell and rested at home for a few days.
As I was chatting with Millie, Michael showed up. Millie and I quickly rushed to our seats and made it look like we were working hard. After being berated and criticized multiple times by Michael, I was not looking forward to feeling the wrath of his anger anytime soon.
“Anna, bring the proposal I asked you to redo into my office.”
Just as I thought Michael had ignored us, his low magnetic voice traveled to my ears. I looked up from my desk, only to see his icy expression staring back at me.
I gulped. A shiver ran down my spine as I shot Millie a helpless look before picking up the documents and headed into Michael’s office.
That proposal had been rejected by Michael countless times before. It had reached the point where I no longer knew what else to add to the proposal, nor how else I could amend it. I had absolutely run out of ideas, feeling like a machine under operation.
“Here’s the proposal you wanted, Mr. Shaw.”
I placed the documents gently on Michael’s desk and informed him flatly.
Michael peered at me wordlessly and started to skim through it.
He had barely glanced at it before tossing the proposal on the desk. “Redo it!”
Michael hurled the same word at me again, not even wasting his breath on another word.
His reaction was well within my expectations. Hence, I was not angered. Even I was not satisfied with the proposal myself, much less someone as picky and detail-oriented as Michael. In fact, it would have been shocking if he had approved the proposal.
Without a word, I picked up the proposal from his desk and made my way to the door. Before I could leave, he called out to me.
“Is this your attitude at work, Anna Garcia? Your designs have been rejected, yet you don’t even bother asking about the reasons? Don’t you want to know what you should amend?”
Michael’s anger underlay his cold voice. Recently, he had been reprimanding me almost every day that I had gotten used to it. Thus, I did not think much about his words.
“Mr. Shaw, if you had wanted to tell me anything, you would have spoken up long ago and would not have waited for me to ask. Since you did not wish to tell me, it’ll be superfluous and a waste of time even if I were to ask you. If that’s the case, it would be better if I don’t ask you.”
He had rejected my proposals so many times but had never told me what went wrong. All he said was that my designs were not innovative enough, which was of no help at all.
My retort caused Michael to go stiff for a second before his eyes flared up in rage.
“Wow, why have I not noticed that your self-awareness is rather high now?”
His words were laced with satire. Then, he stood up and walked towards me with a cold-eyed stare.
“I have always known my limits, and I have been following your orders when amending the proposal, Mr. Shaw.”
There was no way for me to step out of line when it came to that man. Every time I butted heads with him, there were never good endings on my side.
“If you’re so obedient, why didn’t you obey me when I asked you to be my girl?”
Michael narrowed his eyes at me. The expression on his handsome face darkened.
This question again? Why must he always bring this up?
“Mr. Shaw, this question has nothing to do with work. I’ll only listen to your orders if it’s regarding my job. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Nothing good ever came out of that topic. All I wanted to do right then was to leave his office. Arguing with Michael would be pointless, and I was not in the mood to waste my time. Even though Michael seemed carefree and mischievous, his serious face could make anyone shudder.
With the documents in my hand, I prepared to leave. However, as I walked past his shoulders, I felt a strong grip on my wrist.
Enraged, I turn around with a glare. Before I could open my mouth, Michael suddenly flung me towards his desk and pressed his body against mine.
“Don’t even think of leaving if I have not dismissed you, Anna Garcia! Don’t you forget who’s in charge here!”
Michael was on top of me. Our breaths mingled as we glared at each other, our faces tensed. His breath felt hot on my skin as he thundered in his usual domineering manner.
Looking into his eyes, my heart pounded faster as I started to panic. Even so, I refused to back down. I had always been weak in front of this man that I scoffed at the lack of courage to defend myself.
“You’re crazy!”
I hollered in his face and attempted to shove him away but to no avail. He stayed on top of me, not moving an inch.
“What are you doing, Michael? This is an office! What if someone barges in?”
The memory of me being sexually harassed in the office by that b*stard Conrad still burned in my mind. I was boycotted and targeted after a colleague caught him in the act, even though it was not my fault. No one was willing to talk to me for weeks, and I was not going to let history repeat itself.
Moreover, Conrad was just a department head who was old and ugly. Even then, my colleagues had treated me like an eyesore and a shameless prostitute.
With Michael, a prince charming to many ladies, pressing on top of me, I was sure to have a bounty on my head if we were caught in the act by someone.
“If you dare resist me one more time, I will not hesitate to f*ck you right here in my office!”
Michael completely disregarded my protests. He seemed unfazed by the possibility that someone might interrupt us suddenly.
Isn’t he the one who doesn’t want anyone to know about our relationship? What’s going on now? Why isn’t he threatened by what I just said？
“Have you no shame at all, Michael? We’re in your office! If someone sees us, our relationship will be out in the open! By then, you won’t even be able to keep it under wraps!”
I glowered at him as I continued struggling to break free from under him. His tyrannical arrogance was growing increasingly obvious. I had not noticed it at first, which was why I thought we could become normal again once the whole fiasco was over. However, it was starting to seem like it was all just wishful thinking on my side.
