Clarissa woke up in the morning and made breakfast. When she saw Matthew coming back from his morning run with his damp hair stuck to his forehead, she thought that it made his handsome face look better and sexier.
However, she simply glanced at him, laid out his breakfast, and snorted before walking away.
“Where are you going to?”
Matthew stood in front of Clarissa as he wiped off his perspiration. He does not smell too bad.
Clarissa was silently judging herself. How could I think that he is sexy after he trapped me like that? And I still think that he smells good?
She bit her lips violently and glared at Matthew with hostile eyes.
“None of your business!”
She was about to walk around Matthew to leave the room.
But before she could, Matthew stretched out his legs and blocked her way. Before she knew what was happening, he had reached out to pull her into his arms.
Her nose hit his chest and it was so painful her tears fell instantly.
She covered her nose as she was overcome with excruciating pain.
Matthew did not expect such an awkward situation as well. He immediately looked down only to see her in tears. Her large bright eyes had turned red, and they looked both piteous and accusatory.
Instead of empathy, Matthew found it rather amusing instead.
He pursed his lips and held onto Clarissa’s arm. “Let me take a look.”
Clarissa shot him a sideway glance. “You are too much, Matthew. You’re really an a**hole.”
My, my, she had become so bold now to complain and curse at me right in my face.
Matthew smiled and got closer to her face. She retreated instinctively, but she was rendered immobile at her waist and could only move her head back, glaring at him warily.
Matthew did not speak, but he did blow air on her nose suddenly.
Clarissa froze while Matthew looked up into her eyes.
“Does it still hurt?”
She was rendered speechless.
Where did he learn to flirt like this?
Her heart was about to melt and a bright red hue began to spread throughout her little face.
“You… Stop being childish.
Clarissa pushed him away shyly but did not really push him too hard either.
She frowned. “Breakfast is ready, and it’s getting cold.”
“You’re not eating? Where are you going to?”
“I’m going home.”
“Home? Aren’t you going to work?”
“How can I go to work when you’ve made it so difficult for me?” She was direct.
Matthew smiled. “You call these making things difficult for you?”
Clarissa raised her eyebrow.
“How is this not making things difficult?”
“Rather than difficult, I think it’s fun.”
“Fun? You…”
Instead of completing her sentence, Clarissa pouted.
“Anyway, I won’t back down,” she declared in a mighty and unyielding manner.
Matthew suddenly released her. “So I guess I would be a certified a**hole if I don’t allow you to work at Tyson Corporation, right?”
“That’s right!”
With a smirk on his face, he said, “Fine, then go ahead. I’m not stopping you.”
He released her and headed upstairs. Clarissa blinked in disbelief.
Why is he suddenly so amenable?
After Matthew finished his shower and came downstairs again, Clarissa was already sitting at the table with a large grin on her face.
Her beautiful radiant smile stopped Matthew in his tracks
However, it was just momentary. Apart from him, nobody realized it.
He walked to her and sat down. Clarissa deliberately smiled at him again. This time, he could sense the hint of seduction in her smile.
Matthew did not say anything and they had breakfast together in silence.
After breakfast, Clarissa followed behind Matthew and watched as he left in his car before she hailed a cab to go to work.
Thankfully, she managed to clock in right before nine o’clock.
The moment she walked into the office, Clarissa had barely sat down when Joyce summoned her and reprimanded her angrily in front of everybody.
Everyone’s eyes were on Clarissa as her face turned red with her head lowered.
It was only then that Clarissa realized what she had done wrong.
“Everyone is here except for you. Clarissa, do you still want this job?”
“Ms. Joyce, I didn’t know…”
“Don’t tell me that you didn’t know, that you didn’t get the message, or that you had forgotten. All these are but excuses. Clarissa, if you want to stay in this company, you must show that you are capable of staying.”
Clarissa knew what she meant.
Even if she really didn’t get the message, and even if she was really framed, they were no excuses either. She needed to have her own ability to understand the key to survival.
Clarissa did not rebut her.
“This is the first and only time. Clarissa, I don’t want to see this happening a second time, do you understand? Now get lost and do your work.”
Clarissa returned to her seat. Indeed, she did not receive any message on her cell phone, mailbox nor social media.
It seemed that she was framed.
But by who?
Amanda?
Clarissa had her suspicions but she had no evidence.
When she looked up, she was met with Amanda’s smile. It was a provocative kind of smile and Clarissa looked down nonchalantly.
During their break, her colleague came to “comfort” her.
“How could you be so careless? The president did his observation rounds this morning, and you were actually late for that? That being said, I do believe that you didn’t get the memo. But who was the one who framed you? I’m sure you know who it is, right? You weren’t generous enough last night, otherwise, this would not have happened today.”
So I’m in the wrong for not buying them a lobster meal?
The lack of generosity led to me being framed?
“I know.”
“It’s good that you do.”
Another colleagued patted her hand and comforted her as well, “Don’t worry, we will help you in the future, and we’ll notify you if anything crops up.”
“Thank you,” Clarissa replied.
“You’re welcome. We’re colleagues, and we will be good friends. Oh yes, let’s go shopping together this evening. I have my eye on a bracelet, and didn’t you say you want a skirt, Yolanda? Come with us, Clarissa.”
Clarissa had a feeling that there was something fishy about this invitation to shop.
Not to mention, after that night’s incident with Matthew, she did not dare to forget about making dinner.
She shook her head and smiled. “I’m sorry, but I have something on tonight. Raincheck?”
“Oh, what do you have on? Do you have a boyfriend who needs you to accompany him?”
“No, but I really have something to do tonight. I’m so sorry.”
Both of them looked rather disappointed. When their eyes met, they smiled, and they did not bring up shopping again. Instead, they continued talking about their interests, such as the latest lipstick, beauty products, and so on. They even got Clarissa involved in their conversation too.
In the end, Clarissa listened to them. “It’s too bad that I can’t buy it as I don’t really have the money. If I buy it next month, it may not be available anymore.” She finally understood her colleague’s intention.
She did not say anything and left them to go back to work.
She did not care about what the two of them said about her behind her back.
In these few days, Clarissa met the most capable people at the workplace, and also the worst of the lot.
Still, waters run deep in this murky pond.
For someone as innocent and inexperienced as she was, she could be shot dead at any time without knowing how or why it happened.
Of course, these were but the tip of the iceberg. She had heard Mrs. Wallace talk about bigger issues, which had completely thrown out her innocent worldview.
As she sipped her coffee during her brief break, Clarissa swiftly put all the information together in her mind. She was prepared to make significant amendments to the things that she had written.
“Clarissa…”
She sprang up.
“Yes, Mr. Cooper.”
Clarissa rushed to him and he handed her a document. He then shot a peculiar look at her.
“Mr. Cooper?” Clarissa shuddered slightly under his stare.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Please send this document to the president’s office on the top floor.”
“Huh?”
Clarissa was shocked as she thought to herself anxiously, Mr. Cooper looked really strange just now. Does he know something?
“What do you mean ‘huh’? Why aren’t you on your way already?”
“Oh, okay, sure!”
Clarissa headed to the elevator with the documents in her hands.
The president’s office was on the top floor, which was the twenty-second floor. When she walked out, even the air felt thinner and she could barely catch her breath.
She thought that it was probably more psychological than anything.
Clarissa walked in and saw two offices there.
Technically speaking, I don’t have to hand this to Matthew personally, right?
Just when she was pacing up and down, Donnie came out of his office and smiled at her.
“Ms. Quigley, the president’s inside. Please go in.”
“No, no… I’m just here to drop off some documents.”
Clarissa hurriedly explained herself, but Donnie behaved as if he didn’t hear her and went ahead to knock on the door.
“Mr. Tyson, Ms. Quigley is here.”
“Alright.” Matthew’s soothing voice could be heard.
Donnie then turned to Clarissa.
“Ms. Quigley…”
Before he could say ‘please’, Clarissa suddenly stuffed the document into his arms.
“There, I’ve dropped off the document, so I’m leaving now.”
With that, she turned and escaped.
Donnie chuckled to himself and walked into Matthew’s office.
“Mr. Tyson, Ms. Quigley…”
Matthew looked up with a little smile.
Coward!
