That woman suddenly grabbed the latte on the table and stormed over to me in just a few steps.
"You're a slacker who does nothing all day but play games in the office. How dare you question my proposal?"
She practically shrieked, then …
Splash!
The whole cup of latte went flying into my face.
The liquid streamed down my cheeks, instantly staining my white dress brown.
The meeting room fell into dead silence again. At that time, everyone held their breath.
"Summer Lafferty, as the CEO's assistant, you are fired! Get out!"
June said as she glared down at me.
Even so, I slowly stood up. I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and carefully wiped the stains from my face.
Then I turned to Brandon.
He frowned but avoided my gaze and chose to stay silent.
His gesture made me start to laugh.
I spoke on the phone on speaker. "Dad, did you hear that?"
"She told me to get lost."
The line went silent for two seconds before a deep, steady voice responded.
"Got it. I'll handle it."
The only reason I took this job was that my grandfather had arranged a marriage for me years ago.
Brandon Gates was my fiancé.
I was never a fan of arranged marriages, but my father wouldn't stop pushing. When guilt-tripping didn't work, he played the "disrespectful daughter" card.
So, I had no choice but to agree.
To help us "strengthen our bond," he made me join Gates Corp.
During the six months I worked for my fiancé's company, I spent most of my time playing video games, which made me look like a total slacker.
Still, I was secretly pulling strings behind the scenes. I utilised various connections and resources to enhance the company's performance. Before long, the business was thriving and even went public.
Gates Corp skyrocketed into the spotlight and Brandon himself landed a spot on Hartridge's wealthiest list.
Although I played a significant role in his success, we barely spoke.
We didn't go out very much and that's when I discovered he only knew me as his arranged fiancée. That man was completely unaware of who I really was.
***
I sank back into my seat in the corner, pulled out my phone and resumed the game I’d been playing before the interruption.
By then, my character had already respawned. I played on, fingers gliding across the screen as if the tension in the room had nothing to do with me.
June's face turned red, then drained pale with fury. She clearly hadn't expected me to brush off her authority so openly.
She slammed a hand on the table, her voice slicing through the room. "Summer! Just what do you think this place is?"
"Everyone else is focused on the meeting and you're the only one playing games?"
I smirked. "I've already hit all my annual targets. What's the harm in playing a little?"
"If you don't get out right now, I'm calling security!"
I said nonchalantly, not even bothering to glance up. "Do whatever you want."
The other executives exchanged uneasy glances.
Some lowered their heads, pretending to flip through documents, while others stole glances at Brandon, waiting for his reaction.
Finally, Brandon stood up.
That man was dressed sharply in a black suit today, with a serious expression on his face.
He glanced at me, a mix of boredom and impatience visible in his eyes.
"Summer, your performance has been good."
His voice was calm, yet it carried undeniable authority.
"But this is a company, not your home."
"Leave the meeting room immediately. Don't disrupt the meeting."
My fingers paused and my game character died again.
I looked up, meeting his eyes and curled my lips into a teasing smirk. "Mr. Gates, are you sure you want to kick me out?"
Brandon's brow furrowed, his tone turning even colder.
"I don't want to repeat myself. If you have any professional etiquette, you should know where to draw the line."
"What if I refuse to leave?"
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Seeing Brandon take her side, June suddenly grew bolder.
