The moment I finished speaking, Frederick snapped. He grabbed a folder off the table and slammed it down hard on my head.
“Alexandra, you’re doing this on purpose, targeting Louise again! She’s always doing things for your sake, and you repay her like this? So ungrateful. I apologize to her right now, or we’ll be done. I can’t stand jealous, narrow-minded women like you.”
If it had been the old me, the foolish girl blinded by love, I might have broken down in guilt, doubting myself, wondering what I had done wrong.
But now, their pathetic little act only made my stomach turn. I looked at them with icy disdain.
“Fine. Let’s break up, then. You and your sweet little ‘sister’ can go love each other in peace.”
Frederick’s eyes flew wide open as if he couldn't comprehend what I had just said.
“Alexandra, have you lost your mind? Do you even hear yourself? I’ve always treated Louise like a sister. Don’t twist something pure with your filthy suspicions.”
Louise looked at me with tear-brimmed eyes and that same pitiful expression she had always worn.
“Sister Alexandra, Brother Frederick has always looked after me, but we truly are just like siblings. Please don’t be angry with him because of me. How about this: tomorrow, during the shopping trip, I’ll buy you a brand-new Hermès bag. Think of it as a thank-you gift for letting me use your ID.”
Frederick looked at me with a sneer, his tone dripping with contempt.
“Alexandra, isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Leeching off Louise? Let’s be honest: on your own, you’d never even step foot inside a Hermès store in your entire pathetic life. So stop playing games and hand over your ID already.”
The voices around us quickly joined in, echoing his mockery.
“Louise used your ID, but she’s giving you the reward points and even throwing in a luxury bag. Most people would kill for that kind of deal. You really don’t know how lucky you are.”
“Honestly, you’re just jealous of Louise. She’s just an intern, yet she’s got money to burn, probably some heiress. Even if you worked yourself to death, you’d still never measure up to her.”
“We’ve worked with you for years, and all we ever got were those cheap drinks from Auntie’s shop once a week. No wonder Louise is more popular, or at least she’s generous.”
I remembered all those drinks I paid for out of my pocket. Not once did any of them refuse.
But now, they spat on my efforts like it was nothing.
Ungrateful, spineless cowards, whichever way the wind blew, they followed.
Louise was already beginning to grow impatient.
“Alexandra, stop being difficult,” Louise said sweetly. “Just hand over your ID. I’m heading to the mall after work to get a membership card. I don’t want to delay everyone’s shopping fun tomorrow.”
I clutched my bag tightly to my chest, my gaze sharp and cold.
“I have plans tomorrow. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t need you to buy me anything, ask someone else for their ID.”
For a brief second, something dark flickered in Louise’s eyes. But she quickly blinked, and when her eyes opened again, they shimmered with tears.
“Alexandra, I know you don’t like me, but everyone works so hard. I just wanted to do something nice and treat them a little. If it upsets you that much, then forget it. We’ll just work like normal tomorrow.”
With just those few words, she twisted everything, making it sound like I was the one ruining everyone’s fun.
And just like that, I became the villain in their eyes. Every angry stare in the office landed squarely on me.
Someone suddenly shoved me to the floor. A moment later, cold drinks and water came splashing down, soaking me from head to toe.
“Alexandra, is it really so hard for you to let others be happy? If you don’t want to join, fine, but why drag everyone else down?”
“You’re toxic, Alexandra! We finally had a rare day off, and Louise was kind enough to treat us. Why do you always have to ruin everything?”
