“You pervert!”
“You’re the pervert!”
“Why were you so close to me?”
“Who told you to sleep and snore in public, even drooling! You disturbed others!”
Still by the window, at Emma’s seat, Jake was wiping his face frantically with a paper towel. Emma, who was angry a moment ago, was shocked after hearing Jake’s words.
“Me? Snoring? Drooling?” Emma asked, looking at Jake with wide eyes.
Jake ignored her, making a face as if he had suffered a great injustice. “It’s so disgusting! My face is so disgusting! Ugh!”
It was only then that Emma realized what had happened and quickly opened her computer. It was too late! There were still four folders left unfinished, and there were so many pages in each document. There was no way she could finish in time now.
Seeing Emma quiet, Jake turned his head and looked at her, who seemed lifeless.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m done for...”
“My face is done for!”
“My work is done for...”
“What?”
Jake looked at Emma’s computer and the open folders on the table, seeming to understand. He suddenly snickered.
“You look like you can’t finish your work in time!” Jake said with a cheeky smile.
“Yeah, so what? Do you care! We’re not close, and you’re not that nice!” Emma said, typing away desperately. She had to try her best, no matter what.
“Hey! Don’t be so fierce! I’m trying to help you!” Jake said, still with a grin.
“Go away! Don’t bother me! We’re not close, and I don’t need your help!” Emma didn’t have time to look at Jake.
“Of course, I wouldn’t help for free! I’m not stupid!” Jake said, flipping through one of Emma’s folders.
Emma thought for a moment and looked at the time again, her tone softening a bit. “There’s only half an hour left. Can you finish it? Don’t say a folder, can you even finish half of one?”
Seeing the cute look on the girl in front of him, Jake felt proud of himself. He suddenly stood up, ready to leave.
“Well! So much for your help! I knew you’d run away when you heard there wasn’t much time!” Emma’s words were full of disappointment.
“Without your computer, how can I type? I’m not used to others!” Jake said, walking away with long strides.
Although Emma still couldn’t help but give Jake a “tsk,” she felt a bit happier because of his words. Now someone could help!
In a short while, Jake came back with a laptop and sat across from Emma.
“How many left?” Jake asked with a smile.
“Three and a half, and I’m working on this one,” Emma pointed at the folders.
“Alright, I’ll take care of these three, and you just finish this one,” Jake said, already flipping through a folder and typing furiously on the keyboard.
“Hmph! You’re really money-minded! You’re bluffing, you won’t even finish one folder!” Emma muttered, seeing Jake ignore her and continue typing seriously. “You seem pretty professional,” she added quietly.
Time was running out, and it was already 1:20 pm.
“It’s too late! Forget it, I really appreciate your effort! Have you finished one?” Emma finished her part, saved the document, and stretched.
“Give me five more minutes,” Jake continued typing furiously.
“Come on, stop joking! You haven’t even finished one folder, have you?” Emma got up and walked over to Jake.
“Ten seconds,” Jake kept typing seriously.
“Alright, stop it! You haven’t finished one folder, have you?” Emma stood by Jake’s side and looked down at his computer, shocked with her mouth wide open. She moved the mouse over the document, completely astonished!
Jake had finished typing three folders in just half an hour!
“My goodness!” Emma exclaimed.
“I forgot to tell you, I’m studying computer science. Typing is not a big deal for me; coding is my daily routine!” Jake said with pride.
Emma was shocked and happy at the same time, and she laughed excitedly.
“You are amazing!” Emma said excitedly, looking at Jake. Jake still had a proud smile on his face. He suddenly noticed that the girl in front of him looked really pretty when she smiled, especially her big, bright eyes, which were both playful and cute.
“Quick, add me on WhatsApp, and then send it to me. I need to merge them and send it to the manager quickly!” Emma said, returning to her seat and giving Jake her WhatsApp number.
After becoming friends, Emma received the files and quickly merged them into one document, opened her email, and quickly sent it.
Looking at the time, it was already 1:26 pm. Emma tidied up her things, felt in her pocket, and looked at Jake awkwardly, smiling, “Hehehe, I only have 100 with me. You did three folders, so I should give you 300. How about this, I’ll give you the rest after work?”
Jake looked at the lovely Emma and laughed, “Why don’t you just treat me to dinner?”
“Ah?” Emma was puzzled. Why was it suddenly about dinner?
“What are you eating! You naughty boy! Do you think you can scam more out of me with dinner?” Emma asked suspiciously.
“It’s already 1:28 pm. Are you sure you won’t be late?” Jake answered non-sequitur.
Emma then realized, grabbed her bag, files, and laptop, and rushed out. It was two minutes to being late! She shouldn’t have wasted time talking to him!
“Remember, dinner!” Jake shouted at Emma’s running back.
Emma followed Mr. Johnson from the elevator to the company door, neither speaking a word. They maintained an awkward yet tacit silence. Of course, Mr. Johnson didn’t feel awkward; he just didn’t want to talk to Emma. Emma, however, felt awkward, walking one after the other without a word. It was strange!
But she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. Regardless of why Mr. Johnson didn’t respond earlier, she decided to speak up again.
“Uh, Mr. Johnson?” Emma asked hesitantly.
“Call me Mr. Johnson,” he replied coldly without turning around.
Emma stuck her tongue out. Why so formal? Using first names is more intimate! But thinking is one thing, and speaking is another. At least he responded, so now they could chat properly.
“Alright, alright! So, Mr. Johnson, how old are you? You look so young, and you’re already a manager! You must be very capable!” Emma trotted up to Mr. Johnson, walking side by side with him, and asked with a smile.
Mr. Johnson, who had been expressionless, suddenly sneered and stopped in his tracks. His face changed, and he stared at Emma, who was startled.
“I got here step by step. Unlike some people who can take shortcuts,” he said coldly, then continued walking without waiting for a response.
Emma ran after him, upset. “What do you mean? Where did I take a shortcut?” she asked angrily.
Mr. Johnson continued walking, ignoring Emma. “Although Mr. Smith is your uncle, I didn’t take any shortcuts. I’m starting from the bottom as a clerk,” Emma said, getting angrier.
Mr. Johnson still didn’t respond, and they entered the building and the elevator together. He pressed
the button for the third floor.
“Come on! Say something! You said I took a shortcut, explain yourself!” Emma shouted, feeling wronged.
Mr. Johnson’s face showed impatience, but the elevator had reached the third floor. As soon as the doors opened, he stepped out, and Emma followed quickly. She felt wronged and couldn’t understand why he was being so mean to her.
“You speak!”
Emma blocked Mr. Johnson’s path, angry and upset.
“Move,” Mr. Johnson said in a low voice, looking displeased.
“You need to explain yourself!” Emma wasn’t someone to be easily dismissed, even though Mr. Johnson looked more intimidating at the moment.
“I said move!”
Emma was stunned by Mr. Johnson’s sudden shout. She stared at him, feeling both scared and wronged. She couldn’t speak.
Mr. Johnson didn’t care about Emma and walked past her, heading towards Room 303.
Emma didn’t move, feeling helpless. What was wrong with joining her uncle’s company? He had spoken so harshly, and now he was yelling at her?
It seemed Mr. Johnson realized Emma wasn’t following, so he stopped.
“Don’t think crying will make people pity you,” Mr. Johnson said coldly, looking at Emma, who seemed on the verge of tears.
“I don’t need your pity! I’m not crying! You’re crazy!” Emma shouted back, feeling wronged and angry.
“Let’s go see the room and not waste my time,” Mr. Johnson said, still indifferent, and continued walking.
Emma wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Mr. Johnson, whatever you think, I didn’t take an exaggerated shortcut like you said. You’ve been so rude to me since the beginning. Why?”
“Why would I dare to have an opinion about Mr. Smith’s niece?”
“Mr. Johnson!”
Emma’s anger flared up again, looking at the handsome yet annoying man.
“What do you want? If you can’t say it clearly, I won’t let it go!” Emma shouted at Mr. Johnson, who was expressionless but had annoying eyes.
Mr. Johnson sneered and suddenly approached Emma with a fierce look in his eyes. Scared, Emma backed up until she was cornered with nowhere to go. Mr. Johnson stopped right in front of her, looking down at her.
“This company has many excellent graduates from famous universities who want to join but can’t even get an interview. Yet you, just because of your relationship, can skip the queue and even avoid the probation period. Isn’t that taking a shortcut? Why do you deserve it?” Mr. Johnson said harshly.
Emma fell silent, unable to argue with Mr. Johnson’s words.
Mr. Johnson walked away and stood on the balcony, looking at the sky without saying a word.
Yes, Mr. Johnson was right. Why did she deserve it? Emma looked at his back and suddenly understood why he didn’t like her from the start.
But even if he disliked her now, what could he do? Should she leave?
Emma took a deep breath again.