Chapter 2

• Kerry stepped out of his sports car with a dismissive air, tossing the keys to a parking attendant without a word. He took the private elevator to his office, preferring silence over conversation with employees.
• Upon arrival, he saw his pregnant secretary organizing folders. His disdain for pregnant women was evident, and he searched for the new employee but found no one. Enraged, he barked, “Samantha! To my office now!” and slammed the door behind him.
• Samantha, bracing herself, sighed deeply, struggling to tolerate Kerry’s tyrannical behavior. Minutes later, she entered his office, and he sneered, “Is your body too heavy to follow orders promptly?”
• Samantha replied calmly, “If you tried carrying a seven-kilo belly, you might understand.”
• Kerry grimaced, saying, “I never want to experience that, and those ‘demon spawn’ are worse. They’re unpleasant and sticky.” Samantha shrugged, unbothered.
• “I doubt we’ll ever agree, boss. For me, feeling this baby is glorious,” she said. Kerry raised his hands dismissively.
• “I don’t care about your opinions. The only one that matters is mine. Where’s the new secretary who was supposed to replace you? She was to arrive at 7:30, and it’s almost 8. Did HR fail to select her, or did she not show up?” he demanded.
• “HR selected her; she’s well-prepared and studying systems engineering,” Samantha began, but was cut off by Kerry.
• “I don’t give a damn if she’s a scholar. How dare that new secretary be late? I’m firing her! Connect me with HR. I don’t want her in my office!” he said through gritted teeth.
• “Sir, maybe she had some inconvenience. She’s one of the most responsible people in the company,” Samantha defended.
• “Are you refusing my order? There’s the door. Get out before I throw you out myself!” Kerry shouted, hitting the desk violently.
• “Of course not! I’ll communicate it now,” Samantha said, defeated. She called HR and handed Kerry the phone.
• “Watson, find me a new secretary,” Kerry ordered brusquely.
• “Mr. Mackenzie, I selected the best one for you. She’s exceptionally prepared—”
• “I don’t want her! She’s a damn irresponsible person. Fire her now, or you’re fired!” Kerry demanded.
• “Understood, sir. I’ll fulfill your order promptly,” Watson responded nervously. Kerry hung up, leaving Watson worried about Jade’s delay.
• The girl had to take a taxi to get to her office and not be any later, she was already almost half an hour late, she prayed that her boss hadn't arrived yet, from the references she had of him, he was an uncompromising, unfriendly and cruel man.
• Upon arrival, the secretary was not at her desk, but the office door was open and she could hear the shouts of who would be her boss: “'I don't want her! She's a damn irresponsible person and if you don't fulfill my order right now, you'll be fired.' The man's furious voice could be heard. 'I almost forgot. Fire her!”
• Jade had to take a taxi to avoid being even later, already nearly half an hour behind schedule. She hoped her boss hadn’t arrived yet, as her references painted him as uncompromising and cruel. Arriving at the office, she found the secretary absent but overheard Kerry’s furious shouts: "I don’t want her! She’s a damn irresponsible person and if you don’t fulfill my order right now, you’ll be fired. Fire her!"
• Trembling with fear, Jade knew she couldn’t afford to lose her job—her father’s medical bills depended on it. She entered Kerry's office without waiting to be announced.
• "Please, Mr. Kerry, for whatever you hold dear, don’t fire me!" she begged, her tears mingling with desperation. Kerry’s rage intensified. “How dare that stupid woman enter my office without announcing herself?” he roared, his fury palpable.
• Kerry’s stormy blue eyes fixed on her as he ordered, "Out!" Jade, on the verge of tears, pleaded, "Excuse me, sir, but I’m not leaving until you hear me out. I informed HR about my delay due to an issue, and I’ve always been a responsible employee."
• Kerry, his anger boiling, approached her and grabbed her arm. Surprised by the shock of his touch, Jade winced, but he yanked her out of his office, tossing her to the ground.
• "Please, have compassion. I need this job to cover my sick relative’s medical expenses," she sobbed. "I beg you, for whatever you hold dear..."
• "Shut up! I don’t care if a relative is dying. This company is not a charity. Find someone else to help you," Kerry snapped. “No one moves me. Do you understand?”
• At that moment, the HR head arrived, witnessing Jade's distress. He approached her to help, but Kerry’s voice cut through the room. “Don’t touch her! I just want her out of my office and my company, never to return."
• “Mr. Mackenzie, let me explain,” the HR head started, but Kerry dismissed him with disdain, ignoring the plea and heading into his office.
• “Are you sleeping with her, Watson? Is that why you don't want to fire her?” Kerry mocked. Watson, uncomfortable and offended, responded, “I’ve always respected you, but these assertions are unacceptable. She could be my daughter. Your comments are offensive to both her and me. She called to notify of her delay due to her father’s hospitalization. It’s unfair to fire her without considering this.”
• “What’s her name?” Kerry asked coldly.
• “Her name is Jade Gosling. Test her work and if she doesn’t meet expectations, then fire her,” Watson suggested, confident in her abilities.
• Jade, overhearing from the waiting room, cried silently, feeling unlucky. The sympathetic secretary placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Don’t give up. Good people eventually reap the rewards of their deeds.”
• Suddenly, Kerry’s voice rang out, "Jade! Jade!" Wiping her tears, Jade stood and went to him.
• Standing before Kerry, Jade felt his cruel pleasure in her fear and desperation. "You get one chance," he warned. "One mistake or complaint, and you’re out. I don’t care about your family’s problems."
• Jade was moved by his words and without even thinking, she approached him and impulsively kissed him on the cheek, leaving Kerry completely taken aback.