Chapter 3 The Mother's Request

• The sound of knocking on the door successfully disrupted Rhea's concentration as she was focused on reviewing the revenue reports of all her retail businesses displayed on her computer screen. A clicking sound escaped from the lips of the 30-year-old woman, expressing her annoyance.
• "Come in!"
• Monica appeared from behind the door, flashing a polite smile at her superior. "Miss, Mr. Benjamin has admitted that he was indeed the one working with Watson Industries. He was paid to leak our company's product designs."
• Rhea, who had initially been leaning forward, focused on her computer screen, now changed her posture, reclining against the back of her chair with her arms crossed and one leg arrogantly resting over the other.
• "Is that so? So that scoundrel has confessed? A criminal who earns a living in my company but dares to stab me in the back."
• Monica nodded. "Yes, Miss. All the evidence points to him, and when we questioned him earlier, he finally admitted it."
• "Good. I like how quickly and decisively your team works."
• Monica smiled widely, pleased that the team she had assembled to investigate this case had just received praise from the president.
• "In that case, bring him to my office. I want to see the face of the person who dared to mess with me and became a traitor in my company."
• "Understood, Miss." Monica then stepped out.
• Not long after, precisely fifteen minutes later, she returned to Rhea’s office with the perpetrator who had leaked their company’s product designs to a competitor.
• Benjamin... The 46-year-old man immediately fell to his knees upon seeing the imposing figure sitting arrogantly in her executive chair—the highest authority in the company where he worked. His body trembled, as the president's ruthlessness was infamous throughout the office.
• "Forgive me, Miss. Please, have mercy on me," the man pleaded, tears streaming down his face, hoping Rhea would feel sympathy for him.
• However, Rhea was not one to be swayed by such cheap theatrics. Rising from her seat, she approached Benjamin, who was still kneeling on the floor. She then perched herself on the edge of her desk, her arms still folded across her chest, her gaze sharp and piercing.
• "If a mere apology could solve all problems, then I wouldn’t have had to go through that trial yesterday and suffer such massive losses."
• Benjamin's body trembled even more just from hearing Rhea’s firm voice, laced with biting sarcasm, filling the room that suddenly felt tense.
• “I want to ask you something now. How long have you been working at this company?”
• “Twenty-five years, Miss,” Benjamin replied, still bowing his head, too afraid to look at the president.
• “Twenty-five years? Wow, that’s a long time. In other words, you’ve been an employee here since my father was still around.”
• “Yes, Miss. I have worked at this company since your father was still in charge. I am a senior employee here, so please forgive me. I deeply regret my foolish actions, and I promise never to repeat them.”
• Rhea scoffed, curling her lips into a sneer. “The fact that you are a long-time employee of this company makes me even more disappointed. You know how hard my father worked to build this company, yet you had the heart to betray him. My late father must be furious and deeply disappointed in you right now.”
• Benjamin now pressed his forehead to the floor, desperately begging for forgiveness and a second chance. “I truly regret my actions. Please forgive me, Miss. I had no choice.”
• “Can you explain to me why you did this? Maybe if your reason is reasonable, I might consider forgiving you.”
• Benjamin lifted his head again, his face brightening with a glimmer of hope, believing he had a chance to be forgiven. “Because I needed a large sum of money for my family. My eldest child suffered a terrible accident and had to undergo surgery.”
• “Oh, so you betrayed the company and accepted a bribe from Watson Industries to cover your child’s medical expenses?”
• “I’m sorry, Miss. I was truly desperate and in dire need of money.”
• “Then what is the point of your status as an employee in this company if you end up seeking assistance from another company instead?”
• Benjamin blinked in confusion. “What do you mean, Miss?”
• “I am still here in this company. If you needed help, you should have come to me and asked for my support. I am not a heartless boss when it comes to my employees’ well-being, especially when it’s a financial matter. But instead, you sought help from another company and betrayed the very place that has provided for you for twenty-five years.”
• Rhea clicked her tongue and shook her head. “If your reason for doing this was that you felt your salary was too low, I could have understood. But instead, it turns out that you needed a large amount of money, and you had the option to ask for my help—but you didn’t. Hah, this only convinces me even more not to forgive you.”
• Benjamin’s face instantly turned pale with panic. “Miss, that’s not what I—”
• “Monica.”
• Rhea cut him off, calling her assistant’s name before he could finish his sentence.
• “Yes, Miss.”
• “Fire this man immediately and do not give him a single cent in severance pay. Announce his dismissal publicly in front of all the other employees. Oh, and one more thing... issue him a formal notice demanding reimbursement for the losses the company has suffered due to his betrayal. I’m giving him three months—if he fails to pay, take this matter to court. There is no forgiveness for a traitor.”
• Benjamin’s eyes widened in utter shock. Not only was he being fired, but he was also required to repay a substantial sum to the company. He had been given three months to come up with 50 million dolar, and if he failed, he would be reported to the authorities.
• “Miss Rhea, please have mercy on me. I don’t have that kind of money. How am I supposed to pay such a huge amount?”
• “You should have considered the consequences before committing this crime. Besides, 50 million dolar is nothing compared to the losses I’ve suffered because of your actions. You nearly drove this company to bankruptcy—do you realize the terrifying consequences of that? You almost cost thousands of employees their jobs. So, reflect on your mistake. If you really can’t repay the money, it’s simple, isn’t it? Just accept your fate and prepare to rot in prison. It’s that straightforward—don’t make it complicated.”
• Rhea waved her hand, signaling for the man who had ruined her mood to be taken away from her office.
• “You will regret this, Rhea Addilyn Blaire! One day, you will pay for your cruelty!” Benjamin shouted as he was dragged out by two security guards who had been waiting outside since the beginning.
• “Miss, isn’t it too harsh to only give him three months to repay such a large amount?”
• Rhea shot Monica a sharp glare. “Do you feel sorry for him?” she asked.
• “Yes, Miss. Mr. Benjamin has contributed a lot to our company.”
• “But he is also a traitor who nearly destroyed my company. I can forgive any mistake, but not betrayal. That is an unforgivable offense, no matter what. Besides, if you feel so sorry for him, why don’t you help him pay the 50 million dolar?”
• Monica’s eyes widened in shock. She dared not say another word and quickly exited the president’s office, fully aware of how firm and unwavering her superior was.
• Rhea sank back into her chair, massaging her throbbing temples. Her gaze shifted to her phone, which suddenly vibrated on the table. Picking it up, she clicked her tongue in frustration as she read the message that had just come in.
• It was from the housekeeper at her parents’ home, informing her that her mother was sulking and had gone on a hunger strike—protesting Rhea’s refusal to marry the man her mother had chosen for her.
• “Ugh, what now?” she muttered irritably as she stood up from her chair. Grabbing the white blazer hanging on the coat rack, Rhea strode swiftly out of the room, determined to face her mother, who had been causing her endless trouble lately.
• ***
• “Where is my mother?” Rhea asked the moment she stepped into her parents’ house.
• “She’s in her room, Miss. She hasn’t eaten anything since last night, and she hasn’t taken her medication either,” the housekeeper informed her.
• Rhea clicked her tongue in frustration. Her mother’s illness made it crucial for her to take her medicine on time.
• She knocked on the bedroom door as soon as she reached it. “Mom, open the door. It’s me!” she called out, hoping her mother would hear her and unlock the door.
• “Mom, open up! You can’t do this. You have to take your medicine!”
• “Madam hasn’t eaten anything since last night either, Miss. I’m really worried about her. She hasn’t come out of her room all night,” the housekeeper added anxiously.
• Hearing this only made Rhea more panicked. Worry consumed her—her mother was the only family she had left. She was the most precious person in Rhea’s life, and she couldn’t bear the thought of anything bad happening to her.
• “Has she been like this since I left yesterday?”
• “Yes, Miss. After you left, Madam became extremely gloomy. She refused to eat and locked herself in her room.”
• Rhea closed her eyes, now fully understanding the reason behind her mother’s sulking. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly before calling out, “Alright, Mom! I’ll do what you want. I’ll meet the man you chose for me!”
• A few moments later, the door suddenly swung open, revealing her mother’s beaming face. “Really? You’re going to marry the man I chose?” she asked, her wide smile still intact.
• Rhea rolled her eyes. “I’ll meet him first, Mom. I need to see what kind of person he is. If he’s suitable for me, then I’ll consider marrying him.”
• Aliza clicked her tongue. “Hmph! In that case, I still won’t eat or take my medicine.”
• Rhea frowned deeply. “Why are you being like this, Mom?”
• “Promise me first that you’ll marry him, then I’ll eat and take my medicine.”
• “Mom, don’t do this.”
• “It’s up to you. If you want me to eat and take my medicine, that’s the only condition.”
• Rhea held her breath, trying her best to suppress her irritation. “That’s not fair, Mom. I—”
• Before she could finish, Aliza started closing the door again. But Rhea quickly reached out to stop it with her hand. “Alright, alright. I agree.”
• “You agree to marry him? You promise?” her mother pressed.
• Rhea shut her eyes tightly before reluctantly nodding multiple times. “Yes, yes, Mom. I promise.”
• Letting out a slow exhale, Rhea watched as her mother clapped her hands in delight. The woman who had been sulking and starving herself was now glowing with joy, thrilled that she had managed to make the undefeated, ruthless businesswoman surrender in defeat.