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I took a deep breath before I entered the entrance of the LGC building. I smiled at the security guard before I went straight to the reception area. I smiled and went to the receptionist who looks sassy and has a lot of make-up. I readied myself because I might engage in a fight without me knowing it.

"Hi, miss! Where is the HR Department? I was told to come back by Ms. Rosalind after my initial interview."

The receptionist looked at me before answering. "Miss, ride the elevator and get off on the 5th floor. There's another receptionist for the HR Department."

"Okay, thank you!" I smiled at her again before I went to the elevator.

There was a guy who came in after me before the elevator doors closed. I pressed the 5 button before I looked at my reflection in the mirrors. I looked at my overall appearance, if I looked okay, because I might be interviewed again or that I was called in for my first day. If I don't look, I might not notice that there's lipstick on my teeth or a part of my hair is unruly.

"Hahahaha!"

I immediately looked at the guy. Weird, he suddenly laughed but we are only 2 in this elevator and he isn't using his phone. But I decided not to mind him and continued to check myself out.

"Miss, there's something hanging at your back. You might want to check it before going out." Then, he got out, wait, on the 5th floor as well?!

I immediately patted and fixed my back. My gosh, he's telling the truth. My blouse wasn't tucked in perfectly. But, hey, it isn't really noticeable not if he really looked. It's just small.

I deeply breathed again before I approached the receptionist. My god, this company has many receptions and receptionists. Soon after, the receptionist showed me into a small board room. "Please wait here for Ma'am Rose."

After some time, Ms. Rosalind arrived with a coffee mug and a folder.

"Good morning, Miss Nicole."

"Good morning, Ma'am. Please just call me Nicole."

"Oh, sure. Nicole, the reason why I called you back is that I want to hire you for one of our vacant positions. However, you have to undergo training first before you formally claim the vacancy. Will that be fine with you?"

"MA'AM?? I mean, yes Ma'am! That will be okay, Ma'am. When will I start?"

"Today. Actually, I will introduce to you your direct supervisor, Mr. Lieg Uy-Lim. He is the Director of Marketing and Advertising. He is also one of the Board Members of the Liberal Group of Companies."

Then comes a man in the board room. I looked at him from his feet, slowly going up until I saw the color and arrangement of his button-down and face. WAIT A MINUTE. It’s the guy from the elevator!

I breathed deeply to force my embarrassment from earlier before I spoke. "Good morning, Sir Lieg. I am Nicole Beatrice Sirencho, your new Junior Designer in Marketing."

I held out my hand in front of him but, Jerk pocketed his hands and faced Ma’am Rosalind with a frown.

“Is this her, Rose? Are you sure she applied for Marketing? She doesn’t have an appeal. How can she market our products and stores to consumers when she can’t even market herself to the employers?”

I sharply turned to Jerk with a shocked expression. My gosh! I didn’t mind that today might be my first day for work that I may be fired because of my uncontrollable mouth.

“With all due respect sir, YOUR company offered me Senior Designer in Marketing AND Advertising within 1 month after my graduation. However, being a fresh graduate that I am and am in need of experience in this field, I opted to decline it and applied to a much smaller company with THE SAME POSITION. Sir, we just met today. You haven’t seen my works and my proposals so I don’t think that you, Sir, have the right to judge me and my work. I haven’t even started and yet I am already judged. That is unfair treatment.”

I looked at him sharply before turning to Ma’am Rosalind.

“Ma’am, I don’t think I can stay because of this treatment. Thank you for the offer, Ma’am.”

I immediately gathered my things and left the board room. My ex-potential co-workers jumped a little when I harshly opened the door. Sorry co-workers, my blood is boiling already. Don’t worry, you won’t see me anymore, anyway.

Don’t let me see that Jerk again or else - GRR, my blood pressure is rising just by thinking of it! In my anger, I don’t know if I can still contain myself. My own family doesn’t treat me this way but he did it anyway.

I’m waiting for a cab outside LGC while texting Andz. Darkness can still be seen on my face despite ranting to her and her making me laugh through her jokes.

“My gosh, girl! HAHAHAHA He’s your boss but you still fought him! HAHAHAHA I should have been there to see his face!”

“Nako, Andz. When I arrive at the condo, I expect a special maiz con yelo waiting for me on the dining table so that, even just a little bit, my head can cool off! I am so majorly stressed, girl! I just can’t!”

“HAHAHA Maybe your boss is the one who CAN’T handle you! Sure I’ll make some maiz for you. See you later! xx”

“Thanks, Andz! See you! xx”

I finally saw a cab and hailed it. I immediately get inside to get home faster! “Driver, 58 Blueberry Cheese Cake Street on Loyola Heights. Please hurry. Thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

While driving by, I looked at the buildings and the names of the companies near LGC. I thought of a list of companies where I can apply and the names of the companies who offered me a few weeks back. It would be an act of sweet revenge when Jerk sees me working for a rival company and enjoying it. I didn’t know that I’ll be berated when I received a notification for work.

Because I was busy looking at the buildings and the company names, I didn’t notice that we already arrived at the front of the condo. I paid the driver, left and, went straight inside until I arrived at the elevator. I pressed the UP button and waited for the elevator door to open.

“I didn’t know that you also live here, Miss Nicole.”