Chapter 16

Devastated and angered I walk silently in the streets. I take my savings and decide to start my life again.

After renting an apartment, I am unsure of whether or not to continue my job in the lab. After all the place reminds me of Alex.

I sigh and lie on my bed.

The next day I wake up and get ready for work. I walk gracefully to work and head straight to the department office.

"Brie...Oh welcome back." Mr.Gibbson says smiling brightly. It was clear that he was glad I was back only because the critic

ism he suffered when I 'died' would be reduced.

"You can go to your lab." He says w.aving. As I open the door he adds "Oh from now on you will share your lab with your replacement."

I get out closing the door behind me. "Replacement? What does he mean?" I think to myself.

Walking deep in thought I bumb into someone who drops their phone.

"I'm sorry..." I pick up the phone sighing in relief that it wasn't broken. And hand it over to the young woman in front of me. Then I say another sorry but she interrupts me.

"Sorry? Excuse me? How dare you bump into me? You did it on purpose! To provoke me! In fact there's no way I'm going to accept that phone you have to pay."

No longer able to contain my heated response I say " Pay you? For this cheap phone?" It was obvious that the phone was from a cheap brand even though I had not been in that world.

"And I apologized didn't I? And you were also at fault here you were not looking where you were going!" I walk past her leaving her staring in anger.

I arrive in my lab and I'm greeted by Fred. On my way I was greeted by other colleagues who I choose to ignore due to the sudden interruption to my good mood.

"What is wrong with you?" Fred asks as he looks at me questioningly.

"Argh! It's just that I bumped into a rude woman! I promise that if I see her again I might have to end her life!"

Fred laughs at my childish tantrums.

"I don't know if I should say this but you are being a little over dramatic! I don't think there is anyone like that in the office... except..."

"Except?" I ask determined to find the identity of the rude woman.

"Argh! I can't believe her! Fred I met this woman..." The sudden appearance of a woman cuts us off and I turn to see who dared to interrupt my conversation.

"You...!"

"Me? I should be telling you that! You...!" I say to the woman who I bumped into. Suddenly I feel my anger at the peek.

"Not only did you dare insult me but now you are following me!" The woman says as she crosses her arms.

"Excuse me? Follow you? I work here!" I say to her.

"Now now ladies let's not fight I'm sure there's a logical explanation." Fred says standing between us probably preventing me from tearing her apart!

We both glare at him angrily indicating that he shouldn't interfere.

"Or not..." He says as he backs away slowly.

So the staring contest began no one daring to look away from the other.

I will show her who is boss around here!

A certain someone thought.

We are suddenly interrupted by a senior woman.

She clears her voice and says

"Brie I'm glad you are back! Oh I have seen you have already met."

She looks between both of us.

"Now you will be happy to know that you are sharing the same working space! I hope you--"

"What?!" The rude woman beside me interrupts her.

"Yeah What?!" I too unknowingly follow.

"Manager you can't put me and that thing together!"

"Point of correction you mean she can't put me and you sack of rudeness together!" I answer back the woman.

Manager Jun, sensing the tension in the room says "Hey, how did the donkey cry when the farmer beat it?"

We, including Fred stare at Jun in shock. Was our ever serious Manager trying to make a joke?

We couldn't help but burst out into laughter.

"Oh don't laugh yet, I haven't said the funniest part!" We pause. And she continues her joke. "It cried He-ow! He-ow!"

We burst out laughing not because the joke was funny but because of how hard she tried to actually joke.

For sure we were going to have a different view of her.