Blake's worries about her job had vanished. She realized that working elsewhere could be equally satisfying, and the relentless stress at Jardin Corporation was simply not worth it.
In the past, Blake spent her workdays casually scrolling through her phone, but Cecilia's return had changed everything, infusing her work life with unending tension.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBlake felt misled by Kevin's empty promises of an important role alongside Cecilia. For days, Kevin had left Blake in suspense, never responding to her messages. And now, having exploited her, he had even blocked her number.
At her desk, Blake maintained a cheerful facade, her eyes on her phone screen. Her colleagues, not fully understanding her situation, voiced their envy tinged with sarcasm.
"Blake, you have it easy here. Aside from tolerating Ms. Stamford, you hardly have to lift a finger." "Yeah, Blake, are you actually considering quitting? Jardin Corporation is a goldmine. You won't find another company like this." "Of course she's not worried. Even if she ends up jobless, the Harper family will bail her out. Must be nice having rich relatives to fall back on." Blake, sensing the underlying sarcasm, did not let it ruffle her. She leaned back, a snack in hand, watching the clock slowly tick toward the end of her workday.
Suddenly, a colleague approached with a probing question, "Hey, Blake, how did you really land this job? You didn't pull strings, did you? | heard even secretaries need serious credentials these days." Blake glanced at her watch, already packing up. She retorted lightly, "Sounds like someone's jealous.” The colleague, taken aback, asked, "What's that supposed to mean?" As Blake unplugged her phone charger and slung her bag over her shoulder, she flashed a playful yet sarcastic smile. "It means you've got too much time on your hands, asking all these questions!" At that moment, Kevin entered the office, his presence like a cold draft. He asked coldly, "Are you all done with work?" The group around Blake quickly dispersed.
Susan followed Kevin in, throwing a triumphant glance at Blake, who paid her no mind.
As the final seconds of the workday ticked away, Blake made a swift exit, calling out, "Time to clock out!" Left alone, Susan watched Kevin settle at his desk, buried in quarterly reports. He asked without looking up, "Anything else?" Susan hesitantly handed him a file, "Mr. Harrison, this is Blake's employee file. I've already submitted your approval for her resignation to HR. All her tasks are completed, so she can leave anytime. What should we do with this file?" Kevin, visibly annoyed, snapped, "Do | need to tell you how to handle these things? Just get on with it!" Susan quickly left after being stung by the reprimand.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Get me a cup of coffee!" Kevin barked without looking up.
"Right away, Mr. Harrison." After Susan brought him his coffee and left, she shredded Blake's file.
For Blake, leaving Jardin Corporation was more of a relief than anything. She had only taken the job to avoid burdening Grace, with whom she had lived for years.
Now, Blake was on her way to a different kind of appointment. Her mother had set her up on a blind date at a local diner. It was her first time going on a blind date in such a casual setting, and the diner's peak-hour bustle made it challenging to spot her date.
Blake began to wonder if she had been stood up after several unanswered calls. Her gaze drifted to a handsome man near the entrance.
"He's quite good-looking," Blake murmured to herself, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.