No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

You know, I actually did want to eat those things earlier, but if I had, then Ernest's secret attempt at making things up to me would've been satisfied.

And I couldn't have that. I wanted to keep him on his toes, feeling guilty but powerless to do anything for me.

Luckily, I had some snacks stashed away in my desk drawer. Just as I was about to grab them, the office phone rang.

Snack in one hand, phone in the other, I answered, "...What? Is it serious? I'll be right there."

Hanging up, I stood up, leaving the snacks behind.

The call had come from one of my team members downstairs. Apparently, a discussion about a project had turned sour, and they'd even gotten physically assaulted. This was serious.

My team member being bullied felt like a direct affront to me. I drove down there immediately.

"Director Hudson, I swear I didn't go into their women's locker room. They're framing me," the injured team member explained, his face a picture of distress, as I approached.

Inspecting his swollen face, which seemed to be mostly superficial bruises, I asked, "Who hit you?"

"Their head of security."

"And where's their person in charge?" As I finished my sentence, a middle-aged man hurried over.

"Director Hudson, today's incident was a complete misunderstanding, I'm terribly sorry," the man, named Larson, the project manager, was profusely apologizing, nearly bending over backward.

up like this, what do you

to offer, "We'll

help but

for a moment, then he added, "We'll also cover lost wages and nutrition

stop him, "Bring the one who hit him

person... I've already fired him," Larson claimed, though his words lacked

the police right now," I

was

can call the cops on our turf, lady?" the thief taunted before

Glancing

injured team

the whispered

member the

Hudson,

who hit me."

going to do about it?" the

proof?" I countered,

with my own eyes entering the women's locker room," he pointed

eyes, "Get your hand